 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Meredith
Date: 1999-03-10 20:36
I have heard that many clarinet players and musicians in general are prone to getting carpal tunnel syndrome. The problem is, I am only 15. I have been playing for five years now and for about the past year, every time I play, even if it is only for 15 minutes or so, I have alot of pain in my wrist. Besides resorting to a neckstrap, is there anything I can do to minimize or prevent this from getting worse?? Thanks alot...
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-03-10 21:12
Meredith wrote:
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I have heard that many clarinet players and musicians in general are prone to getting carpal tunnel syndrome. The problem is, I am only 15. I have been playing for five years now and for about the past year, every time I play, even if it is only for 15 minutes or so, I have alot of pain in my wrist. Besides resorting to a neckstrap, is there anything I can do to minimize or prevent this from getting worse?? Thanks alot...
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Get to a doctor, pronto! The neckstrap will help, but there could be other causes that need looking at. None of us are qualified to diagnose long distance.
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 1999-03-10 22:00
Definitely, as Mark said, get to a doctor. Just make sure that he or she knows that you're a musician and that you experience the pain while playing--if he or she thinks it's a sports injury, the treatment will be different. If you can, take some time off now! Trust me, it's way better to take three weeks off now than three months or forever off later.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-03-11 00:06
As Mark and Katherine have said get to a doctor.
Another important issue is to make sure that your hand, arm, and finger positions are correct. If you don't have good clarinet instructor, I suggest you find one. Many students are able to play incredibly well with incredibly bad hand positions. A bad hand position easily leads to and/or aggravates any type of problem, including carpal tunnel. If your doctor succeeds in alleviating your problem, you could cause it to recur if your positioning is incorrect.
However you speak of "resorting" to a neck strap. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH USING A NECK STRAP. There is at least one author (Robert Lowry) who believes that using a neckstrap should be standard practice. There are professional players who use neckstraps. There are many hobbyists who use neckstraps.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-03-11 00:33
You'll want to make sure that the doctor you see is familiar with repetitive strain injuries (typically found in computer users. Your problem might be more related to computer use than with your clarinet. Also, what you have is not necessarily carpel tunnel syndorme. There are many other possibilities. I, for instance, have a problem with tendonitis from the pinky to the elbow, caused by computer use.
You'll likely be given many exercises to do that will help strengthen the opposing muscle groups. You may have a lot of other experineces in therapy as well. The importnat thing to understand is that you CAN play without pain. You are young enough that you will probably recover completely (I'm twice your age and I did). You will, however, need to take better care of yourself. Do the exercises the doctor and therapist gives you,and follow their advice on resting while your play.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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Author: Gerald
Date: 1999-03-11 11:37
For what it's worth, I have had carpal tunnel syndrome (not from playing a clarinet or computer use) and had a simple operation and my hand is back to normal. It took a few months before I got full use but I am glad I had the problem corrected.
Good advice is to see your doctor!!! He can diagnose and correct the problem!
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Author: Stephanie aka Benny
Date: 1999-03-11 19:00
Meredith,
I have pain in my wrist also. Not very sever but i have started to use a neck strap! It is a blessing sent from God. I have hardly any pain now and i can concentrate better on my playing and not on my pain. I believe that i play better with it. Do see a doc. though as the others have said. Have fun and be safe.
~*~*~Keep Swinging~*~*~
Benny 
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 1999-03-12 01:42
Please read this article:http://user.uniserve.com/~lwk/hauser.htm
She may be able to introduce a proper doctor neay you.
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Author: Susan Stillman
Date: 1999-03-12 13:54
I've had severe problems since 1993, from computer use. With your doctor's help find a performing arts clinic in your area. You can find one online in the medical links. I used neckstraps for a few years and now play with the support of a FHRED from Quodlibet, Inc. out of Englewood, CO. They can be reached online. It is like a cello peg which attached to your thumbrest and sits on your chair and supports 100% of the weight. There are student models ($20) and pro models ($80). The most important thing is to be sure that you go to a specialist who deals with MUSICIANS!
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Author: Gerald
Date: 1999-03-12 18:15
All these neck braces and pegs are fine but you can still experience the pain from other sources (chopping onions, bowling or keyboarding)! See your doctor, he can eliminate the pain of carpal tunnel with a minor operation.
The operation consists of a small inscision on the palm of your hand (where the wrist and the palm meet). He will then nick the ligament that the carpal nerve goes under (hence the term "carpal tunnel') and when the ligament heals, it will heal looser than it was and not irritate the carpal nerve. It will take a couple of months to get full strength back but you should be able to play the clarinet again within a week or two.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-03-12 20:18
Gerald wrote:
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All these neck braces and pegs are fine but you can still experience the pain from other sources (chopping onions, bowling or keyboarding)! See your doctor, he can eliminate the pain of carpal tunnel with a minor operation.
The operation consists of a small inscision on the palm of your hand (where the wrist and the palm meet).
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This is true; however, many aches and pains of the wrist and forearm are <b>not</b> carpal tunnel. That syndrome is bandied about much too much - any lasting pain in the wrists or forearms while playing needs to be chacked out by a competent physician.
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