 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-05-16 16:38
Hi all,
I wanted to ask if anyone out there knows the effects a deviated septum has on playing a wind instrument. I only found one post in the archives about someone who had an operation to fix that and has reduced sinus infections and postnasal drip. So, I'm asking if anyone else out there has had a similar experience. I get sinus infections about once a year, and am plagued with postnasal drip. Besides the physical discomfort, I am wondering if this has an effect on my clarinet sound. Sometimes I feel a lot of pressure when I'm practicing, which makes it harder to achieve the "open" sound that I'm going for. And I often have to stop to clear mucus. So, sometimes I'm wondering if sinusitis and a deviated septum are a hindrance. I'll appreciate any useful comments.
Lori
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Author: Ryan25
Date: 2008-05-16 19:39
I have a deviated septum and have no issues with playing. When I become ill with the flu or cold, my right sinus can take weeks and weeks to clear which causes some hearing issues on the right side. Besides that, no problems.
On a side note, an otorhynolaryngologist told me that I was better off not using a decongestant when sick because the use of one will only prolong my drainage issues. This advice did make a big difference for me.
Post Edited (2008-05-16 19:45)
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Author: hans
Date: 2008-05-16 21:46
claritoot26,
FWIW..... I had my deviated septum corrected over 20 years ago. That helped my breathing, but did not otherwise affect my clarinet and sax playing in any way that I'm aware of.
About 6 weeks ago I had polyps and a cyst removed from my right sinus system. That didn't affect my playing either, but it REALLY helped my breathing. It also made a huge difference to my migraine headache severity and frequency, and that has continued to improve since the surgery.
Hans
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Author: Cindyr
Date: 2008-05-17 01:40
I too had my deviated septum corrected over 20 years ago. It's a whole different ball game with breathing, and smelling. It was worth it to me.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2008-05-17 15:15
I had my devious septum re-centered and some "drainage windows" installed in my maxillary sinuses, like other correspondents above about 20-years ago.
Greatly reduced sinusitis infections.
I had my only drug trip whilst recovering from that surgery. While dozing in the hammock outdoors, I imagined that small skin flakes on my fingers turned moldy, then mossy and then grew a plethora of vines that merged with the patio cover. Right out of a '60s rock and roll poster.
End of the pain meds.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-05-19 14:13
My former wife wanted a nose job a long time ago, 40 years, but we thought we couldn’t afford it. She went to the surgeon and asked what could be done and he said she had a deviated septum so the insurance would cover it. He told here just about every person has a deviated septum; the differences are the amount they are deviated. She wasn’t a musician but I must admit, it helped her appearance, though it wasn’t enough to keep us married. A nose job is just a nose job.
On a more serious note, I have had students with that problem and we usually cured to air problem buy helping them direct the air better but I do believe in one or two cases it was necessary to have some medical treatment. I've only had those experiences a few times in my teaching career. Enjoy! ESP
www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2008-05-19 14:38
claritoot26
It sounds like your post nasal drip and recurrent sinus infections are fairly significant regarding your wellbeing, let alone your clarinet playing.
If you have allergies that you can identify (such as pollen, feather bedding, pets etc) then the first thing to do is avoid them. If you can't avoid them, or if there is nothing that seems to trigger it, then your symptoms might be controlled with nasal steroids - much the same as used by hay-fever sufferers.
The sinuses are air holes in the skull, above and below the eyes. They are connected to nasal airways by small narrow tubes that emerge on the side of the nasal cavity. the septum is in the centre of the nasal cavity, and should not necessarily affect the sinuses if it is deviated.
So in short, try getting the nasal inflammation causing the mucous and drip sorted out (bearing in mind if you use nasal steroids they take at least 2 weeks to start working) - and then see how things are.
Chris
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Author: hans
Date: 2008-05-19 15:28
For my post-op sinus treatment I was given a sinus flushing kit by the ENT surgeon to improve healing. It consists of a plastic squeeze bottle that is filled with water and pre-measured amounts of sinus rinse salts (NaCl without iodine and NaHCO3) to eliminate burning or stinging.
This system was very easy to use and effective for cleaning out my sinuses and is available here "over the counter".
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-05-21 15:09
I also suffer from a deviated septum, but it doesn't make a difference in my playing. It's only a problem when I get a cold or have allergies enough to have a stuffy nose.
I think it becomes a problem when you are constantly ill (as you mention) and if you notice that it has affected your playing. The most obvious would be having difficulty breathing while playing your instrument. I breathe through my mouth and rarely breathe through my nose while playing my clarinet. Circular breathing would be out of the question for me.
Have a doctor give you an opinion as to whether or not you should get this corrected. If you are having problems with infections chances are good he/she will give you a green light to have the surgery.
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-05-23 13:34
Hi all,
Thanks for your posts. It's not that I'm necessarily eager to have deviated septum surgery, but I was curious if other wind players have had that corrected and noticed a difference in their playing, or at least how they feel when they are playing. In any case, I would wait til I have better health insurance to do that, if I decide to.
I use a Neti pot sometimes, which is a little plastic pitcher that I mix warm saline solution in. You pour it in one nostril and it goes out the other! But, it seems you have to use it fairly often (twice a day or more during allergy season) to get the best results. I also use nasalcrom, which is a non-steroid over-the-counter nasal spray, and occasional decongestants and antihistamines.
Yeah, I should probably contact my doc and see an ENT specialist. I've got this audition next week and I don't want to be all snotted up!
Lori
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