 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-12-01 20:07
I've had a sore spot on tip of my tongue last few days. Not sure if canker or similar, and/or from rubbing on sharp edges of missing filling (crown when I have the scratch for it). It's bothered me last couple of clarinet practices. I just applied some pain killer, feels better for the moment. So I'm wondering whether to reapply for practice time this afternoon. More important, I wonder how to handle such a situation that ever arose at an important performance.
One concern would be how easy it might be to further injure a numb tongue.
Which would you rather deal with at a performance, pain or numbness? Is there a happy medium? Any of you have good or bad experiences to report?
Why does this sound just like the discussion of a star quarterback's sore shoulder and whether he should continue to play with painkillers?
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2015-12-01 23:30
Although I'm not a doctor, I think that the first thing that needs to be answered is what this "spot" looks like.
Is it a red spot? Small white spot? Is the skin broken? Any blood involved? Is it located precisely where your tongue touches the reed when you articulate?
Could be a viral or bacterial infection. Could be trauma to the tongue brought on by how you're articulating. Hard to tell without at least more information.
If one of the first two, it'll PROBABLY go away by itself. If the third, you're almost certainly making it worse by continuing to play.
Either way, rather than numbing it, I'd stop playing for a day or two and see what happens. If it doesn't go away, a visit to a doctor surely is in order.
B.
Post Edited (2015-12-01 23:31)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-12-02 01:04
fskelley wrote:
> Which would you rather deal with at a performance, pain or
> numbness? Is there a happy medium?
Well, Do you have a performance, or are you only deciding whether or not to practice with the sore, whatever it is?
I wouldn't try to guiess what the sore is, but if it remains unchanged much longer, at least a phone call to your dentist might be in order - he might want to see it if he thinks it's beyond the time something harmless should have healed.
In any case, if you must perform, you may have to do whatever it takes to get through the performance. Otherwise, I'd stop playing for a couple of days to see whether it clears up without the aggravation of hitting a reed.
Karl
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Author: Jerry
Date: 2015-12-02 05:36
Have you had a lot of practice or performances with a lot of staccato? I've had the "sore tongue" syndrome, actual bleeding, because I had not learned how to lighten up on prolonged staccato playing for multiple concerts in succession.
Jerry
The Villages, FL
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2015-12-02 07:03
I am a doctor and I cannot give a diagnosis without seeing it. See either your family doctor or your dentist....both are qualified to assess it.
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-12-04 08:15
I waited to post until a few more days had passed. After my original post, the next day I tried to play but could not. But 1 more day later it was tolerable with no meds, and 1 more today no problem at all. There was nothing red or white or anything else unusual looking- I still don't know what it was.
I wasn't really asking for a diagnosis. Rather I wanted to know what any of you have done in a "you must perform" situation- play with the pain, or the numbness from painkillers. Or what you think you would do, though that's not as valuable.
Wouldn't have to be your tongue, how about a fingertip or thumb? It doesn't take much to make us miserable, or at least distract us.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2015-12-04 08:56)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-12-04 16:27
Since it seems like just a "scratch" or something else not particularly serious, you just soldier through it. There are countless times I've had a scraped tongue or sore finger and just had to ignore it.
I personally prefer not to use any medications to mask symptoms (particularly when a tactile response is called for). I want to know when "whatever it is" is getting worse or better.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2015-12-04 17:24
I have played through two "trigger" thumbs (once on each hand). But I had gotten it diagnosed and knew what was wrong and I was being treated. It just took awhile to clear up the inflammation and pain.
Karl
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2015-12-04 19:59
There's a story about Franz Liszt wherein he injured a finger before having to perform as pianist. He went ahead with the performance, re-fingering the music as he went to only use his nine uninjured fingers. This idea may not carry over well to clarinet.
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