Author: RKing
Date: 2019-03-08 18:02
Like the earlier post, I also assume you are talking about your right thumb and I certainly share your pain. My right thumb can hurt so bad after a few minutes that I cannot play on. So I have been working over the past few years to help myself alleviate the pain.
First, I have tried all the thumb rest cushions as well as the Kooiman with no luck.
Raising the thumb rest helped a lot. I now use a Buffet adjustable thumb rest with the strap hole and I have it positioned about 1/2 inch higher than the original.
I use a neck strap. Not the bouncy rubber ones, but a solid saxophone strap.
I have learned to balance the bell of the clarinet on my right leg.
Also for practice, I have switched from my R-13 to a lighter weight plastic Yamaha 255. It is only 2.6 ounces lighter than the Buffet, but it makes a world of difference in how long you can play before the pain kicks in. With my regular mouthpiece, I can make pretty good music through that lighter horn and if I were to start stripping trill keys, I would rather deface a $600 horn than one of my good ones.
I injured my right wrist in an accident and over the years I have gone through the usual pain injections with limited success. I finally went back to a hand specialist and learned that several of my carpal bones have been grinding together and the situation has gotten much worse. My hand hurts all the time - not just when I am trying to play the clarinet.
So I bit the bullet and am scheduled for surgery next week. The doctors are basically planning to "complete the fusion properly" and will fuse my trapezium and trapezoid bones to the scaphoid. If this works out, I should be free of pain and should be able to resume normal activities, including the clarinet, within a couple of months.
Best of luck with your situation, too.
Cheers,
Ron
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