 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-08-17 04:06
Hey all!
I just started college marching band this week. I really love it, except my thumb became very swollen from supporting my icky plastic clarinet with the flip folder for 12 hours a day. I'm into day 5 now and my thumb has gone numb. (I don't primarily play soprano, so those muscles aren't strong.) I really don't think this is good, but should I be worried? I don't want to be causing permanent damage. The numbness partially wears off, but it hasn't gone completely away. Granted, this sounds really odd, but has anyone else gone through something like this?
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Author: Sue B
Date: 2001-08-17 04:30
Yes many people here have experienced these kinds of problems.
There are neck straps you can try that hook onto the thumbrest. This does take some of the weight off of the thumb.
There are other thumbrests you can try like the Ton Kooiman. I tried the 25.00 variety and it made a huge difference to me on my wooden clarinet.
I was literally to the stage where after a 2 hour rehearsal I had to ice my thumb down because it was so painful. Now I have no pain.
Don't ignore it thinking it will go away it probably won't.
__Sue
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Author: Karel Vahala
Date: 2001-08-17 08:59
Francesca, which part of your thumb is affected? Is it just the part past the last joint, or is it the whole thumb? I also had thumb problems, in one part moving the thumb-rest up 5 mms solved the pain at the base of the thumb, the end part of the thumb settled when I put a piece of aircon pipe insulation over the thumb rest, turning it into a "dunlopillo" comfort zone. I was warned not to use a strap, which inhibits free movement. Karel.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-08-17 10:19
Karel Vahala wrote:
>
> ... I was warned not to use a strap, which inhibits free
> movement.
Whoever told you that didn't know what they were talking about. While it does prevent you from laying it down across your lap unless you unhook it, there are no restrictions on any type of normal movements that you would make while playing.
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-08-17 14:07
Karel (and all) it's the part past the last joint that's really hurting right now. I appreciate the suggestions about neckstraps and adjusting the thumbrest, but that's not really an option. (I don't think so, anyway.) My clarinet doesn't have anywhere to attach a neckstrap and the thumbrest isn't adjustable. I could shell out the money to get that changed, but I'm trying to be thrifty with my funds. (See reference to being a college student!) I'll try to find the nearest music store and see what I can do.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-08-17 14:28
Francesca -
You *must* not let any pain or numbness continue, especially where it keeps up after you stop playing. It can cause permanent damage.
There are clarinet straps that, instead of a hook, have a leather strip with a slit in it to slide the thumb rest through. They go for under $20.
If that's too much $$, borrow a sax neck strap, go to a shoe repair shop and get a thin piece of scrap leather (probably free) maybe 1" wide and 3" long. Give the repairer a dollar and get a little hole punched near the top (for the sax strap hook to go through) and vertical slit cut near the bottom (to slide over the thumb rest).
Take care of yourself!
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sue B
Date: 2001-08-17 16:18
The neckstraps usually attached to the thumbrest. i.e. the thumbrest slips into it. So it is about a $10 - $15 expense.
The adjustable thumbrest can be purchased for about $25 it is supposed to just screw into the holes that the current thumbrest occupies.
I don't know if there would be any problem attaching the TK thumbrest to a plastic clarinet but I'm sure you could ask one of the repair folks here. They ought to know.
Sue
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Author: Karel Vahala
Date: 2001-08-18 03:47
Francesca, if it is only the last part of your thumb that hurts, go to you hardware store or aircon shop, and ask for the smallest diameter foam rubber insulating hose. 2 metres of this cost me $4, and 3 months later I am still using the first 2 cm of it. For me it worked like a charm. Adjustable thumb rests will only help if the problem is in the joint near the wrist ( 1st carpo-metacarpal joint). Karel.
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Author: Karel Vahala
Date: 2001-08-18 03:49
Dee, thank you for your advice. As it happens, I have no need for a strap now. but take your point. Regards, Karel.
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Author: Sue B
Date: 2001-08-18 13:16
I just sent my R-13 to the Brannen's. It has the TK thumbrest on it.
I have been practicing with the Bundy the last couple of days guess what the pain and numbness are back even using the neckstrap.
I can't wait to get the other one back so I can play without these thumb problems. I definitely swear by those thumbrests now.
Sue
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-08-18 15:51
Please see the other post about a sore arm and thumb. Please get this checked out by yur family physician. You may have put too much of a strain on your arm and thumb by excessive practice if you say you are doinhg this for 12 HOURS a day. That is just too much to impose on the human body, I don't care how young you are! Get it check out before it leads to something more serious!!!
Bob Curtis
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-08-18 17:31
Fran - the above advice is VG, my only addition is about the position of the thumb rest. I have found that on nearly all of my cls, the maker's position is too low for my comfort AND interferes with my rt LF access to the lowE/B touch. So my simple solution is to remove and invert it [raising it 1/4-1/2 "] for better "pinch" action, and use a TR cushion to accommodate the curvature. Some adjustable TR's are quite expensive and require pro repair. Luck, Don
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