 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Leslie
Date: 2002-11-06 01:22
I have developed a swelling on the edge of my bottom lip and slightly below it where it presses against the reed. The swelling used to be just a red mark after practicing but now it's definitely swollen and the swelling doesn't go down. I'm not biting and, in fact, use denture liner to cover my bottom teeth so they don't cut into my bottom lip. The swelling seems to be between the tissue- sort of like an internal callous. After playing for 45 years perhaps it's thickened tissue that finally grew to be noticeable but it feels swollen. I did try to ice after practicing once but it didn't seem to make a difference. There is no significant pain or discomfort, just a noticeable bump. The dentist suggested seeing a plastic surgeon. That seems pretty drastic. I'm still convinced it's from over practice or perhaps an allergy to some very old reeds that had mildew on them. (I cleaned them with isopropyl alcohol before using them!) Anyone out there with some suggestions, please?
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Author: Burt
Date: 2002-11-06 02:55
I have no idea what isopropyl alcohol does to mildew, but hydrogen peroxide (3%, as used for first aid) is a common way to clean reeds.
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-11-06 03:28
Leslie, do you think you can afford to replace the reeds? Maybe you can recoup your losses on your investment on those old reeds by reselling them on e-Bay. I am sure there will be some lively bidding for those 45 year old reeds.
I would bet that the referral to the plastics man was to utilize his profound knowledge of pathology not his surgical skill. The referral could as easily been to an oral surgeon, dermatologist or allergist. If switching to a new reed and sterilizing the mouthpiece (and cleaning cloth) doesn't get positive results in a week or so I would get to someone with medical expertise. Changes in tissue size, color, shape or feeling should be investigated. The vast majority of causes of these changes are very benign... wouldn't you like to put all worries about it to rest?
Please take no offense to my jibe above, it was meant as humor!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-11-06 03:57
Perhaps it's a sort of callous? It doesn't bother you, but it's there. Just like most callouses. Like the one where your teeth hit your inside lip, the ones on my fingers, maybe you developed one from practicing so much. I'm NOT a doctor, but hey, it could be. Get a doctor's opinion though. Dermatologist should be ok. Plastic surgeon perhaps, but I think they'd be more interested in the solution than diagnosing the problem.
Alexi
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2002-11-06 18:32
Sorry Leslie - please go along with your knowledgable dentist. I must agree with Terry. If your dentist has referred you to a plastic surgeon for investigation - go to it. It's merely to rule out any big problems for the future. As a GP dentist, I refer too, if I'm not absolutely sure of the cause or the pathology. The great majority of cases turn out to be quite benign, but get it seen to and rest easy. Trust in your professional.
As far as Alexi's assumption about plastic surgeons is concerned- I'm sure it was meant well but it's quite dangerous to make statements of this kind. Upon what was this based ? Plastic surgeons are highly trained in diagnostic skills particularly relating to their field of work.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-11-07 01:14
Sorry Bob. It was just a speculation. Just that I heard that ALL doctors are trained in ALL areas. For instance, my cousin is a med student. He tells me that a doctor can write ANY type of medicine and practice ANY type of medicine. A foot doctor can try to treat you for a hemmorhoid he he/she wants. But doctor's specialize in certain areas and tend to be more proficient in those areas. So I would think a plastic surgeon would be more skilled in how to remove a bump than to diagnose how it happened, while a dermatologist would be the reverse. That was my basis. Sorry for the slanted comment. No harm was meant.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-11-07 02:43
sfalexi wrote:
>
> Sorry Bob. It was just a speculation. Just that I heard
> that ALL doctors are trained in ALL areas.
You heard wrong.
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