 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: samacro
Date: 2005-10-22 08:08
I am a 22-year-old college student. Within the nect couple of months I will be investigating potential grad schools. However, that seems like a far reality at this point because I have a problem. Let me give you a little history about it:
I August I participated in a chamber music festival. I played over six hours every day in personal/group rehearsals and performances. I came home exhausted and unable to control one side of my embouchure. I could not stop myself from leaking. I took a few days off and then I was very careful to take frequent breaks when practicing for long periods of time. After several weeks I felt much better.
Two weeks ago I played a concert with the university wind ensemble. I sit principal and we played some pretty heavy stuff such as the Hindemith Symphony for band. That concert sent me into a relapse. But this time, it's worse.
The first symptom that showed up was my being un able to control leakage on both sides of my embouchure. I also began to lose control of my high/low notes. Then I started to shake while playing (especially during longer tones)... the shaking seems to eminate from the muscles around my mouth and my jaw.
Again I took a few days off, but this time I have not been able to resume even a sub-standard level of practicing. I am taking Advil regularly to help relax my muscles, using hot and cold compresses and I have temporarily switched to a smaller mouthpiece to help release tension, etc. These are all suggestions of my professor and several of her colleagues. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be working.
I am sincerely concerned and depressed about this situation. To say that I am scared does not begin to explain how I feel. In a matter of weeks I seem to have digressed from an aspiring young professional clarinetist to someone struggling to produce a clear and pain-free sound.
Has anyone out there experienced something like this or seen someone else experience anything like this? Does anyone have any suggestions or know anyone/anything that might help? Please contact me asap.
I should mention that I have Invisalign braces and I have had them for approximately 10 months. Up until now, they have never posed much of a problem for me, anything but.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-10-22 08:22
Whatever you do - drop the Advil. It will just remove (if at all) the symptoms, not the underlying cause.
Next check with your dentist/orthodontist. Your braces might - minutely - change your bite, putting a slightly different strain on your jaw joints.
When I was last visiting my dentist, I told him about nocturnal biting habits and he suggested I immediately stop it, as the muscle strain could affect the joints and/or apply pressure on the trigeminus nerve which controls a lot of the lower facial muscles. It could develop into a chronical trigeminal neuralgia.
Good luck.
--
Ben
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2005-10-22 09:21
Sounds very likely to be a dental problem. The orthodontist will probably have some immediate ideas about what adjustments to make; if necessary, your primary dentist/orthodontist will probably be able to refer you to a specialist. Very minor "misalignments" of teeth or dental appliances (braces, caps, bridges) often result in significant pain that can be fairly easily corrected by your dentist. Self medicating is not the answer. If the dentist cannot find a problem, ask her/him to suggest the next steps to diagnose the underlying cause. Even if this turns out not to be a dental problem, since you have braces you probably need to rule out a misalignment. George
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Author: DougR
Date: 2005-10-22 11:02
Frankly, I'd schedule an urgent visit with your primary care physician. Obviously your dentist is the go-to guy for issues clearly involving your braces--which your symptoms may or MAY NOT be.
If I understand most health plans correctly (and hopefully, you're covered by your school health plan or something), your primary care doctor is the gatekeeper for any further highly specialized care you may (emphasize 'may') need: ENT, neurology, who knows.
So if I were you, I'd pursue a remedy along as many fronts as possible. It may simply be a combination of overuse of the muscles plus the orthodontic issues, but I wouldn't give serious weight to anyone but a credentialed medical professional, if I were you.
Also, I'd try to stay out of catastrophe-mindset, if possible. It's difficult to function with one's internal alarm-bells going off all the time, and the energy catastrophic thinking uses up is much better focused toward pursuing remedies. I guess I'm saying, see if you can relax your mind a little, cultivate some faith that an answer will be found, and at the same time, pursue serious medical help as doggedly and diligently as possible.
Good luck. Keep us posted.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-10-22 11:45
Hello,
If you need a dental specialist, Dr. Ron Odrich is a fabulous jazz clarinetist in NYC. Therefore, he is sensitive to clarinet related dental problems. Good luck.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2005-10-22 11:50
Yes, See Your Doctor right away. If they can't give you a diagnosis, get a 2nd opinion. Symphonic musicians, or the AFofM my have further resources.
The question is whether the problem is muscular or neurological, and only your doctor can determine this.
I had a similar problem two years ago when i lost the feeling in the center of my lower lip. A dentist friend diagnosed which nerve was pinched, told me how to deal with it, and what the range of expectations was for recovery. It took about 3 weeks of *not playing at all* to get to the point where I could play for 20 minutes, then I had to build back up *slowly*. If your teachers are any good, they will realize you have a sports injury and there will be a recovery period. If they are not so good, well I can't tell you what to do. Think of yourself as a football player with a pulled hamstring - the issues much the same.
I was lucky, but have changed things around to prevent recurrence (Alexander Technique issues, different reeds, better practice regimen, rules for gigs, etc.) Things may not be the same for a while, but you have to be in control of your own recovery. Ask a lot of questions. If the answers you get don't make sense, ask someone else. Foremost: BE PATIENT.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2005-10-22 11:51
Sorry - CFofM.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-10-22 12:42
This is not a place for long-distance diagnosis of medical problems. Being unable to control musculature that you used to be able to control can be a serious thing.
When you're worried about something physical, go to a doctor first. Taking advice from here is dangerous without a consultation with somkeone who can examine you first-hand and who can do the proper tests to eliminate anything that is physically wrong.
Once you get that clean bill of health and there's still some problems - come on back.
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