 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ashley91489
Date: 2009-06-29 22:03
Lately I've noticed my wrist hurting. It's at the very top of my wrist in the middle. It hurts a little when a bend it back some but its much worse if I just let my wrist naturally hang down.
I'm wondering if this could be from playing the clarinet for an extended time or if it's just from something else. Typically speaking, when there is wrist pain associated with the clarinet, where is it usually located?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-06-29 22:16
Any wrist pain should be treated seriously.
I could be something as simple as over use, which can be remedied by more frequent practice breaks or even a relocation of the thumb rest to a more ergonomically friendly position.
Or it could be more serious and may signal the possible onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Don't guess - get a professional medical opinion.
...GBK
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-06-29 22:20
Don't ignore wrist pain, and don't play with it either.
Get it checked out by a Doctor as it could turn into something that could put you out for quite a long time.
And use a strap at least until you are completely healed.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-06-30 02:24
Ashley -
You need to go to a doctor or physical therapist who specializes in musicians. They see your type of problem all the time and know what to do.
Assuming the pain is in your right wrist, the solution will almost certainly involve moving the thumb rest.
Don't wait even a day. It only gets worse.
Ken Shaw
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-06-30 08:24
Don't play on pain. Quit playing for days, weeks or months until it is all gone and doesn't come back. You have sustained an injury and you must let it heal or you will make it worse. Sorry to be so negative but I have gone through this and it's nothing to take lightly.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-06-30 10:59
I can only chime in here and recommend the Quodlibet Fhred support if you're having trouble - slings/neck straps aren't going to offer much in way of support as you will still need to hold the clarinet up (the slings have the tendency to make the clarinet point straight downwards), but the Fhred takes the weight off your right arm and also allows for good posture, so this will give your right arm and wrist more freedom and also allow it to rest and recover, but you can still play at the same time.
You may need to have a cor anglais thumbrest fitted, or have a metal ring soldered to the back of your existing thumbrest in order to attach the Fhred to, or you may find some other means of attaching it to the thumbrest.
http://www.howarth.uk.com/pic.aspx?pic=./wo/CAFhredPro.jpg&pid=43399
I'm not affiliated with the Quodlibet company, but I have seen the benefits their products offer to players who would have otherwise given up playing on account of pain or injury.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2009-06-30 11:03)
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Author: tetiana
Date: 2009-06-30 21:28
Hi Ashley:
Several years ago when I was a relative new-comer to the instrument, I developed wrist pain and got excellent advice on this site. I am still very grateful for this and touched by the care and concern expressed by those who replied. It put me on the right track and has kept me playing, what - at least five? seven? years later.
My two cents to you: First of all (1) stop playing as you may compound the problem (2) get yourself checked out (3) try out the suggestions mentioned by others. What worked for me was the neck strap and the repositioning of the thumb rest. That took care of the pain. But I must say I have had all kinds of technical issues with playing that I finally related to the thumbrest and about 2 years ago I moved it back (thankfully without any recurrence of the wrist problem). When the thumb rest is positioned higher, it changes many, many things about how the hand and the fingers relate to the instrument. Then again, my technical problems may in truth be a function of my hand shape/size/weakness of certain recalcitrant fingers (ring and pinkie).
Good luck and take care of yourself.
Tetiana
tetiana
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Author: jeanie
Date: 2009-07-01 01:33
I have carpal t in both wrists and had surgery on the r hand about 5 yrs ago. It helped, but the recovery time was extremely painful and debilitating. I could not open even a car door or refridge door for at least 3 months. Try dressing with one arm, not fun. Right handed and couldn't write legibly for a few months, didn't play of course for about 10 wks.
2 things that have really helped:
1. Robert James Weight Lifter stand; I had purchased one at an ICA convention years ago and didn't care for it, but hauled it out after the surgery and got used to it and never play without it. The stand sits on the ground and a cradle can be adjusted to put your bell on; all of the weight of the clar is on the stand. Way better than a strap. I tried to buy another RJWL stand, but never had any luck locating the builder or the stand for sale anywhere. I was lucky to come across a used one on the BB a few years ago and keep one in my studio and one in the car for when I go to reh/concerts.
2. About 3 wks after the rh carp tun surgery, I ran into someone who recommended a certified Bowen Method therapist. Google Bowen Method to get the whole scoop. Went to a certified massage therapist who was also Bowen certified and it was amazing how he could release the pressure on the wrist. I now go to him for maintainance about every 6-8 wks and it's worth it. I did not have surgery on the L hand; the therapist treats the whole body starting with the spine.
Hope this helps.
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2009-07-02 13:32
This BB is so informative! You all give us some options to look into in order to find something that's effective in our own case.
I'm facing surgery for Carpal Tunnel, but in the 3 month wait until the consultation appointment I have the chance to try other methods. I'm waiting for an appt. with an accupuncturist, a medical professor from a local university. The problem isn't so severe now that we're in the summer, but income tax season is brutal and every year is worse. So nobody can blame the clarinet playing in my case! We just have to time surgery and recovery so that it makes the least impact on a heavy work schedule - just like childbirth and vacations have to be timed just right, sometime between July and September.
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2009-07-02 22:40
Did the original poster mention which wrist hurts?
I can sympathize. My RH wrist hurts after a long concert or a long, intense rehearsal.
Not to stray from this subject...but I just want to add that this year is the first time I've begun to feel soreness in the joints of my fingers, too, after intense practice and concerts. I'm assuming it's arthrically-related because I also suffer from arthritis in my right knee. If I only could hold up as well as my clarinet has after all these years!
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Author: Ron
Date: 2009-07-08 12:02
You have gotten some good advice from the previous responses. Let me add one more. I have been playing the clarinet for over 50 years and it's been awhile since I had someone watch me play. A few years ago I started to have severe right wrist pain. I had decided to go to the doctor; however, before I did, I asked a friend who plays the clarinet in a concert band to watch me play for a minute. He noticed that my hand position was incorrect. I asked him to play and observed his posture and hand position, etc. I corrected my hand position and the pain disappeared. My point is that the solution may be a simple one - and so I suggest that you have a well trained clarinetist take a look at your overall posture, how you hold the clarinet, hand position, etc. to see if you are doing something that needs to be corrected. Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest ones.
Ron
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