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Re: Left Thumb Pad pain

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-12-26 20:17

As in so many similar situations, this board is just not a good place to ask to have physical pain diagnosed. The pain you describe suggests some kind of inflammation in the thumb. It may be related to the clarinet or not. You should probably have an orthopedist (especially one who specializes in problems of the hand and wrist) evaluate it, which may mean going through your primary care physician to get a referral. The orthopedist (or your PCP) may suggest medication, therapy, cortisone shots or, at the most aggressive end, surgery, but that's all for medical experts to suggest.

Could it have been caused by repetitive stress from playing? Probably no one will be able to say for sure, but after a month of no improvement, it probably isn't going to clear up on its own. Any accommodations you make in your playing to relieve/avoid pain risks distorting your technique in ways that may be hard to correct once the pain goes away.

IMO you should have this evaluated by qualified medical people ASAP and not spend time trying to self-diagnose and self-treat it. Simply waiting it out seems to be a ship that has already sailed. If your playing technique is at fault in any way, a therapist (I think this would fall under "occupational therapy") may be able to pinpoint the problem, especially if you can find one who knows the problems of woodwind playing. That's one direction in which the ortho you see may guide you.

Karl

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