My arm hurts. doctor in the house?

[jeff_75]

I played a long gig (4 hours) with my band last night. #We actually played about 3 hours worth of music, and took about an hour's worth of intermissions. #We play pretty fast and hard - most of our tunes are fast and very rhythm intensive on the mandolin for me. #When I got home and fell into bed, my right (picking) arm was aching. #It felt comparable to a broken bone - a very bad but dull ache that felt like it was in the bone. #Not like a muscular soreness at all. #I have previously (15 years ago) broken that wrist and sometimes the wrist will ache a bit, but this was pretty much the whole arm. Took a lot of Advil to knock it back. It was bad enough that it kept me from sleeping soundly.

I've experienced this once or twice before, also following a long gig. #This seems to happen after a gig, but never following a practice session. #

Anyone else have anything similar? #Would this just be the result of a longer, more intensive playing session that my arm isn't used to? Am I just getting older?

[Ken Sager]

I've experienced this once or twice before, also following a long gig. #This seems to happen after a gig, but never following a practice session. #

Anyone else have anything similar? #Would this just be the result of a longer, more intensive playing session that my arm isn't used to? #Am I just getting older?

If you've experienced this before after long gigs this should tell you something...

You're not gigging like you practice. Whatever you're doing at gigs is making your arm hurt so stop doing it. If your practices are as long as gigs, then try to gig more like you practice.

Advil helps, so does stretching, ice, and massage.

To answer your other questions:

Yes
Maybe
Yes

I hope this is of some use to you.

Best,
Ken

[Ken Sager]

Oh, and I'm not a doctor. But I did stay at a Days Inn last night in eastern Oregon...

KS

[JGWoods]

Unless you are dead you're getting older...

Practicing a lot will add wear. It is hard to get "in condition" for this type of thing.
Mostly it is a matter of adjusting your technique so you can go longer.
I swap between fiddle and mandolin to keep from overtaxing one set of muscles and joints.

[mandroid]

Physical Therapist ? or at least a good Licensed Massage Therapist
to help get the tension out of those tendons and muscles.

[Fretbear]

Most important point is never push it. If it is hurting it is telling you to back off and let it recover. You could benefit from myofacial release (a special type of therapeutic massage) The site of the old injury has likely got tissues, tendons, etc. that are stuck (glued) against and upon one another and that the myofacial massage can help release.

[Katie]

I hear Alexander Technique can help a lot with musicians tensions of all sorts. I keep wanting to take a seminar or a course in it, but Alexander Technique for musicians is not like yoga classes. You can't find one in every YMCA. If you get the chance though, take it.
-Katie

[Tim2723]

I was lucky to find a therapist nearby who deals in musician's injuries, just as many therapists specialize in athlete's injuries. If you can find somebody like that, go for it. Worth every penny my insurance company spent.

[GTison]

Advice from the previously injured: GET TO A REAL ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR. Delayed treatment with injurys is gambling on your future playing. Injuries can and often do get worse. Read ASAP "the athletic musician" (interlibrary loans). You could have the above mentioned things with the old injury or something else like, tedonitis or Tennis elbow (yes you), or who knows what. You can fiddle around here for months hoping it will not happen again. But, if you love playing you better find out what caused it, what it is and how to fix it. I have a friend who had to quit entirely because of pain the the right arm. If you can find a musical specialist, that would be best. They do exist in many large cities. How much is playing worth to you?

[Tom C]

I dislocated my left shoulder many times. Had 2 surgeries about 12 and 10 years ago.
And have still since dislocated 2 years ago.
Anyway, even today, extensive playing will make the shoulder sore. Finger muscles are connected to the hand bone, the hand bone is connected....Lately it's been tenonitis in left thumb from choking the neck.

[Chunky But Funky]

I am a Physical Therapist, but without an evaluation it is really conjecture. #Check and see if your state has direct access for PT, you could see one for an evaluation without a MD's prescription. #However, insurance may require that script anyway.

Several things come to mind that may help narrow it down. #Which shoulder do you wear your strap over? #If you wear it over your right shoulder and "shrug" to hold it there you could be compressing a bundle of nerves (brachial plexus) and arteries that run from your neck into your arm. #Look up "Thoracic outlet syndrome". # #Another "compression point" would be where your forearm rests on the mando. #Compression there for extended periods...say 4 hours...could cause symtoms similar to dinging your funny bone. #If any symptoms seem to be focused at the wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome is a possibility. #Otherwise, just build up your tolerance by practicing 4 hours per day! #That'll be $100. #

Doug

[sunburst]

Some years ago, a musician friend of mine, a banjo and guitar player, had tedonitis in his arms to the point of serious discomfort and affected playing. He found a specialist who asked him to bring his banjo in to the office so he could watch him play and evaluate the situation.
My friend carried his banjo case into the office and the Dr. said "Get a shoulder strap for that case." Perhaps there were other things that helped, but taking the weight of the banjo and case off of his fingers was the biggest thing that helped him.

[Pen]

My guess is scurvy. Eat more limes.