Pain from Playing

[Six String]

One recurring question I've seen in the forums is what to do when you have over done it and have pain in your hands and/or elbow.  It seems there is a point where we all become more motivated to play than our physical abilities will support and we end up with something hurting. 

I personally had a point where I had constant notable pain in my right elbow to the point it affected other aspects of my life.  Doing routine tasks would result in sharp spikes of pain to the point of expletives.  I found the video posted below and followed the steps 2-3 times a day for a week or so, taking about 4 days off from playing and the pain went away and has never come back.  YMMV, but I post in hopes it will help others find relief.  Use this video if you have overdone it.

Use this to help avoid problems in the first place.

 

[Wim VD]

Steve shows some very useful hand stretching and warm-up exercises in his Speed and Agility Workouts. It would be nice If he could show these in one of his next live lessons.

[V7#5b9]

Pain is a very real issue. Warm-up exercises and stretches are extremely important. I myself had to deal with tendonitis and trigger finger for over six months. Had to go for physiotherapy, but it only helped partially. I had to continue prescribed exercises at home and that’s probably the case for most people. Got rid of the trigger finger eventually, but I still get somewhat stiff fingers in the morning. I no longer pick up the guitar without proper warm-up and stretches as I sometimes used to. I remember Six String posted similar, if not the same, videos on the old forum. 

Gary Crowley identifies himself as a chronic joint pain specialist, seems very credible and shares a lot of information in both video and written formats on his website. Of course, one should consult a physician first, but in my case the advice given by my physiotherapist matched that of Gary’s. As always though, prevention is the best medicine. 

[Cindy]

I had surgery for tennis elbow back in 2009. Afterwards, I had hand therapy (which is a specific form of physical therapy) to help strengthen those tendons. You'd think bicep and tricep exercises would help, but they aren't the types of exercises to address tennis elbow. 

The first video above is good for golfer's elbow (if the discomfort is on the underside of the forearm). But if people have pain on the top side, tennis elbow exercises help to strengthen the extensor tendons/muscles.

Nice to see videos addressing arm/hand pain. Those forearm tendons/muscles are very small. They run down the forearms and attach to the fingers. Unfortunately they can be easily strained so stretching and rest are very important. 

Thanks @Six Stringfor a great reminder! 

[Blue Dog]

I have to take a D3 Vitamin for muscle and joint pain for my arm and hands . some times the doc has me to take 50,000 iu pills for a week. To get the pain to stop. I broke my arm at the shoulder and it toke them six years to get it fixed. a lot of pain. D3 stopped it in its tracks after they got every fixed