Wrist Injury Restricting Piano Practice!, Help please!! Options

[L1zz1e]

Hi,

I've been playing the piano for 14yrs, but recently had a break of about 2yrs from consistently playing. I started practicing about 4 months ago with the aim of taking my grade 8 in November 2007.

After a couple of weeks of playing, I started to get an aching in my left wrist. It didn't stop me from playing, however I was conscious to try and not make it worse. The only time that it goes away is if I do no practice for a week or so.

I wondered if anyone else has experienced this and would have any advice about what I should do? I don't want to go to my doctors, as I know he will only tell me to rest it which I don't want to do because I really want to be ready for November to do the exam!

I am desperate to find an answer, because I want to eventually be a piano teacher so really don't want to be slowed down or have this affect any future chances of a career.

Please help!!

[harmony2]

As with any injury I would get it checked out by a doctor. I have had tendon problems on and off for years now, and you get to know the signs - I now know when to strap my hand up, and to avoid certain stretches on the piano. If I don't take notice of these, and the advice of the specialist, I know I'll end up not playing the flute (main instrument). After the period of not playing, did you suddenly start doing masses of practice, or work up to it gradually? I know you said you don't want to see a doctor - I definately would to avoid permanent damage. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[L1zz1e]

When I started again I went straight back into practicing about 3 hours a week, so I did think that I maybe went into it a bit quickly.

I now practice a minimum of 1hr a week although try to aim for 3 or more. I'm going to try strapping it up and seeing if that helps, as well as doing more right hand practice for the moment.

Thanks for your advice though, I will definately consider going to my doctor!

[skylark]

It sounds like a form of Repetitive Strain Injury, and I *think* chiropractors can work on this type of injury but I might be wrong. Might be worth checking out though. My experience of chiropractors is that they are very professional and can work wonders with muscular problems, whereas GPs do tend to just say "rest it". If you're not familiar with chiropractic treatment, have a look at the web site for the British Chiropractic Association. I think chiros have several years training just in dealing with muscular and skeletal problems, whereas a GP is obviously more broadly based. But for that reason, chiros tend to be better able to treat muscular/skeletal problems, in my experience. And I think a professionally qualified chiropractor would only consider treating your condiiton if they thought they could help, and if they thought you'd be better seeing a GP, the chiropractors I know would be professional enough to say so and to decline to treat you.

[Maizie]

I'm going to try strapping it up and seeing if that helps

Please get it strapped up by someone who knows how, who can teach you how - a nurse, doctor, physio, etc. If you strap it up yourself and end up 'supporting' it in the wrong place, you could do more harm than good.

[L1zz1e]

Thanks, I will look into my local chiropractor - I hadn't thought of visiting one. I am going to see someone professional, but would rather it wasn't my gp as he tends to take the attitude of rest it to make it better, and I can tell that he would tell me the way to make it better is to stop playing! I'm sure you'll all understand that I would do anything if it means I don't have to give up playing!
Thanks for your help so far, its much appreciated!

[jod]

Lizzie I would really heed the advice hear. I've seen really talented musicians loose their ability to play through practising through and injury.

Acupuncture may work too, but you will probably be advised to rest and only do limited practise.

[Teigr]

Thanks, I will look into my local chiropractor - I hadn't thought of visiting one. I am going to see someone professional, but would rather it wasn't my gp as he tends to take the attitude of rest it to make it better, and I can tell that he would tell me the way to make it better is to stop playing! I'm sure you'll all understand that I would do anything if it means I don't have to give up playing!
Thanks for your help so far, its much appreciated!

Try to take the long term view. Which would be worse - to give up playing for a few weeks now, get some treatment and be able to return to playing in due course or to keep playing now, do permanent damage and end up at the point where you can never play again?

I started getting a lot of pain in my right wrist after I ramped up my organ practice to 8-10+ hours a week (mostly done in chunks of 1.5 - 2.5 hours). I've got an exam this week, so resting completely isn't an option. I cut back to just 4-5 hours a week and I'm babying it as much as possible in general. As soon as the exam's over, I'm giving it a week or two off (will practice LH and pedal stuff exclusively). I'll also get it checked out by my GP if the problems continue or recur. I broke that wrist about 4 years ago and it took a couple of years before it was completely back to normal - the problems now may be related to that or may be something completely different, but either way I'd rather have a few weeks off organ, get some physio if needed and get it fixed properly, so I can then play again.
I'm every bit as fired up about playing the organ as you are about the piano. The idea of possibly having to stop for a few weeks is horrible. But I think it would be far far worse to plough on now, ignoring the signals my wrist is giving that something isn't right, and end up with it damaged to the point where I have to stop playing for ever.

So, I think you should get it checked out properly now, even if it you may have to take a break from piano for a while. Also, if you keep playing with an injury, you may get into bad habits with your technique as you try to compensate for the problem. If you really want to prioritise your piano playing, try to take the long-term view.

If you do end up having to take a few weeks off, you can still do technical work with your other hand and you can work on theory, aural, general musicianship, etc. so the time doesn't have to be completely "wasted".

Good luck with it all. :-)

[Roseau]

You don't say if you are having lessons or not. Sometimes a tiny change to posture/hand position can make a huge difference to comfort. If you have a teacher I suggest you tell them about the problem and ask them to watch your left hand carefully while you play to see if they can see anything.

Like the others I think you should also have it checked by a medical professional as three hours a week (I presume you meant a week and not a day) is not really excessive.

[chocolatedog]

Definitely see a doctor - if they tell you to rest it, it's for a good reason - i.e. if you don't, you might end up permanently damaging it if it's tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.....Even if you have to take a break from playing, there's still plenty you can do with your pieces - analyse them; study them by sight; really understand the theory and the chord progressions; try to develop your inner ear, and hear them in your head without playing them; try to memorize them without playing (I know it sounds stupid, but it is possible - I once memorized a piece without playing a single note of it on the piano during the memorizing process.....) etc. Also try to get hold of recordings and listen critically - do you like the way the performer plays this phrase, or that phrase - and if you can get different recordings, compare the different interpretations, etc...... But definitely don't risk damaging your wrist permanently - as kerioboe said, 3 hours a week is not excessive - if you'd said 8 hours a day, I might have said "no wonder".....! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Hope you sort it out!

[Robodoc]

I am late into this thread, but "let me through, I'm a doctor", so a few observations:

1) I am highly sceptical about 3 hours a week leading to any kind of RSI unless there is a serious technical fault as well. Whoever said get your teacher to check your technique was wise.

2) Injuries from whatever cause take time to heal. Unless you have a Tardis there is no way round this.

3) Acupuncture works very well to get rid of pain but I remain sceptical about the ability of acupuncture to deal with the causes of pain. If the pain is suppressed or abolished without addressing the cause the result can be even greater damage.

4) I would suggest a physiotherapist or osteopath rather than a chiropracter (It is possible that I am merely prejudiced against chiropracters because they're "alternative", but given my enthusiastic support for accupuncture, osetopathy and herbalism, though not homeopathy, it seems unlikely).

5) See your doctor.

Good luck

[A.U.K]

Listen to the DOC, he's the real deal and knows what he is talking about...see a doctor..

good luck hope you get this sorted very soon

[L1zz1e]

Thanks very much everyone for all your advice, I'm not currently having lessons but will definately get a teacher to look at how I'm playing once I start up again because I think after the gap I had in playing its probably very likely that my technique in that hand has slipped.

You've convinced me to see a doctor so I'm going to do that, as well as an osteopath (thanks robodoc for that suggestion!)

You're all right though, at the end of the day I'd be much better off missing a few months of playing now in order to fix this than to have a recurring problem for years to come.

Thanks everyone, you're advice is much appreciated!

[harmony2]

Glad to hear you are taking the sensible route! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[carol*piano]

Listen to the DOC, he's the real deal...

No - he is ROBOdoc - surely some kind of robot doctor substitute... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)