Any clarinetists out there have the large right thumb syndrome, how it hurts sometimes ! There are all sorts of supports out there, any of you tried them ?
My thumb is so bad now, the nail is starting to deform !! HELP

Do you use a thumb rest?

I know what you mean. Ow! I generally have to have a break after I've been practising for half an hour or so to let my poor, sore thumb recover!

My thumb always ends up killing me but it is more to do with the fact that I permanently have a death grip on my clarinet and my thumb is always aching afterwards...

You can get rubber thumb rests that just slip onto the existing thumb rest, and make it so much easier to hold. I think they were about £2.50 when I got mine a few years ago. Pity I lost it after like 2 months!

You say your nail is starting to deform though, have you tried moving your thumb across so that the clarinet rests on the bottom half of your thumb? That's how i've always done it, and hasn'#t caused too much pain, but pretty much anything with a lot of playing in the altissimo register and my thumb is rather dead at the end!

They sound a good idea.

Pack of 5 available here:

http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/011672/details.html

One for each of your 5 thumbs

Not thought of protecting all my five thumbs - might help -
Actually I've already tried and tested the rubber/foam rests, and find they alter the hight of the clarinet, so don't like them. There are other sorts out there, but I can't remember how they work or where to get them !! I haven't tried to take the weight on the second part of my thumb, but am afraid that will alter the position too much .

I know someone who plays clarinet with a sling. I don't know whether that it is of any help.

Plays clarinet with a sling? Now there's something I have never seen

I've seen it, only coz he was prone to dropping it!

I always suggest younger players use a sling as it takes off the extra weight. The thumbeze thumb rest for £1.00 are the best thumb rests in my opinion although I still have a permanent dent on my right thumb and if I've been playing loads I get a blister

No dents, and I passed the pain threshold years ago, but the bottom right-hand corner of my right thumb isn't very pretty - there's a definite step down between the thumb and the nail, especially if I've done alot of playing.

I used to play the oboe - which I think is probably lighter than a clarinet anyway - and got achy thumb syndrome, but if the nail is deforming, you will definitely need to adjust how the instrument balances on the thumb, or the nail will deform permanently. Only one other thought - it might be as well to let a doc - a skins one- have a look at the nail. It could be that you have an infection in it and nothing to do with the weight of the instrument. That would certainly hurt - and is treatable.
I'm not sure if my medical indemnity covers France! Do get local advice...