When I stand up and play I feel a sting in the calves of my legs and in my head. It happens when I'm standing in the church service too. It's OK when I sit down.

Is it some thing with my nerves? or is it some thing to do with stress? or standing the wrong way when I play violin? (dont wont to even think about that!)

I take it you mean it isn't just happening when you play the violin but anytime you are standing still for any length of time?

I think you should see your doctor.

Liz

This doesn't sound like a musical or a postural problem to me, but that you're stressed out or upset about something. When I'm suppressing a negative emotion about something important to me, I get VERY tight calf muscles which can feel like they're stinging and it's worse when I stand. Headaches are a common symptom of strain and disatisfaction with something.

It sounds to me (opinion number three!) like you have a trapped nerve. As Liz says, I think you should see a doctor, and get the problem properly diagnosed. It's possible that it's related to your posture when playing one of your instruments, but pretending it isn't there won't make it go away. Do you have local doctors who understand musical 'stuff' who could help you properly? I would imagine it's likely to require a referral to someone like a physiotherapist. You may also want to consider something like alexander technique to work on playing posture if that proves to be the difficulty.

Don't worry too much about it, but do get it looked at.

I think you are probably right - I need to find a doctor. Stress is probably a factor - Viohazard is very nervous of upsetting his violin teacher, but on the other hand, the discomfort is affecting him outside violin lessons too.

Japan's medical system divides community medical care firmly into "internal" (physicians, medicine) and "external" (surgeons, injuries etc), and the "external" ones are a bit thin on the ground. The local guy who looked after brother Airman's hand (after bullies broke a bone while kicking him during physical education class at school) has left Airman with a distortion on one side of his hand, and his little finger turned out about 30% from normal. Now that Airman has passed his high school entrance, he wants me to teach him to play the flute...I haven't said anything to him, but privately wonder if his little finger is up to it.

... in short, I'm not keen to take a second member of our family to that doctor!

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Erm, was that meant to say something in particular or do you just have a question mark fetish??

I think perhaps emy is confused by the account sharing that goes on between viohazard and all ears? (I found it confusing when I first joined the forum too).

All ears - I'd do a search to try and find someone who specialises in work with musicians.

Perhaps rather than hand him over to someone you don't trust, a first stop with an alexander specialist might be sensible? At least they can't do much active harm!

Sorry for any confusion! I replied because Viohazard was away on a school trip last week...I normally put "son Viohazard" just to clarify, but last week wasn't a week for details...

Alexander technique is very rare here, but definitely need to look into this. There seems to be a tendency here for violinists to regard occupational injuries as a kind of badge of honour, but I think there must be better ways than pain to tell if you've done enough practice.

This just sounds so Japanese/Eastern to me!! I agree with you though, and anyway, surely someone is going to play better without pain??