pains in the right arm?

[dpicker]

I have been trying to learn to play for about 2 years now and I haven't had any pains, but now that I am ordering a new Guild I have been practicing quiet lot more and my left fore arm hurts after playing for while. Is this common and are there any exercises that help get though this. I am playing finger style. I should say I am 65 years old. Thanks Doug

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

My friend, You are not alone with the tendonitis and arthritis.

I would ask Your Physician for some help, either by medication, or other suggested means. Medicated rubs help temporaily too, and they are inexpensive.

I regularly have pain blocker epidural injections, and I sometimes need other pain meds, but it helps!

God Bless, and never give up!

 

[dpicker]

Dr Izza Plumber
So you have the same problem i guess. how long have you been playing? i kind of thought that after a while your muscles would build up and the pain would go away. i guess that is wishful thinking. thanks for the info. i can't go to my doctor he is tired of seeing me. Doug

 

[earbleedz]

I have had the same problem with numbness in my fingers, at times, and I think stretching helps a good deal. Also it bothers me more in the morning. Also, change up the keys and chords you play, and avoid bar chords. Once you get used to playing more, and get stronger, it will bother you less. Hopefully...

 

[West R Lee]

Same here, except mine burns badly at times. Just my left arm through my forearm into my wrist. It has kept me from playing from time to time. This pain sometimes gets so bad that over the counter anti inflammatories don't help. I'd ask a doctor about it, but I'm afraid he'd tell me I have carpul tunnel.

West

 

[dpicker]

this isn't sounding good, i had no idea this was a dangerous hobby.

 

[guildzilla]

I've had pretty painful carpal tunnel symptons in the past in my right hand and wrist, but it thankfully has gone away for the past 10 years or so (replaced by various other afflictions but oh well).

What I'd suggest is trying different things with the hope of finding the right formula to allow you to play guitar without making yourself hurt.

Change the pattern of how you play/practice. Shorter periods more frequently or longer periods less frequently.

With your guitar you could try downtuning to Eb or D to lessen the tension on the strings. Or using a capo. Or both. Use more open tunings to change the shapes your hand is making. Try to figure out which chord shapes are causing the most fatigue and pain and which ones are easy.

I was working as a newspaper reporter during one of the worst CT flare ups. Taking notes and keyboarding was agony. I experimented and made adjustments - posture, stiffer wrist, elbow support - in how I typed and used a pen. Switched from a really skinny pen to a slightly fatter one.
The CT got better gradually and finally went away.

 

[West R Lee]

Heck Zilla, open chords are all I know. And all I use are light gauge strings which I don't have to mash quite as much. Thanks for the advice though.

West

 

[dpicker]

thank you good advice. i am going to try extra light strings, and more open chords, good ideas. thank you

 

[guildzilla]

Drop D tuning (DADGBD) is something to try, as well.

Lots of Neil Young songs sound great in drop D. "The Loner" and "Old Laughing Lady" come to mind. The fingering positions for the drop D tuning chords can be hand-friendly. A lot of "two-finger" chords. It gives your hand a break from standard first position chords.

Best wishes for pain-free picking, dpicker.

 

[iamru02]

dpicker,
Years ago, I found a book called "Isometric Exercises for Guitar". It had lots of simple things to build strenght and agility. One I remember is squeezing a ball to build grip. I did a search after reading your question and found the site below. It might aid your situation. It's not what I was looking for but has some good info. Of course I agree with seeing a doc as been suggested if your pain gets worse or doesn't go away. My oldest son is a coach and trainer, educated in Sports Medicine. He always recommends the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) when dealing with strained muscles. I currently have "Tennis Elbow" in my right arm, a total different monster from yours but it is painful to pick up my coffee or hang up a coat sometimes. Ice and streching and TIME are my only defenses. Also, before reading the article, and don't be offended by this, I don't know you, but I'm reminded of a quote from Will Rodgers. It goes something like this. "Be careful reading medical books, you might die from the symptons" :?
The regulars here come through once again with some great suggestions for you. Keep in mind, switching to extra light strings will ease the tention required from your fingers but you might need to have some adjustments made to your guitar neck if you experience buzzing. Nothing against extra lights but I found that their tonality falls just a little bit shy and they don't last as long.
I hope my 2 cents helps, and perhaps you can research the internet or your local library for books on Isometrics for guitarist. They're out there.
Here's the link
http://www.pellegrinlowend.com/exercise050210.html

 

[dpicker]

this is great advice and i will try them all. thanks again Doug

 

[dreadnut]

I needed a cortisone injection in my right elbow recently. Stupily, I yanked on my leafblower pull cord about 40 times trying to start it (it's right in the manly manual "if it don't start, yank on it until your elbow hurts before trying a new spark plug" )

It's still a little tender, I usually pop a few ibuprofen before we go to the nursing home and play for the "old folks" :lol:

One of these days, they're just going to keep me there.

Anyway, one more suggestion, see how you like playing with a bottleneck slide like Dickie Betz, or Dobro Jerry Douglas style.

Hang in there.

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Dr Izza Plumber
So you have the same problem i guess. how long have you been playing? i kind of thought that after a while your muscles would build up and the pain would go away. i guess that is wishful thinking. thanks for the info. i can't go to my doctor he is tired of seeing me. Doug

I've played giutar around 4 decades now, and moving south to the Florida climate has helped (health wise) tremendously. I used to hurt so much when I lived in the north east, that I lost My interest in guitars. Now, I have to play every day, sometimes up to 4 or 5 hours.

 

[dpicker]

Dr Izza Plumber. that is good news, i live in florida and over time when the exercize programs start to help i should be ok. thanks for all the support. now all i need is my new Guild. at 65 i am like a kid waiting for santa, should be here in 2 weeks. thanks again. Doug

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

It's good to be anxious about the new Guild!

Don't forget to post pics when the new axe arrives. If for some reason You are not able to post pics, if You send the pics to Me via email, I can help you out!

 

[dpicker]

i can't wait and i will post 10 pictures Doug

 

[plaidseason]

I just posted this in another forum recently, but here goes . . .

I've dealt with ligament pain in my left arm for years and until recently only found relief when I both utilized painkillers AND put the guitar away for a few days.

Now, and I'm still a little uncomfortable saying this, I'm using a magnetic bracelet and believe it or not it has completely eliminated the problem.

A few months ago I would have completely scoffed at such an assertion, but that's not so much the case now. My wife was ordering a magnetic necklace and asked if I wanted to have the free bracelet that came with it. I had thought the whole magnet therapy thing was total bunk, but in an attempt to be "open-minded" I said "sure I'll give it a shot."

Well . . . to my utter surpise the thing seems to really work. I haven't had any pain at all, nothing. And if anything, I've been more active (using my laptop at work and for a class I'm taking, and playing my guitar quite a bit).

So . . . while I'm still not 100% comfortable saying this: you should definitely try some kind of magnetic bracelet. I'll even recommend a company called Ace Magnetics (http://www.acemagnetics.com) as their prices are the most reasonable I've seen and their customer service is top-notch.

-Chris

 

[iamru02]

Chris,
I know a woman that swears by the magnet stuff. If it works for you and brings back the joy of playing, well, that should be all that matters. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Doug,
Has guitar been an off and on thing for you through the years or just the last two? Either way, at 65, good for you. I'll be 52 shortly and the closer I get to 65, the more I reallize just how young it is. Good luck with the arm thing and your playing. It brings a lot of joy to me, for sure.

 

[dpicker]

i just started 2 years ago and just love it.