carpal tunnel

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:48 pm

i've been told that dave has a fairly bad case of carpal tunnel syndrome due to his style of playing. is this true and will any of us have to worry about it down the road?

DMBFan63 · Post by **DMBFan63** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:36 pm

Yes, he has carpal tunnel.. i don't think it's due to his style of playing, i believe it is a hereditary thing.. though if it isn't, all of us will probably suffer from a small case of it..

riffduster01 · Post by **riffduster01** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:46 pm

What's carpal tunnel? arthritis in the elbow/wrist?

DMBFan63 · Post by **DMBFan63** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:49 pm

Do you know where the carpal tunnel is in your hands? That's what it is..

dmfollower · Post by **dmfollower** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:53 pm

I know i've got it already. I think it has more to do with me breaking both my wrists and not getting them properly treated, but if i play constantly(three hrs. or more) all day for a few days then i have to stop cause of the pain in my wrists. Typing and saute cooking does it as well. Thank god for pain killers and vioxx

Snyder · Post by **Snyder** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 3:14 pm

Here's some info on it: Clickith Hereith

Excerpts:

Why does carpal tunnel happen?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome results when there is inflamation or pressure on the Median nerve as it passes through the wrist. The carpal tunnel is a small canal or tunnel near the base of the palm of your hand. The nerve is surrounded by bones, tendons and a thick ligament.

Many believe that constant repetitive use of the hand causes the problem. This is referred to as repetitive or accumulative trauma disorders.
Whether doing repetitive work (like using a keyboard) actually causes carpal tunnel or whether it just aggravates the symptoms once you have it is still debatable.

Injuries such as a broken wrist or disclocated hand bones harms the nerve.

Medical conditions such as arthritis and thyroid problems affect the nerve.

Tumors can cause it.

Sometimes it just seems to happen for no good reason.

And for all you hypochondriacs out there:

Here is a list of the most common symptoms:

Numbness in one or both hands which comes and goes or stays all the time.

Numbness often feels like it is in the entire hand even though it's in the thumb, index and middle fingers.

Numbness starts while writing, driving, sewing, holding a book or newspaper or when typing.

You wake up with your hands feeling numb or painful. You hang your hand down and shake it to get relief.

You drop things, especially small objects, from your hand.

Sometimes you feel "shocks" from the center of your wrist into your hand.

Sometimes you may feel all these symptoms or you may only have one or two of the symptoms.

mdel21 · Post by **mdel21** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 3:29 pm

It's from beating it too much

MWR · Post by **MWR** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 5:34 pm

If you play a lot and you don't stretch/warm-up you will get it. If you play as much as Dave it gets pretty hard to avoid it. Unless of course you play open chords all the time.

riffduster01 · Post by **riffduster01** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 5:36 pm

thanks, good link

Snyder · Post by **Snyder** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 5:52 pm

MWR wrote:If you play a lot and you don't stretch/warm-up you will get it. If you play as much as Dave it gets pretty hard to avoid it. Unless of course you play open chords all the time.

Good point. At my work, they have posters all over showing you different "ergonomic" stretches to do daily to avoid injury. Yes, you can get injured from typing, sitting in a chair wrong, monitor at a wierd angle or too close and playing the guitar a lot with out stretching.

I'll try to find some images of those posters, I know we have them some where out on our network.

MWR · Post by **MWR** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 6:41 pm

I think my biggest problem is how I sit when I play. If I go for a few hours sitting in crappy chair in the same position it really messes me up. Cheers to those of you with good posture.

DMBFan63 · Post by **DMBFan63** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 6:52 pm

I probably have a mild case of carpal tunnel cause i get some of those symptoms

jeffro · Post by **jeffro** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 8:43 pm

I play tennis, guitar, have typing class every other weekday, and I beat it. I most definitely have it.

DmbFanJason · Post by **DmbFanJason** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:03 pm

MWR wrote:I think my biggest problem is how I sit when I play. If I go for a few hours sitting in crappy chair in the same position it really messes me up. Cheers to those of you with good posture.

yea, no shit dude...I sit slouched like a mother fucker when I play/sing. I know that it's got to be better for performing when you sit up or stand right?

DJR · Post by **DJR** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:00 pm

Snyder wrote:
MWR wrote:If you play a lot and you don't stretch/warm-up you will get it. If you play as much as Dave it gets pretty hard to avoid it. Unless of course you play open chords all the time.
Good point. At my work, they have posters all over showing you different "ergonomic" stretches to do daily to avoid injury. Yes, you can get injured from typing, sitting in a chair wrong, monitor at a wierd angle or too close and playing the guitar a lot with out stretching.

I'll try to find some images of those posters, I know we have them some where out on our network.

i thought it was in his strumming hand, not his left hand, maybe not