May 03, 2007 17:15
It just occurred to me I never reported on my arm problems.
For most of this year I've been experiencing pain and tenderness in my upper arms after prolonged practice. Or even if I've just been playing for a long time, my arms get tired almost more quickly than my mouth. Then about a 2 weeks ago I started having more and more pain. Maybe it was because I was approaching the end of the semester and I just needed to get more practice time in. Whatever the reason my arms were starting to hurt so much that I would ware myself out after 1 rehearsal. The rest of the day it was hard or impossible to practice. So i started experimenting with a neck-strap (clarichord, I recommend it). But i didn't use it all the time, I only needed it so my arms wouldn't get so tired after practicing for hours.
But it got worse and worse, and this week it got really bad. I even bought a wrist support brace thing. I've been treating myself with motrin as an anti-inflamatory and pain killer, and ice packs. I think its getting better since I've been going easy on it. But i can't go easy on it forever. Juries are soon. Nielsen is probably what did it, that piece is just friggin' fingers.
I asked Dr. B and he told me to lift weights. I talked to flute and oboe players that have had problems and they said to consider acupuncture. I talked to my teacher and he told me to figure it out while I'm young (helpful huh?). I think I'm going to try to move my right arm position a little higher on the wrist. Although everyone who has ever inspected my hand position has never really had anything to say.
Any hints for prolonged arm health?
clarinet