| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Haywire | 06/06/01 at 04:12:49
Not to be confused with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I know all too well what it is, so I don't need to know about it's pathology. But I would like to know if anyone has had to deal with this disorder. It affects guitarists and computer users primarily, and has left me with very limited use of my left ring and pinky finger, and generalized weakness of the left hand for over a year now. It is improving, but very very slowly. Pretty frustrating. Pretty depressing. Anyone had success with tissue release therapy? Or any other therapies? If anyone wants to know what Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is, just ask....I know all about it. Ugh :'(
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Tim H | 06/06/01 at 05:32:10
Well, looks like I finally have a name for it! I'm a Network Admin. at work so it's computers all day, I play in a weekend band. For the last two years I've had pain in just about every finger in my left hand, starting with the thumb. The Dr. said it was 'Trigger Finger' since the fingers would catch and release instead of having the normal smooth motion. His suggestion was 'don't do what aggrivates it for four to six months'. Lets see, that means stop working, and quit doing what gets me over all the aggrivation at work, not much of a plan there. I ended up cutting down playing time and dealing with the pain and lack of facility as much as possible.
A friend recommended seeing a Dr in the area who specializes in hand/joint disorders and has had good success with the tendon release procedure on an out patient basis so I have hope. I just need to get with my primary Dr. to get the referral to see the other guy - isn't insurance fun! If I find out anything I'll let you know. In the meantime try putting ice on your hand immeadiatly after playing, it seems to help me marginally - at least for the following mornings pain and stiffness. Take care!
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Haywire | 06/06/01 at 11:58:52
My fingers don't "catch and release", but generally lack fine motor control, particularly the ring and pinky. These 2 fingers always have a degree of numbness, esp. the pinky. Very much like the sensation one feels when they hit their "funny bone". Cubital TS affects the ulnar nerve. I rarely experience actual pain with this, however. Driving is especially irritating, as laying my arm on the armrest or window increases the numbness.
When this was at it's worst, I could not tie my shoes or button a shirt. There was noticable atrophy in the left hand, which remains today, but is less pronounced.
I use a heating pad when I sleep...I wrap it around my elbow and forearm. The heat improves circulation, and the hand generally feels it's best when I first wake up.
I'm certainly able to play, although I'd say at about 60% of capability. Barre chords are nearly impossible to play, and lead work finds me doing a lot of cheating. String bends and pulloffs are not quite right because the coordination isn't as it should be. Playing does not seem to irritate things, however. It was heavy computer use that caused this in the first place. Yadda yadda yadda...
Your symptoms sound more like Carpal TS. Surgical interventions are highly succesful, and may be the way to go for you. I hope your situation improves, and that you are able to return to your regularly scheduled programing soon ;) Keep me posted.
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Percy | 06/06/01 at 20:56:25
Hey Guys
Im not sure what cubital tunnel syndrome is but I think I have/had the carpel thingie. I was told Id have to have an operation on my wrists effectively immobilizing both hands for a few days at least. Now the thought of havin to ask my wife to drop my drawers, and hang around while I coil up a nasty and wipe my butt brings a whole new meaning to the phrase...TILL DEATH DO US PART. My wife went to this herbal person and she looked up in her book, cures for carpel yaddayadda. I had to take copius amounts of vitamin B this and B that BUT after pissin floresent green for a week or so, it slowly got better. My point of this long rant is, try some of that alternative/herbal/witch docter crap before you let the PHD guy carve you up, it just might work. It did for me and I was a non believer.
Later
Percy
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Haywire | 06/07/01 at 00:30:28
Haha ;) Yeah, that would be asking a lot of the wife. Actually if you needed surgery on both wrists, they'd do em one at a time, so you'd have half a chance at maintaining some degree of dignity in yer bathroom.
Sounds like your problem was in a very early stage, and you were wise to pursue the alternative route. However, having been around lotsa docs (I'm a RN) I'd be pretty sure that for a long term sufferer with carpal tunnel, surgery would be the most viable option in most cases. It's done as an out-patient, and is a relatively simple proceedure. I have heard of a non-invasive therapy called tissue-release therapy. It is chiropractic, actually and I have heard good things about it. Problem is, very few are certified to perform it. Surgery is an option for me, but I'm going to explore all options before going under the knife, as anyone should. I wonder if anyone has had direct experience with tissue-release therapy...
Incidently, cubital and carpal tunnel syndromes are both referred to as "repetitive stress injuries". Without getting too wordy, carpal problems originate in the wrist area, and cubital is located in the elbow area, where the nerve passes thru the cubital "tunnel" on its way down the arm. Cubital TS affects primarily guitarists and computer users (great, huh?) Carpal generally affects the index and middle fingers most often, and involves the rest of the hand as it progresses. Cubital affects the ring and pinky fingers, and likewise the rest of the hand as it progresses, which is kinda where I'm at now. Maybe I should get out my Django Reinhardt records and start learnin' some licks ;)
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by ds | 06/08/01 at 12:09:31
I've had various symptoms over the last 10 years, sometimes it got pretty bad. Not as bad as the incapacity you're talking about, but with me it was mostly intense wrist pain and constantly being woken up at night because my arms would go to sleep. I'd wake up and it was like having these floppy things attached to my upper body, no control over them and no feeling. I think part of the problem is that I was practicing way too much. I don't know what I thought that would accomplish, but I was definitely overdoing it.
I used to play with my left wrist "cocked" and bent so that my fingers had maximum access to the fretboard. That's what was screwing up my wrist the most I think. Now I play with my wrist in a straight position and I never have problems with that hand.
The other thing is the shoulder. I used to have problems with bursitis (inflammation of the cartilage in the shoulder) pain because I was using my shoulder muscles instead of the larger upper back muscles to hold my arm up. Try relaxing those shoulder muscles and using the upper back muscles instead. It really works.
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by ds | 06/08/01 at 12:42:36
[quote author=ds link=board=music1&num=991822369&start=0#5 date=06/08/01 at 12:09:31]
I used to play with my left wrist "cocked" and bent so that my fingers had maximum access to the fretboard.
!!! Weird... I didn't use the word tallywhackered in my message, I used the word c*cked, except with an o where the * is.
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by JR#97 | 06/08/01 at 13:19:03
[quote author=ds link=board=music1&num=991822369&start=0#5 date=06/08/01 at 12:09:31]
The other thing is the shoulder. I used to have problems with bursitis (inflammation of the cartilage in the shoulder) pain because I was using my shoulder muscles instead of the larger upper back muscles to hold my arm up. Try relaxing those shoulder muscles and using the upper back muscles instead. It really works.
I think I might be suffering from the same shoulder problem. Is there any long lasting treatment? I think mine stems from playing hockey 7+ times week :P
I also think a good cure for your wrist and shoulder problem might be playing sitting down or having your guitar strapped higher up. (i know it looks dorky, but if Dave Mathews can get away with it...)
Haywire, I feel for ya man. How do you contract cubital tunnel vs carpal tunnel? My sex life is at stake here! :P ;)
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Haywire | 06/08/01 at 23:13:47
Tallywhackered...what a groovin' word that is! I think that's my new favorite word. Must be an"Old Dan-ism".
JR, carpal tunnel goes something like this: tendons and nerves run down yer arm to your wrist. There, they pass thru "tunnels" and on to yer hand. Do something to irritate those tendons, and do it long enough...they will become inflamed. The tunnels become too small, and the swollen tendons pinch off the nerves. You get "pins and needles" and/or pain in yer wrist/hand. You'll likely have weakness as well. Causes: manual labor with heavy objects, repetitive movements, and extreme WRIST positions. Surgery is a last resort, but is a pretty simple proceedure, and is highly successful. It involves snipping those tunnels open, which releases the pressure on everything. Just go easy on the wristers out on the ice, bud.
CUBITAL tunnel is similar, but point of damage is further up the arm, at the elbow area. Causes: extended periods of arm flexion. Repetitive finger movements are also listed as a contributor. Not a good combo for a guitarist. I would think that strapping a guitar up high would not be such a great idea as far as preventing cubital TS, as you'd be bending your arm even more. BUT...strapping it low (ala Jimmy Page) seems like it would wreck yer wrist, although I tend to strap it on pretty low and have never had a wrist problem.
DS, sounds like you may have been experiencing cubital-like symptoms when you were waking up at night. May have been sleeping with your arms bent.
As far as your sex life being affected, JR...I can only speak for myself. None of my femme fatale friends are afflicted with cubital or carpal TS (or anything else for that matter). On those rare occasions when I fly solo, I am grateful that my problems are confined only to my left hand...haw haw haw. Man, am I tallywhackered-up or what? :o
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Percy | 06/08/01 at 23:33:32
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;Dhahahah 8) 8) 8) 8) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)hahahahahah
Subject: Re: Guitarists and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
by Haywire | 06/08/01 at 23:37:16
Oooooh...it's a tallywhacky nite on the forum :o 8) ;)