tennis elbow anyone?

Jim Hoke · Post by **Jim Hoke** » 16 Jan 2006 11:02 am

I'v been practicing alot every day at home and getting out doing the odd gig or jam session once on a while. I'm wondering if the annoying tennis elbow in my right arm and/or my slightly damaged rotator cuff (same arm) are related to my many hours at the steel Anybody had a problem with this? My wife thinks I should try laying off for a few days and see what happens. I think she'd just like to have a rest from "Chances Are" and "The Chipmunk Song" (my current faves to play on the C6 and E9 respectively).

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 16 Jan 2006 11:17 am

No, I doubt just playing would cause or aggravate these conditions, since they're usually more associated with strenuous throwing, swinging, or lifting.

However, tossing your gear into a truck might do it!

Bruce Clarke · Post by **Bruce Clarke** » 16 Jan 2006 11:30 am

I had it in both arms many years ago, from lifting heavy gear in the wrong way. Cortisone injections cured it, but I don't recommend those. The condition goes away eventually, providing you don't aggravate it.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 16 Jan 2006 11:56 am

Are you sure it's not from writing charts???

Michael Barone · Post by **Michael Barone** » 16 Jan 2006 1:32 pm

Jim, your situation is somewhat similar to my experience, also.

I get this crackling sound sometimes when moving my right shoulder. After the first 10 minutes or so of practice, I used to feel some tension there. If I exercise my shoulder and arms by rotating them, before PSG practice, it's fine.

I get this repetitive stress injury from writing on a classroom whiteboard often. It’s part of my job, as a high school instructor.

I think for a while there, also in the classroom, I was using a computer mouse at the wrong height (mouse too high, sitting in a chair that is too low), which adds to the problem.

I found that I have to exercise my shoulder, arms and wrist first, by rotating the joints, in a full rotation. Then relax more, in the proper position, elbow tucked in. While doing pick blocking exercises, I used to feel this tension in the shoulder, but exercising the joints with full rotation Before Practice helps me a lot. I can play now for an hour straight, no problems.

Hope this helps,
Mike

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 16 Jan 2006 2:55 pm

Who knew the Chipmunk Song had such a sweet melody???

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 16 Jan 2006 4:28 pm

Had the tennis elbow--brought on from using an electric drill to drill a million screws into a floor of a house I was working on. You get over it by not doing what it was that caused it. Go to the drug store or sports shop and buy you a elbow band designed for this injury. It just puts some pressure on the tendon and helps stop it.

I would be real surprised if playing the steel is causing this to your RIGHT arm. You are not really applying the type of downward pressure that usually strains the tendon there. Check and see if you are applying any unnessary pressure on the palm of your hand while picking.

This is a very serious problem--don't let it get too bad.

The shoulder--I have that damage from football when in high school. The rotator cuff is improved by excersize to the muscles that support it. If you have not been working on those in order to help keep the ball in the socket then the only other remedy is surgery to tighten things up. Do a Google search for the right excercise for that---better and cheaper than surgery.

Damien Odell · Post by **Damien Odell** » 16 Jan 2006 7:16 pm

I also had tennis elbow in my left arm, which I had a cortisone injection for a few yrs back at 25. I find when I'm practicing the steel that it helps to get up every half hr or so and stretch and move about a bit, cause you're pretty well stationary when playing the steel. I get sore in the shoulders when I sit and run through scales a lot....so I don't do it much....

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 17 Jan 2006 6:44 am

I have experienced this in the past and still a little today if I don't do what I should. I have been a paramedic for 15 years, musician for over 30 and am now a safety director for an ambulance manufacturer in Iowa. I began expereincing the numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers right up to soreness in the elbow as I increased my playing and computer work. I went to my chiropractor who said that I had a "double crush" across the brachial plexus (neck to shoulder area) and right down in to the hands. He showed me some stretches to do that have all bu eliminated the symptoms, as long as I do them every day. They are hand stretches in all four directions and rubbing the inside and outside of the elbows (in the crook of the arm) to increase blood flow. The elbow area is a pressure point used in martial arts to subdue nasty people and drop them to the ground.

Extend your arm, palm up, take other hand (thumb) and place it in the crook of the elbow on the inside or outside of the elbow and press really hard. If you are doing it right, it should hurt like the dickens. But if you rub these areas aggressively, they will eventually not hurt anymore and will increase the blood flow and improve your symptoms. Also, you will never be able to be subdued by an offender using that pressure point technique (if that interests you).

Find a good chiropractor who knows about these exercises and get the pictures. It helps me.
Hope this helps.

Kirk

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 17 Jan 2006 7:24 am

Prior to turning 50 I never had any problems or sickness worse than a cold. After that,I have tennis elbow that will not go away and I just found out I have to have a hernia fixed. What's next?

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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 17 Jan 2006 5:17 pm

I've had various dealings with tendonitus in the past,actually I have the start of some now after puting a bass guitar back together and playing it for a few days,for some reason playing a bass with my fingers instead of a pick does it for me.I had it in both hands a few years ago and it lasted 6 months,I could barely use nail clippers.I found a device that seems to help me if I use it regularly http://www.basegear.com/dynaflex.html it's a hand gyro and really works on me,you might want to check it out.Hey Dick I'm going to Kodiak this weekend if Mt.Augustine dosen't blow again,I might get some photos while I'm flying near,Stu

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 17 Jan 2006 5:27 pm

Hi Stu, If you have a chance, stop by KVOK Radio and say hi to Stacey,Cliff and Tanya for me.

Stacey is coming down to see my old band in February and bring my leather coat I left.

Have fun!

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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 17 Jan 2006 8:29 pm

Dick:I will be doing a radio interview and I will make sure to tell the crew hi for ya',
Stu

Bob Mainwaring · Post by **Bob Mainwaring** » 23 Jan 2006 7:48 am

Hi there Jim,
Many years ago - about 30 I think; I was in real pain when a 10LB hammer I was using to smash some castings up where I worked at the time "slipped" and I fell backwards; trying to save myself from falling, my right arm and elbow took the full weight of the swing. I persevered with multiple visits to the Drs and hospital plus having it imobilised to no avail. I couldn't stand the pain any longer as it interfered with anything I had to do.
I finally said "enough" and went back to the Drs...he eventually made an appointment for me to go and have surgery whereby the Dr delves into the area and "scrapes" the tendon to "stretch" it.
It left a small scar which is mostly invisible over the years, but the pain is "NO MORE" thank God.

Bob Mainwaring Z.B's and other sweet things.

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