The Steel Guitar Forum

In the last couple of years I have incurred pain in my thumbs, the doctor said tendinitis. I still play but it is troublesome. Any advice from those who may have a similar problem? It does affect my right hand string accuracy. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or Tylenol so far is how I cope.

Yes; tendonitis is basically the Tendon tightening up from repetitive or injury; but creates inflammation in and around main tension and nerve source. This leaves tendon with less mobility/flexibility and length and strength. So look back at some of those keywords of what is/has happened and those are the things you want to do therapy on. I'm a Physical Therapist and I actually have this condition that has incurred many symptoms; one including "bone on bone" with bottom of thumb and top of wrist; so without surgery to fix this; I have taken it on for therapy and in the last year and half; I have had NO Cortisone injections to reduce inflammation and tension and my hand has done great and here's the clue/therapy.

Inflammation: I take 1500 mg of Turmeric every day.; and Ice for immediate response.

Flexibility: You loose flex and length in movement so just like it says; stretch finger by pulling each and hold at limit for 10 sec each. Do that once for each hand; then flex wrist back by one hand pulling back on all 4 fingers to end of flex and hold 10 sec. Also go other way and never to point of tension pain; just TO THAT point. Then a series of "fist-open wide spread; fist-open; fist open 5 times.

Mobility: continue to play; practice repetitive pickin; make sure hand is curved and pics all the way down so you are pickin with fingertips but happens to be a metal there between finger tip and string. Pick until you start feeling tension then stop and 5 sec stretch and shake hands; then back to pic. this finger pic technique might be diff; but you will notice LESS movement in finger tendons and always make sure ergonomically correct in forearm is parallel to ground and no bend in wrist at all while picking.

Anytime you feel tension; Rest and stretch and shake(shaking if for blood flow)

Do the exercises in bed after you just wake up; and while your are going to bed at night.

Ok Good luck anyone that takes this on; it take time before you notice: "HEY MAN; my hand just does not hurt anymore and I'm pickin my A$$ off".
That is how I have felt for this last year and half.
My Ortho just laughs at me now and says: "Ricky; you are trying to do everything you can just to stay away form surgery?; well you're doing it man, continue on".
Ricky

Thank you, Ricky! I have learned more from your post than from my doctor. I read your post several times, it makes sense, thank you. My doctor just said,"quit what you are doing".

I’ve never had much tendon or joint problems in almost 50 years of playing(at times seven gigs per week). I have recently developed burning pain in the base of my left(bar hand) thumb right where the forearm joins the wrist. There is obvious swelling along the side of the inner wrist bone. I’ve done ice, braces, massage, chiropractic, Advil. It is getting worse, to the point where I have trouble holding the bar. Not a great guitar player but putting my hand in that position, even for bottleneck slide, is impossible. I am about to try acupuncture. Trying to avoid the cortisone shots but every day inches me closer to that.
I will follow Ricky’s advice and see what happens next.

I have learned more from your post than from my doctor. I read your post several times, it makes sense, thank you. My doctor just said,"quit what you are doing".

Yes Bill; unfortunately Doctors only prescribe how to live with injury/problem/pain...etc; mostly through MEDICATION....and medication does NOT HEAL ANYTHING; it only detours your circulation to be able to live with original problem......
I'm not a doctor; never wanted to be one, I only researched and schooled myself back in college because I was an Gymnast and Athlete and became a Elite Gymnastics Coach all through the 80's and also got my PGA Teaching Professional ..and always wanted to know what every fiber in the body does and can and can't do; and I only played Steel guitar as a hobby; then in 1988 I had a kid make the Olympic Gymnastics team and she got to go to Korea for the games and at that time I decided to play music for a living and play Mini-tour golf on the side and Life went on.
Ricky

Ricky,

So for Arthritic Thumbs (at the base of each) you can yard those babies back as well for 10 seconds of stretch?

So for Arthritic Thumbs (at the base of each) you can yard those babies back as well for 10 seconds of stretch?

Dale; if you got diagnosis of Arthritis, physical therapy, or sometimes surgery helps reduce symptoms and improve quality of living with it; but unfortunately
Treatment can help, but this condition can't be cured.
I have Arthritis in both pickin fingers(fore and middle) last knuckle; simply from wear and tear of that repetitive motion for 40 years...ha...but there are different causes of Arthritis; from wear and tear to repetitive inflammation; genetics; disease...etc.
But Turmeric is the ONLY thing I can contribute to not having that sharp pain like someone sticking a needle in those last joints; as I started Turmeric 15 years ago and that was the first thing I noticed after close to a year: "HEY; my end knuckles don't HURT anymore; yes there still is swelling; they look alien; but NO PAIN"....
So YES you can yard that back some or more but I believe YES INDEED; and even moreso with those stretching and shaking; as blood flow is so important for the end of your hands circulation; and "CIRCULATION HEALS EVERYTHING"!!!!!!!!

Ricky

Hi Ricky,

Thanks for your insight and experience into picking with pain. I am having some burning pain on the back of my picking hand, probably the index finger tendon.
I am now trying to modify my technique. It's not easy!

When you talk of keeping your arm parallel to the ground, are you resting your arm on your guitar or are you now floating above your instrument.

Thanks for any response.

When you talk of keeping your arm parallel to the ground, are you resting your arm on your guitar or are you now floating above your instrument.

Ted; yes I have LDG so there is a pad there for forearm to go(Like the back neck strings); but I think of it as forearm SUPPORT...not rest station...ha...; but that will help keep the arm at parallel as long has seat and steel height work together on that. HOLDING arm up is NO good; simply because it takes the shoulder to hold that up and now you are adding tension to shoulder and that just inflicts the tension down the line. So much better to have that support for arm; but main thing on that is to support the parallel; also to help position is to keep elbow "IN" next to body(yes even touching).
Ricky

Have to agree with Ricky. Both my hands hurt so bad I could not make a fist. All fingers hurt. I started several months ago taking turmeric and also glucosamine sulfate. Have to say today my hands are nearly pain free. PS- I'm 80 yrs old.

Good job; Good work Gary. Continue on as the key to LIFE is Circulation.
Ricky

This helps my right thumb get through gigs these days….
https://www.voltarengel.com/what-is-vol ... lsrc=aw.ds