Coping with joint pain

[Helga]

Hello Linda,

I sometimes have problems with my left hand thumb. It started when I was using a metronom and practice the same melody again and again faster and faster. Luckily it got better after resting for a while. Ever since I practice each melody only for short intervalls and keep changing between chords, scales… And I try to play as relaxed as possible. Learning a new melody this is nearly impossible but knowing it better it become easier to concentrate on relaxing. And this was probibly my metronom problem I was only concentrating on getting faster.

I hope you will find a solution vor your thumb.

[Linda Bellwood]

Thank you Helga For your reply. I think that is the best way to go. Short practices and vary things as much as possible. I’ve also got my dads old vibrating massager which he used for joint pain so I give the thumb joint a buzz with that as well after practicing. 🙂

[Helga]

Good luck!😃

[Melissa Brundrett]

Hello Linda, I have Basal Joint Arthritis. It’s where the metacarpal bone of the thumb meets the trapezium bone of the wrist. It’s not as bad as it used to be (don’t know why- never had surgery). But, when it flares up I take aleve. I try not to take it too often. But you might try stretching the muscle in your hands before you play. I play piano as well and always try to stretch before I play. Also, one thing I love and I think it helps and feels so good is a paraffin bath. It is therapeutic (used in physical therapy) and great for your nails, cuticles and skin. Mine just stoped working, so ordered a new one from Amazon. The brand I use is Homedics. It’s just large enough to dip your hands in. So, here is what I do; I have some microwave spa mits and I warm them up, I dip my hands three times in the paraffin then place them in a bag and put the warm mits on. Then sit and relax for several minute. Take your mits off and the paraffin can be peeled right off into the bag. Your hands will feel relaxed and so soft. Let me know if you have any questions. I know of some other piano players that do this and it helps them. Hope this helps.

[Linda Bellwood]

Sounds like good advice – 🙂

[Melissa Brundrett]

I was just looking at some videos on Christy-Lyn’s you tube channel. She has one called “8 stretches for harp”. I haven’t watched it yet. Hopefully there are some for hands.

[Leigh (Lee) Harwood]

I wear wrist braces if my thumbs hurt or if I think they might start hurting. Not while playing, lol. I shake my hands out before playing and do gentle stretches. Some people like a cold compress for arthritis, but that hurts worse for me. I have microwaveable “mittens” for cold weather, which help.