Make sure you aren't using the death grip on your guitar. You really need very little pressure to fret a note.
Most of my problems when playing guitar date back to old injuries.....last year, I severed a tendon, just above the middle knuckle in my fretting hand, the way it looked at the time, I thought "That's it - I'll never be able to play again....."
That pic made me want to bend my fingers, just to make sure they still work properly :wink:
Congrats on your recovery.
If you get carpal tunnel syndrome after playing for only 3 months ... it's time to reconsider the instrument. It's been my experience that more than just one joint would hurt. It is caused by repetative movement of the hands over a period of time. The space the median nerve travels through into the hand, the carpal tunnel, rubs against the nerve. The nerve becomes inflamed and it is a catch 22 as the more it is inflamed the worse it is irritated. Thats why the initial treatment is rest and braces to keep your wrists in a position as to not irritate things further. If you found that picture graphic, you should see what an angry median nerve looks like when it is exposed. I just think it's something else causing the joint pain. Rest is still a good idea and yes, proper hand and finger placement on the neck and fingerboard is always a good idea. I could see a death grip making your joint hurt.
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
It's been my experience that more than just one joint would hurt. .
Do you have carpal tunnel or are you going on the conversations that you have heard as a nurse .
There is not enough known about carpal tunnel syndrome for anything to be discounted , some Doctors say it is impossible for the little finger to be affected as its not controlled by the same nerve but this has now been proved wrong as the brain sends out referal pain messages / signals when the median nerve gets pressure on it and that can cause pain elsewhere.
As you will know as a nurse trapped nerves anywhere in the body can and do send strange "messages" to the brain and therfore a nerve problem in the back can cause a pain in the neck etc etc. nerve problems are a complicated matter certainly too complicated for you to have figured it all out to a brief black and white issue. LOL
It is totally untrue that carpal tunnel ALWAYS causes problems with more than one joint , mine usually starts with an agravated thumb which then over a few days spreads to the inex finger .
Not every occurance is the same and it can be bought on by doing something you are not used to and overdoing it
It is certainly not a sign that anyone needs to consider "Giving Up" the guitar or any other musical instrument if its kept in check.
Its never stopped my malmsteem type solos when they are required , I just lay off them on bad days when they are not essential.
But get it checked out as depending on your age it can also be a sign of Rhumatoid Arthritis which definately causes joint swelling.
If you found that picture graphic, you should see what an angry median nerve looks like when it is exposed. .
Maybe you could post a picture , maybe Ill post a picture of my smashed ankle after my motorcyle kickstart went into it , maybe someone will also describe some disgusting horrendous operation .
I for one saw my nerve when I had the "relaxation" operation done on my wrists but dont wish to see it posted in a guitar forum.
Maybe we could all post our injury pictures to move further away from the intended point of this thread . :D :)
Dont give a shite about punctuation or spelling , I have to do that all day at work.
Free times for rocking !!
Looks like I struck a nerve. :lol: Pun intended. Sorry if I upset you catcha. Malmsteen solo's huh? That's impressive. Oh, by the way, I do wake with numbness, burning and tingling in my hands and fingers from time to time. They feel stiff and swollen. They feel like they are "asleep". These are classic early symptoms of carpal tunnel and fortunately I am not to the point that I need treatment yet.
P.S. I certainly don't claim to know everything. Sometimes I think I know very little. Every case is different and even a physician could not make a diagnosis over the internet so I am not even pretending to do so. As for pictures I don't intend to post anything more offensive than my avitar, scarey as that might be.
"Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard,
grow big, wear glasses if you need 'em."
-- The Webb Wilder Credo --
TR is offering his opinion as a nurse. As a nurse his experience and observations are just that, experience and observations. He didn't say he was a specialist or doctor.
Let's all take a deep breath and remember we are working together here.
If you are getting carpal tunnel from three months of playing, try putting the guitar down when you eat or shower. You are playing too much.
If it continues to bother you, you should go see a doctor though.
Not sure where you are based but you may want t try rubbing a little arnica gel (look in any health food store) onto the joint. I had a similar problem develop as a result of over -practicing when the muscles weren't used to it. Rest up for a day or two and apply the gel and then return gradually to the guitar.
The advantage of the gel over drugs like ibuprofen is that it doesn't damage the gut .. oh and a wee perk is you can drink as well! After all .. if you can't play you have to do something for fun!!!!
What did the guitarist do when he was told to turn on his amp?
He caressed it softly and told it that he loved it.
Looks like I struck a nerve. :lol: Pun intended. Sorry if I upset you catcha. Malmsteen solo's huh? That's impressive. Oh, by the way, I do wake with numbness, burning and tingling in my hands and fingers from time to time. They feel stiff and swollen. They feel like they are "asleep". These are classic early symptoms of carpal tunnel and fortunately I am not to the point that I need treatment yet.
P.S. I certainly don't claim to know everything. Sometimes I think I know very little. Every case is different and even a physician could not make a diagnosis over the internet so I am not even pretending to do so. As for pictures I don't intend to post anything more offensive than my avitar, scarey as that might be.
I wasnt upset at all so no worrys just giving my honest opinion that corpal tunnel should not be disregarded lightly as it can cause so many problems if not kept in check ...
As regards the Malmsteem solos , I was careful to include the "type" as my versions can only be considered "Malmsteem Type" solos and bear no resemblence apart from shape , the speed attemps were not worth the pain
:D :D
Dont give a shite about punctuation or spelling , I have to do that all day at work.
Free times for rocking !!
