repetitive stress injury

I played for about 5 hours a day on average for 7 months straight without missing a single day of practice. Sadly, I got some sort of repetitive stress injury about 2 months ago and havent been able to play since then without further screwing up my wrist. I havent been to the doctor yet, but Im almost positive its not carpal tunnel. Repetitive stress injuries are very real. I never thought it would happen to me, but I was wrong. I urge you all to take steps to prevent it. Has anyone else on this site had a repetitive stress injury, and if so,
1) what were you diagnosed with?
2) how long did it take untill you could play again?
3) how can you prevent it?

Like what Jeff says: Don't practice as long as you used to. Unfortunately not everyone's body agrees with them sometimes. It's a real shame you've developed that - I hope it gets better soon.

im sorry bout your injury dude

i feel kinda like this during football season when i jam my fingers, and such.

A good rule to have:

As soon as you start feeling pain, STOP!!! Take a break... shake it off. If you take breaks in between, you can go back into it.

I haven't been diagnosed with anything yet. My hand is doing better as I've learned when I can keep going and when I can stop. I wish I could still play as much as I did when I was first learning.

The best way to cope with it is to NEVER stop learning!! Listen to music!! Study music so when you get back into it, you'll be great!

most of the time this happens due to bad technique(look at leo kottke) those classical guys making all the fuss over proper poster and stances aren't just talking out of there ***s(then can be smug **s through) there is a reason.

Also the "art" or making guitars has really gone down in the pop market(it really has exploded but all in "custom" type dealers not in fender, Gibson, and any other "guitar center" brand), and because of this popularization of guitars tons of myths and such have come about, as you probably well know(i can go on for days). The myths that apply here is neck with/profile/depth which is smaller the better and faster. you get all these "modern c" and "modified low profile" the problem is when playing chords on these your compressing your wrist putting unnecessary strain and even more depending on gauge of string and action. and what seems to me that is promoting this is the "i have small hands" argument. well that is bunch of bull** if it really is that much of a problem get a "V" profile they were huge in years past. just get two things and test it out one wide and one thin you will feel more pressure on the wrist with the thin. also your action might be to high, maybe you meed to go down a gauge or tune down a step or a whole, and the list can continue.

also make sure it is your wrist(tendons/carpal tunnel[nerves]) not just your muscles. if it's your muscles I'm sorry but just stop being a pansy if it's your tenons, nerves, joints slow down and look at things.

but as i said before most of the time it is just bad technique, but it could very well be genetics too some people are more prone to things, but if it is I'm sure you would have already know about it as your parent(s) would also be suffers in some way or another.

@edit- pain is one thing it comes with playing the guitar and any other physical activity(no pain no gain) but if you lose any feeling in your hand that is a really problem is should be taking seriously. stop and evaluate what going on pain one thing no feeling very bad.

I remember having purple fingertips from playing but never got chronic or reoccurring pain. Hope you recover soon man.

Exactly. I was going to suggest this to you guys... and like I've written in my singing lessons - as guitarists; we naturally lean off in an angle instead of sitting/standing straight... this might be one of the reasons why you're developing such a pain... that and I'd suggest you raise your guitar so it's up higher.



You remind me of Baudelaire when you say that - he had the same opinion. But there's a limit, and you shouldn't have to reach the point where you lose the feeling in your hand(s). I'm personally obsessed with music and keep going even if it hurts - but that's because I'm stubborn.

It doesnt hurt when i play, the problem is in my tendons. It feels kind of like i hit my funny bone except in my forearm, then my hand proceeds to go numb within seconds after playing. It got to the point where it was difficult to use my hand doing every day tasks, like tying my shoe laces. Im not a pansy. However it does hurt after i play, which i decided is probably not a good sign, so i just stopped playing with my right hand, Ive been playing left handed until it heals (i just cant go on without playing), and i found my long lost love, the piano. My mom had tendonitis, so it very well could be hereditary. I also realize that i did have bad form, i played the guitar way too low like all the rock stars. ** rock stars for setting bad examples.

my advice GO SEE A DOCTOR.

worst i ever got was a cut finger but i stitched it up and kept going

@jazz your really need to read everything in a post and not just skip and pick what you like, and also i resent the comparison and while on Nietzsche(i know it's a common quote) he said the worst readers are the ones who don't even read ones books but talk like the they do(Baudelaire). he was definitely a Google quote guy i don't think he ever even read Baudelaire(I'm more of a Poe guy myself) past a poem or two(speaking a Baudelaire Peter Laughner has a really nice song with his name in it). he(Baudelaire,the forum member) if anything was trying to imitate someone like me(it hurts me to say that but i hope i can be forgiven) or something I'm trying to be(pain, but in a way I'm only 19 and still wet behind the ears in more ways then one, forgiven me). and his blatant lieing and bull* is one of the reason i started posting. to help give a fact base ideas out(even if they are opinion or debatable) not just idiotic scrabble of the top of ones head.


@kellenman your only a pansy if it's your muscles that are stopping you, but what your describing is carpal tunnel and if your have trouble tying your shoe laces and numbing for periods of time. AS nightmare says go to a doctor, one as you should know I'm not one and it is always better to be safe then sorry, you got insurances right? just go.

I'm sorry to hear that Kellenman. It does sound serious, definately sounds like it will be worth geting checked out by a doctor. Especially what with it being like this for so long. I doubt it's just going to get better on its own.

I hope you get well soon and I'm sorry I couldn't be more of a help to you.

I too have a repetitive stress injury but its not carpel tunnel. Its mild tendonitis and i've gone and seen a doctor. All they recommended was doing some stretching and icing it down after i play. She even told me i DID NOT need to stop playing but I don't get that numbing feeling in my hand, so i don't believe its tendonitis. It does come from poor technique though, its from slouching over when playing and not keeping my shoulders and arms loose enough. I try to mentally focus on staying relaxed and its gotten better. It used to sort of hinder me in my daily activities but its not a problem now. The doctor told me i need to strengthen the muscles and tendons and that it wouldn't go away otherwise.

Sorry RA, didn't mean to offend you there. And I'm not saying your source for information is wrong or googled. I'm only saying that one sentence you said was similar to what he thinks. But I did read your entire post haha when I start reading a post I won't stop until I've read it all... and I was adding on to the point where you said about the point where your hands get numb then decided to add my own opinion - agreeing with you. I just structured my sentence poorly.