Shoulder Pain !

anthon_74

I'm wondering if there are any other players out there who also teach guitar, are in guitar playing position for hours a day, and as a result, experiencing shoulder pain ?

Before about 2 weeks ago, my shoulders hurt, NOW after deciding to go to Django in June, I've been practicing extra, and my shoulders are hurting even more, and they've been crackling and popping more too.

Anyone have any stretches they do, supplements they take, treatment they receive, etc, that helps manage shoulder pain.

Anthony

Passacaglia

Anthon, this is from someone who contends with a lot of spinal, shoulder, legs, etc. issues due to longtime, chronic injury - I'm sorry I can't offer any medical help (I've seen, and continue to see, several physicians approaching the issue from multifarious angles) - except to say, you CANNOT ignore this. If you have inflammation, and the pain you're experiencing is from overuse, I'd strongly suggest you ease up and do daily, relatively easy shoulder girdle stretches. I'd recommend it daily, regardless of injury or pain. If, in fact, you've entrapped a nerve somehow, you have to get in and see someone.

I ignored it for years in my 30's, trained hard (martial arts, lived in a pretty hardline Japanese temple) through considerable pain - and have now paid the consequence. I'm only back to playing guitar, after a few years off. Alexander Technique, yoga, eating right (there are dietary notions of inflammation and ways to lessen it), meditation, acupuncture, meds - a ton of stuff can help. Unfortunately, I've found no panacea, and it's a constant struggle.

Your pain is your body telling you something's not right. All I can urge is that you don't take this lightly, and deal with it affirmatively.

Good luck.

Paul

BluesBop Harry

It doesn't work on every case but it helps on most... http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-The ... 1572242507

I used to have pain in my elbow and it went away quickly with that therapy.
Good luck!

thickpick

This might be out of left field (pardon the pun) but some young baseball players I know use something called a Jaeger Band, which is essentially a large rubber band that clips to a fence and comes with a series of exercises. It's meant to strengthen the arm and shoulder for pitchers, but maybe it could work for guitarists. You can find info here: http://www.jaegersports.com/. (I have no connection with the company, BTW.)

anthon_74

Hey Ya'll

Thanks for the responses ! I discovered some mild stretches for rotator cuff injuries that I'm going to start with, and then down the road, if that starts helping, I will add some strengthening exercises as well.

Based on what i'm reading, this is rotator cuff shoulder issues. I may try the Jaeger band down the road as well when I'm ready to strengthen.

As it is, I HAVE to get as good at GJ as possible for Django in June, so I can't really stop playing guitar too much for now, but there are some things I do everyday that stress my shoulders that I am going to stop doing.

Cheers !

Jazzaferri

If you are having rc problems and experiencing pain you have a choice, either listen to our body and take a short break til the pain goes away and figure why you are creating the problem...they way you hold, sit, or .....

The other option is to ignore what your body is saying and take a much longer layoff when ou have done some real damage. That also usually requires professional assistance to get back to normal.

You do have a choice .... Choose wisely.

roch@rochlockyer.com

Hi Anthony,
Bummer on your shoulder pain...I like pauls post/advice. I myself have had 2 serious accidents in my life...1 that required 2 surgeries,1 year in a wheelchair and 2 years with a walker....and a second just last august that also required 2 surgeries and had me in traction till february of this year. I was also an endurance athlete & have been through a ton of rehab in my lives journey.....I have had periods of several months at a time playing guitar 8 or more hrs per day and I consider the physical aspects very similar to training athletics 30-40 hrs per week. To stay healthy requires discipline and honouring ones limitations.....Today, as a musician, I personally rely on daily yoga (which I also teach when healthy) hot-tub/massage/swimming/and consistent stretching with thera bands, pilaties back arch, and a large workout ball for spine stretches. All health structurally speaking begins in the spine..even the healing of limbs is dependent on ones spinal health...
Please pay attention to your body..the times I haven't I usually payed a hefty price in the long run...

PS I'm at DJJ as well...come on up and say hi/play a tune, and chat health if you are so inclined.
Good luck
Roch
www.rochlockyer.com

jscook777

I experienced this same thing last year and it really scared me. I also teach lessons and practice alot, I know exactly what you're talking about.

There is a great article and video ($7.95) full of stretches here:
http://www.guitar-instruction-video.com/pain_free.htm
http://www.guitar-instruction-video.com ... essons.htm

This video and switching from a Favino size guitar down to a Selmer size really helped me. I don't get the pain that often anymore.

Bones

I have some shoulder pain too but you had better see a doctor to be sure.

One really good stretch for me is to sit on the ground and put my hands flat on the ground behind me and slide them back a bit until I feel it a little bit in my shoulders.

Again, I would see a doctor before you start trying anything.

anthon_74

jscook777 wrote:

There is a great article and video ($7.95) full of stretches here:
http://www.guitar-instruction-video.com/pain_free.htm
http://www.guitar-instruction-video.com ... essons.htm

HEY thanks !!

I just checked out this website and it's very cool.

FYI, one thing I'm trying to see how it works is keeping my shoulders back when I'm playing and even when I'm just living. I've noticed lately how I slouch a bit, and even more when I'm playing guitar. I've also moved my guitar to resting on my left leg, classical music style, to prevent the pushing up on my right shoulder.

Bones wrote:

Again, I would see a doctor before you start trying anything.

Sadly, I live in the US so you have to be rich to get health insurance here (and until Obamacare kicks in the provision preventing insurance Co's from refusing coverage for preexisting conditions I can't even get insurance). Also in my experience, unless they can figure out how to cut you open surgically, or give you a drug to manage your symptoms, Doctors don't really know squat about health in America, and I certainly can't afford drugs or surgery.

Passacaglia

Anthon, fwiw, if you can find a way to investigate Alexander Technique, it deals precisely with some of what you're talking about - habitual ways of "holding" our bodies that lead to chronic issues. I studied it long ago, while at Conservatory, and though I'm afraid I'm a backslider - haven't done it in years - it can be pretty profound in its results, though seemingly subtle in its method. Developed by a latter 19th-century actor who habitually lost his voice while performing, he sought to find out why, and developed this system as a means for body-mind feedback, leading to spinal, shoulder girdle, hip plexus, etc., release, as a matter of habit.

Slouching is one textbook example often dealt with in early training. Babies sit squarely on their "sit bones," with their spine naturally curved, their heads naturally "floating" on the cervical spine. We acquire other habits through a lifetime of poor use. In the technique, you don't "straighten up," but mindfully see where in your body you're holding unnecessary tension, then consciously sending thoughts of release in specific directions - through one's spine, shoulder girdle, neck, hips...again, sounds pretty mundane, perhaps. But the results, from what I experienced in myself and others, can be pretty dramatic.

Anyway, just one thought. Good luck.

Paul