Hello Karl-Heinz,

I have what they call "tennis elbow" (although not from playing tennis - about 6
years ago (I was 42 at the time I think)....I injured my arm gardening, using my
thumb over a rapid stream of water coming out of a hose vs. using a proper spray
head)....anyway the pain you're experiencing sounds just like mine. Mine healed
over time (I had to have physical therapy in the end) but is still very easily
bothered if I'm not careful. In fact, just this weekend I spent three hours
trimming my standard poodle with clippers and scissors and brushes and my arm
was really unhappy again last night.

Here are two things that have helped me. The first is a stretch the physical
therapist showed me. (Oh, by the way, I play the violin, am learning the cello
and also learning to play piano - I'm 49 now and I've just joined this group).

Extend your arm out in front of you gently (do not "lock" your elbow) with the
palm of your hand facing down to the floor. Make a VERY gentle fist (in other
words, just close up your hand gently) -- then moving from the wrist, bring the
gently closed hand down (rather like the action you'd see on someone revving a
motorbike handle) until you feel a stretch and just hold it there. Release and
repeat. I also can do this on my steering wheel of my car - just prop my hand
on the top of the steering wheel and let the hand roll down towards the back of
the steering wheel to get that same stretch.

The other thing that helps is massage which you can do yourself - holding the
affected arm across my torso (just bend your arm at the elbow and bring the arm
into you with the palm facing your body) and then with the other hand take your
thumb and starting at the elbow make circular motions and rub rather deeply
along the forearm.

I do both the massage and the stretch several times a day and as long as I don't
"overdo it" (like I did this weekend) I'm okay most of the time.

What DIDN'T help was when I went to the doctor and the first thing they
suggested were cortizone shots, then other medications, and FINALLY (when I
brought it up and suggested it) they sent me to a physical therapist (which
should have, in my opinion, been the FIRST thing tried).

Hope this helps!

Carol
From: klavierneuling <isleifpriv@...>
To: <musicalfossils@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:58:39 PM CDT
Subject: [musicalfossils] arm pain




I am a real fossil and a real beginner and probably beyond the age
where one should try his luck at the piano. Still, I have been with
it for three years now and at times even feel progress. For the last
half year or so I have gradually developed a muscle pain in my right
arm (only the right one) between elbow and wrist every time about ten
minutes after I sit down and practice. It is getting worse and I am
looking for help!

Needless to say that I THINK I am relaxed when I play. I am watching
myself and I keep telling myself to relax. Obviously I am not
relaxed, because my arm gets so tense after a while that I have to
stop playing. I don't seem to be able to control this.

Before I go and see a doctor: is there anybody out there who knows of
such problems and can give advice?

Thanks

Karl-Heinz Isleif