Hi Carol,

Your posting makes sense in my case. I also happen to work with my hands and
sometimes too much so. I may be able to cut down on it, but I can't avoid
it altogether. Of course I realize that rough manual work, pliers, hammers
and hacksaws, do not fit the subtle physical movements needed at the piano.
When practicing, I subconsciously put my hands in a state of constant
'suspension', or 'alert'. The 'tension' I feel after a while may well be
caused by the addition of manual work (and may be an inevitable result).
I'll try your therapy!
Thanks and regards
Karl-Heinz Isleif

> From: CHRJ <heart.strings@...>
> Reply-To: musicalfossils@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Mon, 09 Oct 2006 09:38:01 -0500
> To: musicalfossils@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: musicalfossils@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [musicalfossils] arm pain
>
> 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
>
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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