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kalo
USA
142 Posts |
 Posted - 03/14/2006 : 21:51:10
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Hi Guys,
I REALLY NEED advise. Okay, I have been struggling with a tendon strain in my left hand, inside palm, that leads up to the pinky.
I am going on my SECOND week of REST, anti inflamatory, and ice!
The swelling tendon has gone down immensley, so, tonight I picked up my guitar and when I played just a little bit I started feeling pain.
Do I need to rest more or is TMS now kicking in? I could wait it out one more week and see what happens?
I am scared because at first I thought it was just plain TMS, but then when my inside palm swelled up and the doc. even confirmed it was swollen I GOT SCARED....
What would Doctor Sarno say? Like I am going on my second week....
Advise would sure be appreciated!!! |
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Andrew2000
40 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2006 : 06:24:30
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Hi Kalo,
I don't know what Dr. Sarno would say, but as I think I've mentioned previously I'm also a musician who has been through my share of hand/finger problems ... I play music to earn a living so when the symptoms act up it's even more frightening because it has in the past prevented me from doing my work ... and when I was younger it prevented me for months at a time from completing my studies and dropped music completely for almost two years.
When I look back on each flare up of the symptoms that I had (pain in the hand, numbness in a finger, wrist and forearm pain), they always came during a time where I felt that I was under a lot of stress (maybe didn't even realize how much stress it was at the time) ... so whether you decide to wait it out another week, or continue playing, there are I think a few key questions to ask yourself:
1 - What am I afraid of right now? What is pressuring me apart from worrying about the symptoms, which are a primary distraction?
2 - How can I diminish some of the tension in my life?
3 - Why would I sabotoge my music (which I'm assuming you have a great love or passion for) by a painful condition which causes me nothing but additional stress?
It's important to associate music and your playing with the pleasure it brings you, the joy that you feel -- and not the pain you are fearful of.
When you go back to playing, I'd try even the shortest intervals possible. Sometimes I'd go back to the keyboard even for 30 seconds or a minute at a time, and built up confidence slowly ... but the trick is to do this without "waiting for the pain" to make it's unwelcome return.
I don't think it's giving in to the "structural" to also try a few different postures, positions along with constant mental reminders that might make you feel better while performing. I still remind myself as I play to relax the arms, relax the fingers, relax the mind - doing this helped me break the pain cycle ...
I now play for hours at a time and have no problems. Wish you the best of luck with this ...
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kalo
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2006 : 08:43:10
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Andrew2000,
Thanks for your advise!
Ya know the thing that scares me right now that if I play with the pain my tendon will swell up again, and I afraid that it is going to convince my mind that I am really injured.
I think if I just had pain minus the swelling I would just consider it TMS. But the fact that the tendon did swell up even when I played with pain has me worried that I am injuring myself worse.
This worrying is starting to do a mental thing on me.
To be honest I do have some stress going on in my life. But as you probably are aware trying to be a good or great musician in itself can be stressful...
I fit Sarno's bill on the trait marks of people who suffer with TMS.
I don't mind playing with pain just as long as I know I am not doing any damage to my tendon...
Your words are valuable and I thank you for responding everytime I post!!
Thank you for your words of wisdom! |
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Need Advise
