Wrist Pain From Guitar. Guitarist Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in The Guitarist Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common repetitive strain injury in musicians. Guitarists’ fingers and wrists move a lot, creating friction and inflammation in the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is a tight band of ligament that crosses over the wrist, like a bridge across the wrist, and the nerves going to the hand. When the nerves are under too much pressure, numbness, tingling, weakness, and poor coordination and healing often arise. Diagnosis People often “diagnose” themselves with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but are too often wrong. With the guidance and expertise of a doctor, CTS can be easily diagnosed and recommendations for care made, via telemedicine video calls. Specific tests and patterns of symptoms will lead to an accurate diagnosis and strategic treatment. The problem with poor self “diagnosis” is that the efficacy of treatment will be compromised, potentially leading to a drawn-out worsening of the problem. For a serious musician, this could be career-altering…in a bad way. Other Factors of Vulnerability Other lifestyle factors like hobbies, sports, sleep position, previous injuries, and previous episodes may also alter the “normalcy” of your CTS, complicating treatment, even diagnosis. These additional factors may make traditional...
read moreUpright Bass & Shoulder Pain. Double Base Shoulder Pain.
Pain in the shoulder – Upright Bass Whether you are playing slap style bass, bowing, using pizzicato techniques, or other extended techniques, the double bass has been known to be the cause of shoulder injuries. Shoulder impingement is one of the more common injuries. Form is critical, of course, but sometimes a history involving stress on the shoulder, either shoulder, will predispose you to an injury while playing. Below is a synopsis of shoulder impingement, and solutions for quick, strategic healing for bass players. Shoulder impingement and the bad news. Shoulder impingement syndrome is typically a repetitive stress injury. This would be more common in the shoulder of the upper hand, because of the position and constant tension on the upper shoulder. Even with a relaxed shoulder and proper form, your shoulder is still engaged in a compromised position. Your shoulder moves as your hand navigates the neck of the bass. The constant engagement along with the up and down, Is repetitive stress. Friction and inflammation in the tendons connecting the supraspinatus muscle and your arm, reduces space underneath the shoulder blade and above the ball of your shoulder joint. When the shoulder is compressed through rotation, twisting, or...
read moreCOVID-19 Parent – Help Juggling the Juggling.
Are you a COVID Parent? Like living through a natural disaster or another major generational event, being a “COVID MOM” during this time will be something that you’ll never forget. Raising kids is challenging enough under normal circumstances. But the degree to which you must juggle responsibilities now is for many, unparalleled. Do you remember a time when things were “easy?” One of the biggest obstacles to taking care of oneself is time. We all recognize the value of time, how we don’t get it back, and how COVID-19 has changed our use of time. Our office is acutely aware of time. We make sure that your care is efficient. No long waits, and only the necessary time for your care. No more, no less. We process your insurance for you to save you time. We have quick effective ways of scheduling and communicating with our office. We have flexible hours to make your visits most convenient for you. Your day, your life is why you come to us, we want to make sure that you enjoy as much of it as possible. It’s not about your back pain, neck pain, or headaches. It’s about your life! Taking care...
read morePregnant during COVID-19 times. DO THESE THINGS!
The last place you want to be during pregnancy is in a facility that cares for sick people. According to a study published in MMWR, pregnant women with COVIID-19 are more likely to be hospitalized and are at increased risk of admission to the ICU for mechanical ventilation, than non-pregnant women. The moral of the story? Don’t get COVID-19 while pregnant. When you are pregnant, you are not only caring for yourself and your family but for the baby on the way. The consequence of COVID-19 on pregnancy is not yet fully understood. Maybe your kids are back in school and run the risk of bringing home COVID? CDC Back To School Decision Making Help For Parents and Guardians. How do you limit your risk of contracting COVID-19 while pregnant? It’s nothing you haven’t heard before. PROBIOTIC – Supplement with probiotics. They help build your immune system. MASK UP – Always wear a mask in public. AVOID SICK CLINICS – Unless unavoidable, avoid clinics that see sick people. If your back hurts, before going to the ER, Urgent Care, or Convenient MD, consider going to a chiropractic office with a controlled environment, that doesn’t work with sick people. What are...
read moreShoulder pain, arm pain, arm numbness, tingling, weakness?
Do you suspect you have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)? Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of conditions involving the compression of nerves and blood vessels in your neck and shoulder area. TOS can lead to pain, numbness and weakness in your neck, shoulders, and arms. Most commonly caused by repetitive stress, trauma, and anatomical abnormalities, TOS can destroy sleep, work, hobbies, and your future. Or, it can be easily corrected if the cause is properly identified. Often accompanied by neck and shoulder pain or tension, the arm on the affected side will sometimes have scary symptoms like pain and numbness in the left arm, mimicking what we might feel is a heart attack symptom. It is important to see your doctor to rule out heart issues if symptoms on the left side are worrisome. Over time, if not dealt with properly, thoracic outlet syndrome can worsen to the point of needing surgery. Don’t Want Surgery? See a chiropractor. Huh? That’s right. Oftentimes TOS is caused by compression of a rib and your collar bone, both of which are commonly worked on by chiropractors. With TOS your nerves, muscles, and bones are not positioned and working well together. The bones and...
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