Comment Not all wrist pain is Carpal Tunnel.... (Score 1) 81
A whole lot of people (including myself) have gone in for wrist pain and had Conduction Studies tests done to see whether it was the hands, nerves, muscles or something else that was troubling them. Noted example of a case where
Carpal Tunnel was NOT the case for wrist pain/arm pain, is legendary Hammond B3'er Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Keith broke his pinky one night when he smashed his hand against the edge of the organ's cabinet. After that, he went through months of not being able to play, etc.
(The article of what he went through can be found in KEYBOARD MAGAZINE's back issues...). Lots of wrist pain is due to repetitive stress injury, but in Emerson's case, it was "(ulnar?) nerve entrapment syndrome that resulted from his accident with the front side of the B3 he was playing on stage. He went through microscopic surgery to repair the problem, and was basically told not to play for a good LONG time. Can you IMAGINE not hearing his work? Anyway-so, in my case I found out that it was a MUSCLE that I had pulled that was grating on the nerves in my arms/hands/back. So, even though Carpal IS legitimate, and it does affect those who type lots, or even play piano lots...like every day for 3 hours a day or more), It is real. But if your doctor tells you it isn't Carpal, ask him what else it could be. If it IS Carpal, get arm and wrist braces and sleep in those when you're not working. ("Chicago" drummer, Tris Imboden HAS TO sleep with two braces each night to prevent
much pain during their performances.). He's said in interviews that he "learned to play wrong" to start with, and is RE-LEARNING drums. The right way. It improved his playing but it also keeps his hands from really being trashed.
Either way, Carpal Tunnel is wicked. It can prevent otherwise useful and talented folks from doing their jobs and whatever makes them happy.
So, if you think you have it, you might consider getting tt checked out. Yes, conduction studies exams hurt. But man, are they helpful.
Carpal Tunnel was NOT the case for wrist pain/arm pain, is legendary Hammond B3'er Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Keith broke his pinky one night when he smashed his hand against the edge of the organ's cabinet. After that, he went through months of not being able to play, etc.
(The article of what he went through can be found in KEYBOARD MAGAZINE's back issues...). Lots of wrist pain is due to repetitive stress injury, but in Emerson's case, it was "(ulnar?) nerve entrapment syndrome that resulted from his accident with the front side of the B3 he was playing on stage. He went through microscopic surgery to repair the problem, and was basically told not to play for a good LONG time. Can you IMAGINE not hearing his work? Anyway-so, in my case I found out that it was a MUSCLE that I had pulled that was grating on the nerves in my arms/hands/back. So, even though Carpal IS legitimate, and it does affect those who type lots, or even play piano lots...like every day for 3 hours a day or more), It is real. But if your doctor tells you it isn't Carpal, ask him what else it could be. If it IS Carpal, get arm and wrist braces and sleep in those when you're not working. ("Chicago" drummer, Tris Imboden HAS TO sleep with two braces each night to prevent
much pain during their performances.). He's said in interviews that he "learned to play wrong" to start with, and is RE-LEARNING drums. The right way. It improved his playing but it also keeps his hands from really being trashed.
Either way, Carpal Tunnel is wicked. It can prevent otherwise useful and talented folks from doing their jobs and whatever makes them happy.
So, if you think you have it, you might consider getting tt checked out. Yes, conduction studies exams hurt. But man, are they helpful.
