Wrist pain

[wubanger40]

I tried searching for something on this, couldnt find much.

Well since last night my left wrist has been aching. It is my upper wrist/lower hand, on the pinky side. It is fine if it is still, but if i move it, i get a slight pain, and if move it back it really really hurts. I started to play a pretty fast song with my band. I dont think my form was off, but i could be wrong. It started after playing this, so im not sure if this is the reason. Is there anything that i should do that can stop the pain, because we're playing infront of people tomrrow, and i dont want this to affect my playing.

Thanks:)

[jangus]

The only method I know is to rest it and hope it gets better in a day. Make sure you have a good warm up before performing though. And before playing every time for that matter.

Maybe somebody else knows a faster and more reliable method..

[Shinx]

There are many threads on this and I'm sure this will get locked and deleted but my advice would be to stop playing for a bit. When you first go to practice, check out your grip in a mirror. If you are straining, try not to. If the pain is persistent, get it checked out soon. I've never hurt myself playing and I don't plan on it

[JIM_fear]

If you have never had any non-drumming related problems with your wrist in the past, i.e. injuries, then it's most likely bad technique. You might be putting unneeded stress on your wrist. If it's not your technique, then you might want to have it checked by a doctor. You really shouldn't get pain in your wrists, even if you are playing aggressively. I broke my wrist about 4 years ago but I've never felt pain in it from drumming. I have with other activities but never drumming.

[wubanger40]

well, it doesnt hurt while playing, i cant really feel a thing acctually. but its more after when the pain is. so i dont know, if it was my technique wouldnt it hurt while playing?

[maddrummr]

Do you do wrist exercises and warm up before playing?

[wubanger40]

not gonna lie... i dont. but this has never happend, so im not sure. what are some excercises to do. right now im icing it...and it seems to hurt more.
any other suggestions?

[JIM_fear]

You might want to just lay off of the drumming for awhile then and maybe consult a doctor about it. Your wrists are not something you want to be lax about, especially if you're a drummer.

[wubanger40]

well after a good nights rest its feeling alot better. still a slight pain though, but thanks for the help.

[zambizzi]

I went through this quite badly when I started practicing longer and longer and really started taking drumming more seriously. I'm a programmer by day so I use a keyboard & mouse a lot. If you're a regular computer user and spend more than a couple of hours per-day in front of a PC, I'd HIGHLY recommend getting a Zero Tension Mouse. I had wrist pain my right wrist for years due to using a flat mouse...this thing *completely* eradicated that pain....my right hand feels better than it has in 9 yrs. since I started in the IT industry.

Secondly, make sure you're doing plenty of stretching. You have to be very careful w/ this as you can do more damage than good if you do it wrong or too hard. I stretch my whole body before practice, after, and before bed....and the difference in endurance and overall good, loose feeling while playing is incredible....stretch frequently if you're not already!! To stretch the arms/wrists well - I will hold my arm out straight and point my fingers to the floor, stretching the top muscles, tendons, etc. of the forearms. To stretch the bottom muscles (or inside, rather), point your palm to the floor and pull your fingers back, GENTLY!

Hope this helps.

[meandhimcallitus]

Go to your local doctor to check for CTS! (carpel tunnel syndrome)
This is very serious and can affect your future playing.

CTS TEST-
Place your hands as if you were praying. But instead of your fingers pointing up, point them downward! So the "top" of your hands are touching each other. You know your doing this right when your elbows are pointing straight out! Keep this position for a 1 min. If you feel ANY type of numbness or "pain" I recommend you see a doctor.

This is pretty difficult to explain but if you pick up the latest UK drummer magazine( I believe, they just wrote a very lenghty and indepth article about it including pictures and other CTS tests)

This can develop for lots of reasons and is very common = Tense playing, tension in your hand, typing, drumming, poor technique, or maybe just a everyday routine that you put to much force into it.

[fazzybOO`]

It could be carpal tunnel syndrome :(

I'm beginning to get it too :(

Try stretching before and after repetative actions (drumming)

[schist]

Are you completely relaxed while playing?

[fourstringdrums]

It doesn't sound like Carpal Tunnel if you're getting it only if you move it. You could have slightly sprained that side of your hand. I've been dealing with CTS for a few months now, and had to have surgery in January. My pain is there even if I don't move most of the time.

I wrote an article about my experiences with it. It also has some things to look for as signs of CTS, preventin tips, and some treatment options.

www.handidrummed.com/articles/tv2ct_part1.php

Hopefully it's not CTS, but if it continues, see a doctor asap so you can find out what the problem is. You don't want to let it go so long like I did that you have to have surgery and have make life changes as a result of it.

[JCM]

Sounds like bad technique to me ... but I could be wrong.

[rhythmjunkie]

Hey guys. I have what you would call "carpal tunnel syndrome." I would try before anything, seeing a chiropractor first. I've gone and my pain dissapeared. A chiropractor will reallign your wrist, which will decrease the irritation of the nerve that runs through the carpal tunnel. It works for me, so I'd suggest checking that out. And on top of that, being a drummer, I'd suggest making an appointment with one any way. Thanks

[Tutin]

Go to a hypnotherapist, they can do pain relief and get rid of bad habits or technique etc.

Amazing stuff.

[JRH7]

This might not be a problem with your wrist. It could be your elbow! You mention that you have some pain radiating into your pinky finger. Sometimes your elbow joint can get slightly out of wack and your Ulner Nerve can get a little bit of pressure on it. This can sometimes cause a bit of pain or maybe even numbness in your pinky finger and even cause a bit of wrist pain. Other symptoms include feeling of weakness or maybe your grip doesn't feel as strong as your other hand. A good test for this is to touch your pinky to your thumb if it feels weak or uncomfortable it could be you ulner nerve. There is a way to allieviate this yourself but I recommend going to a chiropracter or a D.O. who is basically a regular M.D. but has studied muscles and bones a little more than a M.D.. They can make a quick adjustment to fix this issue. But first I would try iceing your wrist for 20 minutes a day and rest it for three days. Make sure you stretch and warm-up properly before you practice. Most likely this is caused be over working your wrist and using some bad technique. Take a lesson that focuses on grip. Or you may just slept on it funny.Try not to sit down behind your kit and start throwing down like Cobham take sometime to warm-up. Let me know if this helps.

J.

P.S.
Stop playing with yourself! J/K