Tingling in Arms?

[RobertM]

Hey all,

I've been playing drums off and on for about 17 years. When I first started playing in high school, I never had any problems with pain. However, when I play now I notice that after playing for several minutes to an hour, I'll often get a quick, uncomfortable tingling sensation on the underside of my right forearm once I leave off the hi-hat or ride and hit a tom or a crash cymbal. It is not super painful, but uncomfortable enough to make me worry that it betokens some kind of weird tendonitis or something of the like in its infancy stages.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I try to stretch out my arms before playing...and I do notice that I tend to get nervous when I play in front of others, and thus I think I must be tensing up, which, I suppose, would make playing all the more harder on my nerves/tendons in my right forearm.

This tingling pain only happens in this arm, and I think it must come from tensing up while playing constant, fairly up tempo quarter, eighth, or sixteenth notes. As soon as I break off of playing a consistent ride or hat pattern and hit a crash or something else, I'll get the uncomfortable tingle now and then.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Thanks!

[T.Underhill]

I can't say I've experienced those symptoms but I would consult a physician....seriously.

[Big_Philly]

I agree, that sounds like a problem that needs to be fixed unless you want to risk (further) damage to your arm.

[abe]

Hey all,

I've been playing drums off and on for about 17 years. When I first started playing in high school, I never had any problems with pain. However, when I play now I notice that after playing for several minutes to an hour, I'll often get a quick, uncomfortable tingling sensation on the underside of my right forearm once I leave off the hi-hat or ride and hit a tom or a crash cymbal. It is not super painful, but uncomfortable enough to make me worry that it betokens some kind of weird tendonitis or something of the like in its infancy stages.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I try to stretch out my arms before playing...and I do notice that I tend to get nervous when I play in front of others, and thus I think I must be tensing up, which, I suppose, would make playing all the more harder on my nerves/tendons in my right forearm.

This tingling pain only happens in this arm, and I think it must come from tensing up while playing constant, fairly up tempo quarter, eighth, or sixteenth notes. As soon as I break off of playing a consistent ride or hat pattern and hit a crash or something else, I'll get the uncomfortable tingle now and then.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Thanks!

Check out your posture!

[That Guy]

Ya, get it checked if its bothering you. It might just be that your getting older and developing a little more meat on your arms that aids in the pinching of a nerve.

[RobertM]

I did some follow-up research, and I think what this tingling intimates is early development of carpule tunnel syndrome, which can be due to posture at the kit or simple repetitive motions of playing--and playing with a lot of tension (which I frequently do out of nervousness). This problem is fairly common with musicians, especially drummers and piano players. The constant ostinato playing on hi-hat and ride cymbals is the culprit: repetitive motion combined with vibrations of cymbals traveling through stick into arm.

Only solutions are Advil/Alleve to help alleviate any inflammation of nerve or tendons, stretching, warming up of muscles and hands, and heavy water intake to keep muscles hydrated. I also met a pro drummer at a jazz gig this evening who had really bad numbness issues in the past, and he fixed the problem by getting heavily involved in yoga and meditation to help eliminate all tension from the body while playing and to keep muscles and limbs super loose. I also had a private lesson with Stanton Moore a couple of years ago, and he told me the same thing: he said he practices meditation and meditative breathing before gigs to help calm and stabilize his body, which in turn loosens up his playing and gives him more endurance. He said this tactic was especially helpful during the demanding, fast-paced, high-energy gigs he did with Corrosion of Conformity.

I also found this information via drummer Rick Dior's webpage. Mr. Dior plays with the Charlotte Symphony and has been teaching drum set, hand percussion, classical percussion--you name it, for several years. He's a Vic Firth and Paiste artist, and he's had several former students go on to places like Berkelee and North Texas--i.e., his credentials appear honest, solid, and time-tested. Here is his advice on drum health:

"Here are some of things I have learned and try to share with my students.

1. Always warm up.
This is probably the most important step for a long injury free career. By warming up I mean stretching all the pertinent parts of your body. Then, if your hands are still cold you may want to run them under some warm water. The object is to get the blood flowing through your hands and limbs and loosen up tight muscles. When stressed tight muscles lead to injury. I also highly recommend doing some nice relaxed hand and foot exercises -- perhaps from George Stones “Stick Control” or any of the other technique books out there. A good teacher should be able to show you some warm ups that they use on a daily basis. Make these a regular part of your practice schedule.

2.Drink a lot of water.
Water keeps your muscles hydrated and will also replenish the fluids you loose when sweating your butt off on stage or in the practice room.

3. Use good posture when standing or sitting
This was one thing that I did not do when I was young and I wish I had. Bad posture (leaning over, bending your neck, hunching your shoulders etc.) almost guarantees back and neck problems later on in life. You do not want to go there! Watch yourself in a mirror or have someone video tape you when you practice. You may be surprised to see Quasimodo staring back at you. Sit and stand up straight If an instrument is uncomfortable for you to play rearrange the instrument, not your body. If a mallet instrument is too low put it up on blocks. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen students set up their drum sets in the most uncomfortable of ways just to get another tom, cymbal, or bass drum pedal in there. Arrange your drum set so that everything is within easy reach. You never should have to lunge to reach a cymbal or tom. I like to sit on the drum stool so that my legs are parallel (straight) in relation to the floor. Try this: put your drum throne out in the middle of the room with no drums close by. Now sit down and put your feet where you feel the pedals would be most comfortable. Now go sit down at the kit. There is probably quite a difference in the comfortable way you were sitting out in the middle of the room and the way you are now sitting at your drums. Try and move your bass drum and hihat pedal’s so that they are in this comfortable position.

4. Don’t over do it.
Well, I sound like my mother now and I can hear her lovely Brooklyn accent in my head but there is plenty of logic behind this statement. Looking back there is really no good reason that I was practicing 12 hours a day except that I was having a hell of a good time. It could have easily been condensed into half of that. A good teacher will show you how to practice and use the time you have to best advantage. If you think of your body as a car the more miles or hours you put on it the quicker it will wear out. Save those 12hour days for the studio where you will definitely need them (and get paid for it too). If you feel like you need to practice 12 hours a day use some of the time to do less physical things such as listening to, transcribing and writing music."

(source: http://www.acousticbarn.com/rickspercussionsite/tips.html#physical)

Thanks for the responses. I think my technique is mostly fine--I've watched enough Chapin, Morello, Weckl, and Mayer videos to know how to use bounce and stick control, and I've had enough lessons with drum professors who have scrutinized my snare drum technique/chops, so I don't think it has anything to do with playing "too hard." All of this instruction has made me hyper-aware of avoiding gripping sticks tight or overhitting. I think it comes from (a) getting older, which means your body doesn't absorb shock as well, and (b) playing very tense, which doesn't allow your muscles to relax or "breathe."

Let's hope the tingling goes away. Knowing that this injury is very common to musicians, especially professional musicians who play every day, is rather frightening!

[cnw60]

It sounds like you've researched the problem pretty well. I totally agree with the assessment. Tingling indicates a lack of oxygen/bloodflow to a part of the body, so numbness or tingling in the arms usually starts with tightness or poor posture in the shoulders. Yoga can help a lot - finding a good teacher is important because you can ask questions and deal specifically with your problem.

I would mos def consider making changes to how your drums are set up to allow for you to maintain a more relaxed and open posture.

Good luck.

[grue]

i have experienced the same problem as you, while i have a few theories on the cause, ill skip those because im just guessing. the cure, for me anyways, was to use more arm movement. if my left is blasting fast 8ths on the snare and i need to crash or whatever with the left its full "moeller time" this approach seems to give the muscles time to "reset" themselves, for lack of a better term. hope this helps

[KitKat]

Do you work on a computer or type a lot? Maybe it's related to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or the onset of it. Whatever it is, it's got to be nerve related. Schedule a physical with your physician in the near future.

[grue]

i never had that feeling till playing world of warcraft, i quit warcraft to play drums, i kinda miss warcraft but am addicted to drums. hmmmm...... i wonder if one could rig up a electronic kit to play warcraft on..........

[Erik Lund]

I think I had the slightly less threatening start of the tingling happen last week...Maybe just a crossed nerve or something... I practiced last week doing some serious pad work like I used to (haven't been dilligent lately) - didn't do any baby-steps - just tried getting back into it...Dropped down 7 hours of pad work and about 3 hours after being on the computer (typing, mostly) later my pinky finger felt asleep. And then 10 minutes later, it was STILL asleep...5 hours later: "Why is my pinky finger still asleep?!?!?!?!?!"

Woke up fine - got on the computer (which is now on a higher table, and I think might actually be the culprit...) and it started up again. I am at this same table right now thinking "GET OFF THIS HIGH TABLE! IT'S YOUR POSTURE!!!!"

because I haven't played for 5 days and it just started acting up now that i'm back on this computer after a week of being away from it...

Well, glad I've been able to think this one aloud...

[cambo91]

Hey all,

I've been playing drums off and on for about 17 years. When I first started playing in high school, I never had any problems with pain. However, when I play now I notice that after playing for several minutes to an hour, I'll often get a quick, uncomfortable tingling sensation on the underside of my right forearm once I leave off the hi-hat or ride and hit a tom or a crash cymbal. It is not super painful, but uncomfortable enough to make me worry that it betokens some kind of weird tendonitis or something of the like in its infancy stages.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I try to stretch out my arms before playing...and I do notice that I tend to get nervous when I play in front of others, and thus I think I must be tensing up, which, I suppose, would make playing all the more harder on my nerves/tendons in my right forearm.

This tingling pain only happens in this arm, and I think it must come from tensing up while playing constant, fairly up tempo quarter, eighth, or sixteenth notes. As soon as I break off of playing a consistent ride or hat pattern and hit a crash or something else, I'll get the uncomfortable tingle now and then.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Thanks!

seriously dude DRINK LOTS OF WATER =D.. I am 16 and used to get this problem alot but only when im on stage.. I never used to drink water in between songs but now I drink as much as I can and it hasnt happend since.. I always found it at its peak when I moved my right arm away from the hi hats.. it was really annoying..