Need some advice on some general hand pain

[Tazdrummer]

Yes, I know, no one here is a doctor, but I am sure someone may have experienced something similar.

I have been spending alot of time practicing on an HQ Real Feel 6" practice pad (http://www.drumsonsale.com/hqrealfeel6quotpracticepadsinglesided-p-539.html?currency=USD). I have been trying to train myself to hold the sticks better than I used to back in the day.

See, I haven't played for about 15 years. With some of the study material I have been looking at I notice bad habits I had from back in the day. When I first started playing again I would get some pain in my right hand. I stopped for a while and tried again in a few days. The same thing happened. I get to doing some research and I come to the conclusion that it is my technique.

I haven't had a chance to be out in the garage much but I have been trying to hit the pad alot, trying to improve on my technique.

I am using matched grip. After watching the Jojo Mayer DVD, I have been trying to adjust my grip accordingly. I don't think I am squeezing too tight.

When this first started happening all kinds of paranoid thoughts went through my head (I waited too long to play again, in the end I won't be able to play, ect.....). Most every job I have had has involved my hands in one way or another. One job used a high speed grinder that caused a great many people to have carpral tunnel syndrome. Hell, in July I turn 39, and now that I am finally able to play again, feeling a little pain here and there, I guess I couldn't help but to be a little paranoid.

Ultimately the only pain that seems to occur is in my right hand. I try to hold the stick the way Jojo showed, with my thumb pressing towards the second joint of my index finger.

Lately the pain isn't as bad as when I first started. So, in your best guestimate, should I be worried or am I just being too paranoid?

Thanks.

[DestinationDrumming]

When I first started drumming I found some 'pain' or discomfort in my hands especially around my thumb. As I did more practice that discomfort reduced and now only returns when I haven't played for a while. I think you may be worrying unnecessarily but as you say I'm not a doctor and if you're concerned go check it out just in case....at our ages you can't be too sure!

[Tazdrummer]

When I first started drumming I found some 'pain' or discomfort in my hands especially around my thumb. As I did more practice that discomfort reduced and now only returns when I haven't played for a while. I think you may be worrying unnecessarily but as you say I'm not a doctor and if you're concerned go check it out just in case....at our ages you can't be too sure!

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Ultimately a doctor will have the correct answer, but I believe someone else has probably experienced the same thing I am experiencing right now.

I guess I can't help but to be a little paranoid. I love playing drums and I have missed it for so long. It would just suck if during that time I missed out was the only time I could have played, you know what I mean?

Worse case scenario, I would end up playing through the pain or taping the stick to my hand. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/tazdrummer/smilies/rofl.gif

[Alex Luce]

Taz:

When playing on hard surfaces such as practice pads it is important to let the sticks rebound properly (e.g. use the Gladstone technique), otherwise you could suffer stick shock. In case you are unfamiliar with this term, it means your hands and arms are absorbing the force of the rebound, instead of letting the stick naturally bounce back from the surface. Stick shock could manifest itself as all kinds of different pain(s) in your hands and/or arms.

Also, it is important to know that great drummers use their entire arms to hit the drums, not just the hands. Check out this post (http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=373376&highlight=lever#post373376) if you want more information.

Regards,

Alex

[karan733]

hello chap

I too experienced a lot of pain and particularly swelling of the central part of the hand when taking up drumming after a break. if you look at your hand nail side up, the swelling occurred between the wrist and the knuckles, and was onset by drumming for even short periods of time. it always used to become painful enough to stop me playing for the next hour or two.

I dont know how to fix it, as I still currently suffer from this, but maybe proper finger stretching exercies, as well as relaxed grip that you've already been working on might help you a little bit.

[Tazdrummer]

Taz:

When playing on hard surfaces such as practice pads it is important to let the sticks rebound properly (e.g. use the Gladstone technique), otherwise you could suffer stick shock. In case you are unfamiliar with this term, it means your hands and arms are absorbing the force of the rebound, instead of letting the stick naturally bounce back from the surface. Stick shock could manifest itself as all kinds of different pain(s) in your hands and/or arms.

Also, it is important to know that great drummers use their entire arms to hit the drums, not just the hands. Check out this post (http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=373376&highlight=lever#post373376) if you want more information.

Regards,

Alex

Thanks for the info.

I THOUGHT (keyword being thought....) that I have allowed the sticks to rebound properly. I could be wrong.

I think I may have improved on my hand technique since it doesn't seem to hurt as much as when I first started back up.

I have contemplated looking into some antivibe drumsticks (especially the Ahead sticks).

[Alex Luce]

Taz: Getting anti-vibe drumsticks is a good idea. If you try them and the pain DOESN'T go away, then the issue isn't rebound, but something more serious. If this is the case, you should seriously consider completely revamping your technique. Drumming should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience...there is no reason to play with pain.

Regards,

Alex

[JWM]

I also might recommend looking into this for technique, especially if you may be having CTS issues--

http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19347

[zambizzi]

I was just about to start a thread, discussing this, before I noticed this one.

I was diagnosed with tendonitis in October after getting back from vacation and I'm still dealing w/ it today. As I'm completely obsessive, I've learned a few things and maybe they'll help some of you.

I, too, was using a "Real Feel" practice pad for a few months and I believe that hitting this pad too hard (mostly when accenting) is what initially brought it on. I'm not a basher and I no longer believe that my technique is the problem. I've talked to my drum teacher about this, at length and have had him watch my playing, analyze my grip, etc....I do what he has been doing for 35 years and he has never had a problem. However, when playing on these hard rubber surfaces, I believe you need to be very, very careful. I have since thrown my real feel pad in the closet and never intend to use it again. This doesn't mean they're bad pads and no one should use them...I just personally don't want to ever go through this again, once it finally clears up.

I saw a doctor in early November when I realized that the problem wasn't going away. My right hand, wrist, and forearm were giving me problems...mostly just below the thumb and on top of the wrist. The pain was slight, at first, so I ignored it (yeah, real smart!) I "played through" the pain one day w/ the band and was completely unable to use my hand the next day...that's when I knew I was in trouble. The doc said it was tendonitis, for sure, after doing some basic tests (google the Finklestein test). I have DeQuervain's Tendonitis and Intersecting Syndrome.

I spent all of November and December eating regular doses of Advil, icing my wrists, and trying to use my left hand for most activities. I've been taking 2-3 days off every week from drumming and trying to limit my practice time to an hour or two...which is minimal for me. I started taking an herbal supplement about 2 weeks ago, called Cissus, which has helped a lot (less time off, longer practice, etc.) - but it wasn't a silver bullet...there is no such thing.

As much as I wish there was a happy ending or a simple solution, I've resigned to the fact that there just isn't such a thing. I have a doc's appt. tomorrow, again, and I'm going to ask him to give me a cortisone shot. If that doesn't work...I'm going to ask for surgery to put a final end to the problem. Not using my hands is not an option...I'm a programmer by day and it's very hard to do my job w/o constantly typing and using a mouse...and not drumming is simply not an option.

It's a bummer...a big one...I'm on another 3-day rest period because after it felt like it was almost completely gone Monday night...it came back w/ a vengeance Tuesday morning.

Some things to consider:

1. Use a loose grip, don't play too hard.
2. Warm up properly before even picking up your sticks.
3. Take regular breaks from drumming, during practice.
4. Cool down, use ice if there is any swelling.
5. Take a few days off if there is *any* sign of pain...because getting rid of tendonitis takes far longer and will cut into your drumming time much more, in the long run.
6. Don't spend a lot of time in front of a computer, if you don't need to.

Also, to be clear on my history, I believe computer use played a big part. I had to switch to a vertical mouse last year because I had some (very) temporary pain in my right hand. My history of heavy weight lifting may have also contributed. I quit working out when I started drumming regularly and I think getting back into the gym and doing a light workout, regularly, would help a bunch.

Hope this helps!

[Alex Luce]

Hey Z: I am really sorry to hear about your hand problems. If the cortisone shot doesn't work another option might be prednisone (taken orally), although this is pretty serious treatment and there may be side effects.

In any case, surgery should always be the last resort--because scar tissue can develop after the operation and cause further problems. Make sure you see a chiropractor and/or pain specialist before you go under the knife, even if you have to travel to L.A. or another big city to see the right one.

By the way, a while back Jeff Almeyda posted a link to what looked like an excellent pain specialist on this forum, you should search his posts and see if you can find it.

Regards,

Alex

[Tazdrummer]

Taz: Getting anti-vibe drumsticks is a good idea. If you try them and the pain DOESN'T go away, then the issue isn't rebound, but something more serious. If this is the case, you should seriously consider completely revamping your technique. Drumming should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience...there is no reason to play with pain.

Regards,

Alex

Totally agree.

At my next convenient moment I am going to give a pair a try and see what happens.

I am not at all opposed to revamping my technique. Hell, that is how this all got started.

[zambizzi]

Hey Z: I am really sorry to hear about your hand problems. If the cortisone shot doesn't work another option might be prednisone (taken orally), although this is pretty serious treatment and there may be side effects.

In any case, surgery should always be the last resort--because scar tissue can develop after the operation and cause further problems. Make sure you see a chiropractor and/or pain specialist before you go under the knife, even if you have to travel to L.A. or another big city to see the right one.

By the way, a while back Jeff Almeyda posted a link to what looked like an excellent pain specialist on this forum, you should search his posts and see if you can find it.

Regards,

Alex

Thanks Alex. I saw a new doc today and he was really good...but basically said the same thing - try to rest. He said it'd be alright (and advisable) to start working out again and I'm going to see their physical therapist next week. I'll try a light workout this weekend, too, if there's minimal pain.

He basically told me what you have as well - avoid surgery unless all else fails. I turned down the cortisone shot, this time, to see if I can get through it w/o that. Phew, that prednisone sounds really nasty!

I'm interested in your book. I read up on Kinesiology a bit in high school when I was lifting weights religiously. I'll be sure to read through your site tonight...nice job!

Taz:
I went back to anti-vibe sticks when my tendonitis first set in...and I found that they didn't help one bit - but that's just my experience. I did get some wrist straps, which also reduce vibration in the arms & wrists...and that actually did help a lot. I've used them every time I play, since then.

[Tazdrummer]

Thanks Alex. I saw a new doc today and he was really good...but basically said the same thing - try to rest. He said it'd be alright (and advisable) to start working out again and I'm going to see their physical therapist next week. I'll try a light workout this weekend, too, if there's minimal pain.

He basically told me what you have as well - avoid surgery unless all else fails. I turned down the cortisone shot, this time, to see if I can get through it w/o that. Phew, that prednisone sounds really nasty!

I'm interested in your book. I read up on Kinesiology a bit in high school when I was lifting weights religiously. I'll be sure to read through your site tonight...nice job!

Taz:
I went back to anti-vibe sticks when my tendonitis first set in...and I found that they didn't help one bit - but that's just my experience. I did get some wrist straps, which also reduce vibration in the arms & wrists...and that actually did help a lot. I've used them every time I play, since then.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

My next possible convenient moment when I am at a music store that has some anti-vibe sticks, I am going to give them a thorough test drive. I don't think the local Guitar Center has the Ahead sticks, but this other drum shop does. I am rarely in that area though.

Who knows? It's worth at least a test driving to see.