Most common drummers ailments and health complaints?

[Phildas]

Hi folks,

I am doing a little research in what are the most common health complaints suffered by drummers, and what you think is the most demanded upon in the drummer, such as in mind & body.

Thanks for your contributions!

Phildas

[zambizzi]

Repetitive stress injuries like Tendonitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In fact, I see no less than three new threads on this every week, here on the forums. Others that I've seen are Achilles Tendonitis, lower-back pain, foot pain, rotator-cuff problems.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

Stupidity? There I said it. Too easy.

[Three]

Alot of drummers seem to get blisters......



/not me :D

[RollingStone000]

I'd say a lack of patience (over working a muscle or a type of stroke) and bad technique (blisters, cramps, back issues, etc.) are the biggest ailments. Those are generally what lead to injuries.

[Pollyanna]

Tinnitus first, daylight second. Blisters, yes, but they're just a bummer on the night before they turn to calluses.

Zambizzi, I never had RSI problems with drumming. I quit learning keyboards in the band and went back to drumming because of my RSI (computer-based work for many years). Drimming was easier on my hands, tho I had some pain when I was young and uncivilised.

Yes to back and knees.

And let's not forget damage caused by over-indulgence and general craziness ...

[DrumEatDrum]

Repetitive stress injuries like Tendonitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In fact, I see no less than three new threads on this every week, here on the forums. .

Agreed.

Blisters may be more prevalent, but they heal themselves up pretty quickly.

[dairyairman]

probably hangovers

but after that, tendonitis of various types, back pain, etc.

[zambizzi]

Tinnitus first, daylight second. Blisters, yes, but they're just a bummer on the night before they turn to calluses.

Zambizzi, I never had RSI problems with drumming. I quit learning keyboards in the band and went back to drumming because of my RSI (computer-based work for many years). Drimming was easier on my hands, tho I had some pain when I was young and uncivilised.

Yes to back and knees.

And let's not forget damage caused by over-indulgence and general craziness ...

I dunno Polly - I not only see new threads on this nearly everyday, but I went through it myself. I've been playing for just under 3 years and I developed seriously terrible tendonitis after my first year of playing. I took lessons from the start from a cat who's played for nearly 40 yrs. (and has wonderful technique) - he never noticed a problem.

I wasn't particularly uncivilized either. ;) BUT...I was practicing 3-4 hrs. every night from the beginning.

I do type all day at work (software engineer) so I'm sure that plays a part, somehow. But in 11 yrs. on the job I never had so much as a hint of pain from using a computer.

[Mündo]

I've got tinnitus in both ears...tendinitis ...both forearms. The tendinitis is from typing though. the drumming doesn't actually seem to bother it too much.

I have some weird nerve damage in my fingers from wacking my fingers of rims though...

[booneperc]

I've played set for 38 years. I've had back problems off and on, but maybe it came from hauling PA speakers and other heavy equipment of my bandmates back when I was young. To any drummers that plan on playing for a long time I would advise they "watch their back"-(so to speak). in other words, be careful how you lift equipment (be extra careful after the gig when you are physically tired) and use good posture when you play.
Also, I started playing in grade school and learned traditional grip. After about 28 years of playing with this grip, I developed painful arthritis in the joint where the thumb and first finger meet. I considered hand surgery but after discussing this with the surgeon found out it would take weeks and weeks of physical therapy. I discovered that if I played matched grip, it wasn't painful, so I had to switch my grip. My technique is not as good as it was with traditional but it's pretty close.

[bigtom59]

Well I didn’t hear anyone else say they have experienced this problem, but before I started playing, I had a nice round full butt. And the women loved it, now I have a flat butt? Just a thought.

[sqadan]

This:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIlKiRPSNGA

[Funky Crêpe]

have any trad grip drummers had pains in your left side?
I think i have pulled a muscle of something because i sort of lean down to the left when i play. I was jamming with my band for 4hours yeaterday, woke up this morning in quite some pain.....some snare adjustments to be made for sure!

[toddy]

i used to get blisters when i was a kid, not anymore. you only get blisters if you grip the sticks to tightly imo. tendonitis is a real nasty problem though - luckily i fixed it before it became the end of the world. also like boone said, your back can be a problem too (no more slouching!).

[A-customs]

I Have a serious foot prob,with my kick drum foot.Arthritis in the foot big time.I put a sleave over my foot then slip my sock on and a nice light pair of sneaks.Also after a show,the next day ,my neck is really sore from all the grooving.......

[mikec]

I started using the New Grip wrist supports over a year ago and have noticed a great improvement as far as energy,less tendonitis and soreness in my hands. For under $20 these are like gold!!


Mike

[Swiss Matthias]

This:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIlKiRPSNGA
the pythons are the best!!

[Jessiah331]

Stupidity? There I said it. Too easy.

QFT.

There was a clip of metalocalypse where the manager said 'Name something other than guitar' and the guy went blank. Sometimes I feel like that with drums.


Name something that doesn't have to do with drums... CYMBALS! :)

[Terminator7t]

Yeah, i'm with Polly here, I have RSI (i'm only 16!) from computer based work, and drumming in fact seems to help cure my RSI rather than make it worse.

I must say i'm suprised with the number of people who have RSI, I thought it was quite rare.

Ah, and I also have tinnitus, which tends to range from mild to moderate, however after suffering from it for about a year you pretty much get used to it.

Pretty good going for 16 eh?

[Concrete Pete]

Hey Crew,

Man, I guess I'm fortunate- Had a broken back in '83, broke more bones that I could list here, have had tinnitus come and go, (not a problem currently) and have played gigs with broken toes, a broken pinky finger, and all the "geezer" aches and pains that a 52-year-old has to deal with.

I don't know about everyone else, but I SWEAR that drumming keeps me pain-free, supple, and helps keep me in shape. The "blisters" thing turned into "callous" things years ago, and the only complaint on that note is that I have to keep sanding those callouses down with 50-grit sandpaper, to avoid having the flesh "crack" on my forefingers and thumbs.

Maybe it's just in my gene pool- my Dad just recently quit drumming, and he's 92.

Cheers,
C. P.

[Swiss Matthias]

Man, I guess I'm fortunate- Had a broken back in '83, broke more bones that I could list here, have had tinnitus come and go, (not a problem currently) and have played gigs with broken toes, a broken pinky finger, and all the "geezer" aches and pains that a 52-year-old has to deal with.


And you call yourself Concrete Pete? :P

[Swiss Matthias]

Ah, and I also have tinnitus, which tends to range from mild to moderate, however after suffering from it for about a year you pretty much get used to it.


Dude, watch your ears!!! Tinnitus at 16? You may prevent yourself from getting it even worse!
Did that come from drumming, or loud clubs and concerts?

[madidus]

I have this weird drumming related condition: the day after every gig I suffer from a throbbing headache, nausea and severe noise sensitivity. Does anyone else get this??

[Terminator7t]

Dude, watch your ears!!! Tinnitus at 16? You may prevent yourself from getting it even worse!
Did that come from drumming, or loud clubs and concerts?

Yeah it came from drumming with my band. Now I make sure that I am never exposed to loud music anymore, wearing ear defenders at all times. I paid the price I suppose, but I have definitely noticed an improvement from what it used to be. Maybe someday it will completely cure but for now I just have to live with it.

[Ferret]

my drum mentor has osteoperosis and demands that all of his students/friends play with a backrested stool, because thats what could have saved him from stooping over his kit all these years.

I got this piece of advice from a joint specialist my drummer friend met at some sports convention:

For musicians the closer your fingers/veins on the top of your hands are to being straight in line with your forearm, the better it is for you. He had all kinds of nasty stories about piano players that mangled themselves going up and down the keyboard too fast, and guitarists/bassists with really wide finger spreads that got over extended.

[JasonM]

This is most likely an isolated incident, but still very funny nonetheless

Fresh Pots Syndrome: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhdCslFcKFU

[Spinozalove]

I have constant tinnitus from years of gigging and playing without protecting my hearing. I wear earplugs these days to stop it getting worse, but once it is constant it never goes away.

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

Blisters and carpal tunnel I guess, but both are easily avoided with propper technique. Same goes for the feet really.

Next I guess, would be lower back issues, so good posture, correct seat height for your body and some stretching and exercise should be mandatory.

Hearing damage is common for most musicians, but in this day and age we should know better. It's not just about hearing protection, though. Playing soft, without protection instead, is good for both you and the quality of your band rehearsals.

[AnonymousInventions]

Tendonitis and hearing loss. I use ear protection when I'm practicing now. I've had trouble playing out with the band with the ear protection though. Just doesn't sound right. But, as the night wears on to that 4th set, they come in handy.

[aaajn]

Repetitive stress injuries like Tendonitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In fact, I see no less than three new threads on this every week, here on the forums. Others that I've seen are Achilles Tendonitis, lower-back pain, foot pain, rotator-cuff problems.

It got me. I heard and read on DW that it is easy to get injured. But of course I was different, right up until I got injured. It's tendonitis related to my neck and gripping too hard. I am blown away by how long it has taken this to get better. My elbow is off limits. It does not help that I use a computer at work and at home, since I am typing this at my kitchen table.

So one vote for elbow tendonitis.

[ddrumman2004]

Can't really say that the problems I have had were caused by drumming. I attribute mine to the fact that I'm aging.

In fact, after a 4 year break from gigging and being back at it for over a year, I feel better than I did when I wasn't playing and the muscles in my arms have "toned" up and my left knee doesn't hurt me anymore like it did.

[Bo Eder]

In addition to my aging, I'm currently dealing with achilles bursitis. That tendon that wraps under your foot around your heel going up to the achilles tendon is some how getting injured and making it difficult to even walk (and play by bass drum pedal). The doctor says it's a runner's injury, and all I can do is ice it and take ibruprofen. It went completely away and now has come back.

I may go back to my doctor and ask him for my co-payment back!

[Bad Drummer]

Alright guys, since no one else seems to want to say it...

Smelly balls.

Edit: Unless you're a girl, of course. Then it would be a...you know what I think you can figure it out.

[Coldhardsteel]

High blood pressure due to interaction with irritating soloists and vocalists.

[braincramp]

I'm just starting to get the big T from all the years of not wearing ear protection..and pretty good hearing loss...before buying a well padded bicycle type seat I would get a real bad pain in the you know where...I had to use an old thin stool the other day at practice and after a year or so of not having it happen ..it did..

[unfunkyfooted]

Bone Ache !!!!!!!

a throbbing, pulsating bone ache.

the whole body aches. as the pain starts to go away i can see that the main source is the knees, elbows and wrists.

Back Ache !!!!!!!

Finger Ache !!!!!!!!

this is the only known fix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuG2ILHKj6A
528 hz tone therapy. yes, it works. but the minute you cut off the music, you go back to hurting.

[Pollyanna]

Well I didn’t hear anyone else say they have experienced this problem, but before I started playing, I had a nice round full butt. And the women loved it, now I have a flat butt? Just a thought.

lol - don't blame it on drums, bigtom. All bums head south over time. Mine too :(

And when I play badly it's like an arrow through the heart ...