The base of both my thumbs hurt a lot?

[lindsayannemusic]

Anyone else have similar problems or any other drum related injuries? Advice?

Thanks!

[mikeyhanson]

I had a pinched ulnar nerve for almost 2 years. The doctor said there wasn't much to do about it but wait. I had numbness in my ring and pinky finger. It was a drag.
He suggested that I change up things and see if that helps: computer desk setup, work desk setup, etc.
Eventually it went away, so something helped. If you've got stuff at work that's giving you pain that also happens when you play drums, I'd look into that.

[drumming4life]

Originally Posted by lindsayannemusic

I've been drumming for about 10 years... My drum teacher confirmed many times my technique was good. I was playing for 10 hours one day with only a few breaks, and I got what my doctor said was either a very mild version of carpal tunnel, or a pinched nerve. I wore a cast for 2 weeks, went to physical therapy, and took ibuprofen... it then went away.

Now, my thumbs seem to be the issue. When I play, they start to act up. I also have a job at a restaurant, cutting food and doing a lot of labor with my hands. My thumbs (mostly my right thumb) hurt where my thumb connects to my hand, hurts. Sometimes it throbs and other times the pain comes when I move it a certain way. I continue to do the stretches and I warm up between every exercise and song etc...

Anyone else have similar problems or any other drum related injuries? Advice?

Thanks!

hi, before I start I apologise for any spelling mistakes. Now thats out of the way it sounds like you've got a serious injury. Im 15 and about 6 months ago I had tendonities,which is somewhat similiar to your condition as I had pain in my arm and hands for a while. It was nothing to do with technique, I was just playing to much, along with other things, putting to much stress on my hands and arms. I went to the doctor and I was told to stop the drumming for 6 months. I did and I started playing again as soon as I could. I found that I could only play so long before my hands started to fatigue, and its still happens to this day. When I first started again, I would just play until my hands were sore and I would have to take 5-6 days rest before I could play again. What I did was not a good way to go back into drumming after an injury. What I should of done was short practices and then slowly increased the practice time. I also started doing a few extra warm-ups. I started some tai-chi before practice. I would advise you to check it out. Its warms up and stretches your body and many people use it for arthritis and other conditions and it has been proven to reduce pain by up to 50%. You seem to be doing the right thing warming up and stretching before songs and practice, apart from that, all I can say is just cut the practice time down for a week or so and then slowly increase it. How long do you currently practice at the minute?

[Numberless]

I suggest taking regular breaks, especially if you're doing marathonic practice runs, I would seriously consider taking a short 5-10 minute break for every 45-60 minutes of playing.

[joeymoujalli]

Hey, be sure to take regular breaks during practice and have rest days. Also warm up with llight stretching helps a lot. Other things you can do is develop your forearm muscles and do finger exercises. A good place to start is by gently squeezing a stress ball, also closing and expanding your fingers, either with a rubber band wrapped around your fingers or not. As for the thumbs you can help strengthen them by pinching a soft stress ball between your thumb and index finger repetitively.

Also try the grip master hand exercises, they work so well. I use mine to develop my ring and pinkie fingers. The beauty of this product is you can excersice fingers independently.

Good luck.

[Daisy]

I don't want to alarm you, but I throw this in as a possibility...

At the base of your thumb it connects to a small bone called the trapezium. It's not uncommon for arthritis to develop in this joint (especially in women, so I was told). There's cartilege in the joint and if it wears down then the bones connect and hence the pain.

Might be worth checking out.

Like I said, don't be too alarmed. As you might have guessed, I've had this - in my left hand. I had steroid injections for a year or two and eventually had surgery to remove the trapezium bone. The surgery is not complicated, it takes minutes and I left hospital 2 hours after I woke up. I was out of action for 3 months after the surgery (it was in a cast for a while and then there's physiotherapy to get it all moving again). Can't deny that was a bit of a trial at the time, BUT, it's now fine, and doesn't hamper my playing AT ALL. The grip in that hand is weakened a little, but nothing that interferes with gripping a stick.

[jmck]

have you tried different sticks different weights? could be you need lighter/heavier sticks or also maybe head tension just throwing out ideas i play long hours too and sometimes get aches in my thumb if im playing a tight snare for awhile.

[tarikghi]

I am a drummer and play for a living. I have had this exact problem. It occurs often when I am in the studio and playing very hard, for the engineer. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes of playing to get to a point where it really hurts. I loose my grip and suddenly have to finish a take gripping the stick like a fist. It is very embarrassing. I do my best to conceal it when it occurs. What I find helps the most is about 20 min of hand excercises before we start recording. I will often use the book Stick Control [/i]and run through each system of page 5, one minute each system. Or, I sometimes also do about 20 - 30 min of the book Bass Drum Control. That book also really helps me loosen up before a session. If I do not loosen up and warm up then I am doomed.

[Dr_Watso]

Originally Posted by jmck

have you tried different sticks different weights? could be you need lighter/heavier sticks or also maybe head tension just throwing out ideas i play long hours too and sometimes get aches in my thumb if im playing a tight snare for awhile.

Funny you mention that, because sometimes I get a bit of ache at the inside-knuckle of my thumb if I use larger sticks for a night or something. I think I must just be gripping too hard cause I'm not used to the size/weight.

[KarlPalma]

Originally Posted by lindsayannemusic

Anyone else have similar problems or any other drum related injuries? Advice?

Thanks!

I would find an established teacher and have him/her take a look at your technique. You are over using 1-2 muscles in your wrist/forearms, and thus have to rely on only those few to play drums, instead of 100%.

Karl

[Nickropolis]

I also have a job at a restaurant, cutting food and doing a lot of labor with my hands. My thumbs (mostly my right thumb) hurt where my thumb connects to my hand, hurts.

This might not be a drumming induced condition. Make sure the sharp things you're using are sharp and heavy enough for the task.

A slightly dull knife will make you grip and push/pull much harder, even your non-knife hand.

[Anthony Amodeo]

if I had to guess....

it sounds like you are squeezing the stick too hard and absorbing the shock from impact that your stick should be absorbing and in turn straining your first dorsal interosseous muscle and the palmar facia tendons

this can be very painful

have an instructor look at your technique

and if this pain continues have a doctor look at your hand

while practicing as soon as you feel any pain ...stop

[Andrew239]

I played rugby for a long while and have had a number of thumb dislocations.
I had more on my left than right, I think my right thumb was about 5 times.
I get pain in my right thumb very quickly sometimes. Sometimes it takes longer.
I normally play with a 55A stick. If it hurts a lot I sometimes change to a thicker SD1.
Thinking I might need to use a thicker stick all the time so I don't have to close my thumb as much to hold it. And as I am a delicate little flower, the lighter maple sticks might be a permanent change.
Aching thumbs are annoying.

[Otto]

As others have said, analyse your grip(relax it).

If the pain persists, see a doctor...and shell out extra to see a sports specialist...its worth it.

[BacteriumFendYoke]

I have exactly this issue when I'm playing matched grip at higher volume - particularly with heavier sticks.

I'm putting it down to my technique. It's not an issue with lighter sticks (I usually play maple sticks or 7As) but with slightly thicker sticks, I have a technique issue. It's a good thing I usually play traditional!