DrumEatDrum
Platinum Member
I've hinted at this in several threads, and I suppose future posts/threads might make more sense if I put this information somewhere:
My neck/shoulder issue has been an on going drama.
My right shoulder was injured when I was 14 in P.E. class, and again at 21 when a wave at the beach picked me and slammed into the ground on my right shoulder.
I've seen various people for it over the years, but for the most part, it didn't affect my drumming too much. About 8 years ago I tried a new chiropractor who really got me 100%.
Then last year, my drumming started going down hill. I party blamed on on having a desk job, two kids, and such. But the base of my neck kept hurting. I went back to my chiropractor, several times, but it didn't get better. Was it just a sign of age? Because the pain had been non-stop since my 42nd birthday.
I tried a few other people. I tried a guy who did cold laser therapy. It would feel better for a day, but the pain would come back. I tried to keep up recording, but takes were getting worse, not better.
So I made the decision to just stop trying to play through the pain, stop drumming and just let it heal.
Only, it didn't heal. Weeks, then months went by with no actual drumming, and the pain did not get any better. Recordings were put on hold. Jams and other playing opportunities were turned down.
I bought an expensive new bed that I couldn't really afford to see if that would help, and while it got rid of many other aches and pains associated with being over 40, the neck pain persisted.
I tried a new diet focused on green smoothies and more veggies to just inject my body with a ton more vitamins. I lost nearly 15 pounds, but the pain didn't go away.
I read that wheat glutten can aid inflammation, so I went on a glutten free diet to see if that would help.. Oddly, my asthma and allergies cleared up, but the pain in my neck didn't go away.
So after seeing multiple different chiropractors, I went to a Doctor of Sports Medicine who is a drummer himself, and has treated several well known name drummers. I hadn't gone to him previously because he's up in the next county, but I was getting desperate and it seemed worth the extra drive.
It took two weeks just to get an appointment. He did x-rays, but that didn't show anything. He ordered an MRI. It took two weeks to get the insurance company to approve the MRI. Then it took another two weeks to get another appointment with the Dr to go over the results of the MRI.
At this point I was convinced for nearly 6 weeks there was long term damage that would need surgery. I was fearful I just might never play the drums again.
And the MRI revealed that: there is nothing wrong with me.
Uh, what? What do you mean nothing wrong? Why I am in so much pain?
After another examination, we concluded my computer monitors sit to low for my height (I am 6'2") and sitting a desk all the time with regular height monitors has thrown off my posture, which is causing the pain.
So I immediately moved my monitors both at work and in my studio, on to shelves that are 9 inches above the desk. And the Dr prescribed physical therapy to get my posture straightened out.
I am grateful I don't need surgery, but wow, I'm upset that I've basically stopped drumming for almost a year over something so simple as the height of my computer monitors!
But now after several therapy sessions, I should be good to get back to the drum kit in a few days.
All that said, I really want to get a new drum kit that sits a bit lower, to reduce stress on my shoulders, and move to more playing from the wrists. Both my kits have power toms, so if I just went to traditional depths toms, that would do it. I will need to sell off one of my kits to raise some cash for another kit. I'm not selling the Signias because they have too much sentimental value, and they don't go for much on ebay. Which leaves the DW kit, which should still bring a decent amount on the used market. Oddly, my wife doesn't want me to sell the DW kit because she loves the color! HA!
On the movie music side, that's taken a turn.
The producer has said rather than have multiple people working on the music like last time, he's hiring just me to do it all the music. From the theme song, to the ending dance number, and all the score in between, it's all me Which means more money, but also a lot more work, on top of my day job. Which leaves little time to really get back to drumming until this movies comes out later this year. But I keep a practice pad next to my studio computer so I can sneak from rudiments in here and there.
Anyway, the moral of this long rambling mess of a story is:
Drumming aches and pains may be caused by something stupidly simple.
My neck/shoulder issue has been an on going drama.
My right shoulder was injured when I was 14 in P.E. class, and again at 21 when a wave at the beach picked me and slammed into the ground on my right shoulder.
I've seen various people for it over the years, but for the most part, it didn't affect my drumming too much. About 8 years ago I tried a new chiropractor who really got me 100%.
Then last year, my drumming started going down hill. I party blamed on on having a desk job, two kids, and such. But the base of my neck kept hurting. I went back to my chiropractor, several times, but it didn't get better. Was it just a sign of age? Because the pain had been non-stop since my 42nd birthday.
I tried a few other people. I tried a guy who did cold laser therapy. It would feel better for a day, but the pain would come back. I tried to keep up recording, but takes were getting worse, not better.
So I made the decision to just stop trying to play through the pain, stop drumming and just let it heal.
Only, it didn't heal. Weeks, then months went by with no actual drumming, and the pain did not get any better. Recordings were put on hold. Jams and other playing opportunities were turned down.
I bought an expensive new bed that I couldn't really afford to see if that would help, and while it got rid of many other aches and pains associated with being over 40, the neck pain persisted.
I tried a new diet focused on green smoothies and more veggies to just inject my body with a ton more vitamins. I lost nearly 15 pounds, but the pain didn't go away.
I read that wheat glutten can aid inflammation, so I went on a glutten free diet to see if that would help.. Oddly, my asthma and allergies cleared up, but the pain in my neck didn't go away.
So after seeing multiple different chiropractors, I went to a Doctor of Sports Medicine who is a drummer himself, and has treated several well known name drummers. I hadn't gone to him previously because he's up in the next county, but I was getting desperate and it seemed worth the extra drive.
It took two weeks just to get an appointment. He did x-rays, but that didn't show anything. He ordered an MRI. It took two weeks to get the insurance company to approve the MRI. Then it took another two weeks to get another appointment with the Dr to go over the results of the MRI.
At this point I was convinced for nearly 6 weeks there was long term damage that would need surgery. I was fearful I just might never play the drums again.
And the MRI revealed that: there is nothing wrong with me.
Uh, what? What do you mean nothing wrong? Why I am in so much pain?
After another examination, we concluded my computer monitors sit to low for my height (I am 6'2") and sitting a desk all the time with regular height monitors has thrown off my posture, which is causing the pain.
So I immediately moved my monitors both at work and in my studio, on to shelves that are 9 inches above the desk. And the Dr prescribed physical therapy to get my posture straightened out.
I am grateful I don't need surgery, but wow, I'm upset that I've basically stopped drumming for almost a year over something so simple as the height of my computer monitors!
But now after several therapy sessions, I should be good to get back to the drum kit in a few days.
All that said, I really want to get a new drum kit that sits a bit lower, to reduce stress on my shoulders, and move to more playing from the wrists. Both my kits have power toms, so if I just went to traditional depths toms, that would do it. I will need to sell off one of my kits to raise some cash for another kit. I'm not selling the Signias because they have too much sentimental value, and they don't go for much on ebay. Which leaves the DW kit, which should still bring a decent amount on the used market. Oddly, my wife doesn't want me to sell the DW kit because she loves the color! HA!
On the movie music side, that's taken a turn.
The producer has said rather than have multiple people working on the music like last time, he's hiring just me to do it all the music. From the theme song, to the ending dance number, and all the score in between, it's all me Which means more money, but also a lot more work, on top of my day job. Which leaves little time to really get back to drumming until this movies comes out later this year. But I keep a practice pad next to my studio computer so I can sneak from rudiments in here and there.
Anyway, the moral of this long rambling mess of a story is:
Drumming aches and pains may be caused by something stupidly simple.
Yes, RSI and postural issues with computer work are a common problem. I'm scaling back because my right hand is suffering mouse pain (and the notion of having a life).
