Thumb Pain

[verve92]

Originally Posted by chiimba

Saw something on back pain..so why not

So we've been playing live again for the first time in awhile after finishing our first CD recently and it's been great.. except for about 3 weeks ago I noticed a bruising pain primarily on the inside of my thumb where it pushes against the neck of the guitar. I have no idea how I hurt it or why it hurt..but its an interior joint pain ..hurts when i try to do certain pinching type motions or pushing on something.

I didn't think much of it at first; and kind of played through it with a few shows; but it never went away and if anything got worse. Now the last week I've been trying to rest it; and ice it; and it doesn't really feel any better. If anything I feel like it's stiffened up and is more sensitive than when I was playing through it. It's taped right now to keep from bending and I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing... my doctor only had an appointment available next Thursday.

It just sucks because 1.) i already am getting severly saddened by not playing guitar; which I usually do everyday for an hour or two at least; and 2.) we're supposed to be playing as many shows as possible; and it's affecting the bands ability to practice.

Anyone ever experience pain like this? I've played guitar for like 8 years and this is the first instance.

Obviously you live in the US. Most other civil democracies wouldn't make you wait for any malady.
Anyways. Is it on your playing hand or fretting thumb
Can you pinpoint any event that caused it?
Swelling?
If so, have an MRI done on it. Look for ligament issues.
Maybe try some Aleve.

[15ips]

Originally Posted by verve92

Obviously you live in the US. Most other civil democracies wouldn't make you wait for any malady.

Really? Your constant anti American rantings are ridiculous.

OP go to the emergency room if the pain is that extreme. Whatever you do, don't aggravate the injury and end up with permanent damage. Good luck.

[Ward Pike]

Originally Posted by verve92

Obviously you live in the US. Most other civil democracies wouldn't make you wait for any malady.

REALLY? The US has probably the best available health care in the world. The only trouble is paying for it. USA has the best of everything... other western democracies may come close, but the waiting times are so bad that people raise money to send folks in need to the US for more expedient and expert medical care.

Universal Health Care coverage would make it perfect... but then you've got big corporations and even politicians dead set against it, for their own reasons (upon which speculation is not needed).

[verve92]

Originally Posted by 15ips

Really? Your constant anti American rantings are ridiculous.

OP go to the emergency room if the pain is that extreme. Whatever you do, don't aggravate the injury and end up with permanent damage. Good luck.

All good. Don't mean to offend.
I had Leukemia as a kid. I'm 40. Been in remission 32 years. Can't get affordable heath care. If I get sick again, I lose everything. Nobody does this in a civil society.
The rants will keep coming until there is real change. But you're right not the place. There are many others.....

[chiimba]

To follow up... got an x ray and it looked ok.

For more detail it's on the thumb of my fretting hand; and it hurts right around the spot where i press against the back of the neck primarily while doing bar chords...the inside of my thumb. Doctor thinks it's a mild sprain and gave me this splint; but when I wear it; like when i taped it; I feel the joints stiffen up and it hurts more.

Ice dipping it and massaging it and stretching it has helped; along with warming up more. Aleve may help too but trying to avoid needing any medication. It's just a weird spot of pain that nothing on google searching thumb problems seemed to resemble.

I'm going to continue to play through it and ice and try to rehab it through proper technique..since that seems to actually provide strength and relief.. Still don't know how I injured it but I assume it was from the week when we didn't practice to playing a long show where I had a lot of good adrenaline going and my have been gripping my guitar like crazy.

When I had really bad achilles tendonitis doctors told me to rest and all I did was get worse...stretching and massage therapy saved my walking ability in the end. I'm skepticle of doctors just wanting me to throw it in some plastic splint. :\ Thanks for the replies

[hank alrich]

Originally Posted by Ward Pike

REALLY? The US has probably the best available health care in the world.

The World Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems

[sportyspice]

Oh Hillbillie Hank, I new there was a Marxist inside that hairy skull of yours. Living in a perpetual state of dissapointment must suck. Lay off the Granola and things should settle down

[Ward Pike]

Originally Posted by hank alrich

The World Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems

That might be what they say, Hans, but the reality is quite different. One of the factors having an influence here that has nothing to do with the quality of care is the cost. Countries with "free" health care get bumped up the list even though the quality or availability is not even close to what they would have you think.

Anyhow...