Playing Guitar with Arthritis

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 08:11 PM

Hey, help is on the way...

About 5 years ago I was havin' lots of pain in my right thumb and as an acoustic blues player that ain't good... I had the x-rays and all an' was diagnosed as sufferin' from arthritis in the "thumb base"...

Treatment, you ask??? A danged cast to imobilze the joint for 2 weeks... And then, maybe surgery... So, I did the cast and then slowly went back to playin' guitar... It took a couple of weeks an' I was back where I had been before the cast but...

...a few months later the pain came back and I went to the internet and read everything I could... I even posted a thread here on Mudcat an' got more info and here is what will work:

1. Salmon oil: 3000 mg per day

2. Glucosamine: 3000 mg per day

3. Chondroitin Sulfate: 2000 mg per day

4. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): 100 mg per day

Now if you go to www.vitaminworld.com you can purchase one pill that has #2, #3 & #4 in it and 2 a day plus the salmon oil will work!!!

I know...

My right thumb is my music and I am now 100% pain free!!!

I promise you that this will work...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: Cruiser
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 07:48 PM

Guest:

Please give us some examples that are specific to alleviating his condition while fretting the fingerboard.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 07:43 PM

Or try some other tunings...

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: jonmac
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 05:39 PM

There are OTC preparations that are said to help creaking joints - mainly fish oils etc. (taken internally!). Gentle stretching exercises might help - but take it gently - too vigorous and you'll set yourself up for some painful weeks!
Practically I can only suggest that you try very hard to relax your hands when you are playing ... I know that I had a great deal of trouble with my hands when playing which I put down to holding the instrument badly (which shouldn't apply if you're having lessons) and to gripping to tightly / tensing my fingers. Once I'd mastered playing with my hands "relaxed" the pain vanished - and my playing improved!
Otherwise - don't use the particular chord shape - capo up and use different shapes - not sure it'll actually help though - and it will probably upset your teacher! If you're using steel strings - transfer to nylon.
Strengthen the fingers ... my teacher had me playing every note on the instrument to strengthen and increase flexibility ... don't know if it would help you ... I played (string/fret)
6/1,6/2,6/3,6/4,5/1,5/2,5/3,5/4,4/1,4/2,4/3,4/4 etc up to 1/4 - then slide up one fret and then play down 1/5,1/4,1/3,1/2,2/5,2/4 etc - then slide up a fret - play up etc.etc. until you reach the twelfth fret - then play the sequence back to the start again. Can be down as a slow meditation listening to the notes - or as a speed exercise! Whatever else it'll give your left hand a damn good work out ... but as ever - proceed with care and do stop if it starts to hurt!

Good Luck - pain killers are of dubious value and should be avoided when playing as they may tempt you to push too hard!

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: Cruiser
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 05:29 PM

Another suggestion is to use barre chords where your index finger will be straight and flat against the fingerboard and no bending is required.

Captain Birdseye got the exerciser name correct: Gripmaster. I have the blue Light Tension and the red heavier tension ones. I bet the blue model would be just right because it is the repetition that matter for warming up.

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: The Sandman
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 05:06 PM

Well start taking cider vinegar and cod liver oil and glaucosamine tablets. I have it in the top of my left middle finger, get a gripmaster and keep exercising your fingers,dont stop playing,if you plsy in d major you wont have to use c major chord much.and piano type finger exercises,resting three fingers on a flat surface and move the fourth one and do this with all your fingers in turn.

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: Wesley S
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 05:04 PM

I'll assume you've seen your doctor about this. So far I havn't had the problems you're dealing with but I guess it's just a matter of time.

I'm guessing that the finger that's really giving you trouble is the C on the A string. If so I'd be tempted to just touch the string without any pressure - and mute it. At least you would hear the other strings. Not a good solution - but it's the best I can think of. Listen to your doctor of choice.

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 05:00 PM

well, instead of playing C with arthritis, try a plectrum ... (sorry)..now that the smart-ass remark is out of the way -

...yeah the older I get the harder it is to make the chords. I have exactly the same problem...index finger on left hand is a little stiff and I notice it more when I try to bend it to catch the C note on the 2nd string (or G7 chord - same problem)... fortunately for me after a few minutes it seems to limber up and the pain and stiffness go away.

I wish it were the same for you. Sorry I don't have any answers, I posted only to commiserate with your condition. There will be many folks along shortly with all kinds of suggestions I'm sure - the age of most everyone around here falls on or along the "onset of arthritis" curve. Best to you.

Subject: RE: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: Cruiser
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 04:58 PM

Although I do not have arthritis I exercise my fingers before playing a lot. They are basic stretching exercises and the first one includes doing "push-ups" with my index finger, similar to when you were a kid and did finger puppet movements (at least I did). I even saw a book on Mel Bay once about finger exercises for instrumentalists. I bet you can find something on the web. I also use a finger exerciser and I will post what it is called later. My exercises have all been as preventative measures and not restorative, so they may not help.

I also rub wintergreen isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the joints and the tips of my fingers before playing and sometimes afterwards.

Just a poor lame joke (sorry I could not resist):

Instead of playing guitar with Art Hritis play guitar with Art Thieme (a legend on Mudcat)

Good luck and continue to exercise and warm up before playing.

Subject: Playing Guitar with Arthritis
From: GUEST,Alley
Date: 07 Aug 06 - 04:43 PM

The "C" chord on the guitar is easy--for anyone else. Having arthritis in the first finger of my left hand makes the "C" chord a b----! I don't like expressing myself that way, however, it seems that I am at my wit's end. Does anyone else out there in "Mudcat World" have this problem? Had a music lesson today, and it was difficult for me to go from "G" to "C". No, I am not a beginner. I've been taking lessons for well over two years. Instead of getting better, it's getting worse. The "C" chord is the only one that gives me trouble. Thing is, you can't avoid it completely. The more I practice, the more painful it gets. Sure would hate to give up the guitar since I enjoy it so much. Just wonder how others, in the same boat, are dealing with it. Thanks for listening.   Alley