Hello from Exeter

[Yukimajo]

Hi Folks

I am (trying to be) an organ player from Exeter UK and this may be the shortest membership of this forum, depending on the advice I get!

I have a Roland VR-09B and I love it. I play the keyboard primarily for it's organ emulation and as such generally sit to play (Ray Manzarek style). I have noticed that although I sit correctly and my forearms are parallel to the floor and have relaxed shoulders when I play, the muscles in my right forearm have tightened to the point of being solid and now I can only play for a minute or so before the pain becomes too much. I do (and always have) stretched before playing, but nothing I do has rectified the problem.

I have seen a doctor, who doesn't know, my accupuncturist thinks I may have a tendon issue with the way I slightly have to twist my wrist to play the right hand. Which wouldn't surprise me as I have diabetes and apparently tendon issues are a common feature.

It is the only thing that causes me the problem; everything else I do is fine and I have no problem when I play my bass guitar. I have also spoken in passing to a friend who works in a guitar store and he says it's not the first time he has heard of this sort of thing, where you can play guitar or keyboard, but not both. Was he just blowing smoke up my a$$ or am I just to remain a bassist (which I also love) and sell my VR-09? Has anyone else come across this and if so, how do I rectify it please? I have been doing targeted exercises, massage and accupressure for over 6 months now and I have noticed no improvement.

Thanks

 

[Becky]

Welcome to the forum, and sorry to hear about the issues you've been having with your forearm. Are there any other activities that trigger the muscle spasms, or is it just playing the keyboard?

 

[happyrat1]

Just a thought here. Instead of sitting in front of the keys what happens when you play from a standing position?

Gary

 

[Yukimajo]

Welcome to the forum, and sorry to hear about the issues you've been having with your forearm. Are there any other activities that trigger the muscle spasms, or is it just playing the keyboard?

Hi Becky

Unfortunately it's just when I play the keys. Even using my PC keyboard doesn't cause the issue.

 

[Yukimajo]

Just a thought here. Instead of sitting in front of the keys what happens when you play from a standing position?

Gary

Hi Gary

Thanks for the suggestion, but I have tried that, to no avail. I have even tried tilting the keyboard to various angles, but nothing I have tried thus far seems to work.

 

[Biggles]

Get your GP Doctor to send you for an Ultrasound, an X Ray will show sweet FA. At the same time you see your GP get your GP to refer you to a wrist specialist, and not a general Orthopaedic person.

You are not the only one suffering.

This image below is me in May, its now December and still no getting back to normal.

Four werks ago I saw a Wrist Specialist who sent me for an ultrasound, which is not until the 10th January, then I have to wait to see the Specialist again.

Our NHS sucks.

Consider yourself lucky, I cannot play either my Bass or Guitar without pain.

 

[happyrat1]

Well, I'll tell ya, I have a similar issue with stringed instruments. My left hand simply won't bend the way it has to to manipulate a fretboard. I've tried with everything from guitars to banjo and even a violin and my left wrist simply doesn't bend that way.

Usually if you are feeling pain with an activity the wisest thing to do is simply stop that activity. Do you mind my asking if you are right or left handed?

If you are a "lefty" then I could understand a little more the pains you are feeling and perhaps some sort of exercise or massage therapy before playing could loosen up your right hand.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

Come to think of it, I used to go out with a woman who had nerve issues in both her elbows & forearms. Apparently it was some sort of birth defect where the nerves were actually too short to stretch out properly when she moved her arms. She ended up actually having surgery which in the end accomplished nothing.

I agree with Biggles here. Book an appointment with an orthopaedic specialist.

Gary

 

[Yukimajo]

Get your GP Doctor to send you for an Ultrasound, an X Ray will show sweet FA. At the same time you see your GP get your GP to refer you to a wrist specialist, and not a general Orthopaedic person.

You are not the only one suffering.

This image below is me in May, its now December and still no getting back to normal.

Four werks ago I saw a Wrist Specialist who sent me for an ultrasound, which is not until the 10th January, then I have to wait to see the Specialist again.

Our NHS sucks.

Consider yourself lucky, I cannot play either my Bass or Guitar without pain.

View attachment 1251

That looks nasty! I will ask my GP for a referral to a wrist specialist, thanks Biggles. I am sorry to hear you can't play the guitars either. that sucks royally. I guess it's time to get a harmonica!

 

[Yukimajo]

Well, I'll tell ya, I have a similar issue with stringed instruments. My left hand simply won't bend the way it has to to manipulate a fretboard. I've tried with everything from guitars to banjo and even a violin and my left wrist simply doesn't bend that way.

Usually if you are feeling pain with an activity the wisest thing to do is simply stop that activity. Do you mind my asking if you are right or left handed?

If you are a "lefty" then I could understand a little more the pains you are feeling and perhaps some sort of exercise or massage therapy before playing could loosen up your right hand.

Gary

Nah unfortunately I'ma righty, so it's my dominant hand and should (theoretically) be stronger. Hopefully an appointment with another specialist and not the GP will yield some better results. I do hope so, I have missed playing the organ over the last few months, so hopefully the new year will bring an upswing...

 

[happyrat1]

Patient : It hurts when I do this....

Doctor: Then don't do that....

***Rimshot***

Gary

 

[Yukimajo]

Patient : It hurts when I do this....

Doctor: Then don't do that....

***Rimshot***

Gary

Thanks for that!

 

[Rayblewit]

I have seen a doctor, who doesn't know, my accupuncturist thinks I may have a tendon issue

You must have a dud doc.
Tendon issues make sense.
Just one arm would suggest to me an injury of some kind.
Did you have a fall at some time?
How do you go with press ups and other activities?
But, If it is just the keyboard then it might be just a mental thing. (Just a passing thought).
I had similar problem (wrist pain) a few years ago.
Fortuunatly the problem fixed itself with a little help of a tennis elbow brace.
Try that.
Also in my case I got tested for carpal tunnel. (thankfully I passed that one) Ask your doc about that too.

You need to demand answers from the doc. He should be making inroads to fixing you. Exercise, physio, vitamin supplements for example.

Best of luck.

Btw . . Love the Ray Manzarek style.

Ray

 

[Yukimajo]

You must have a dud doc.

Hi Ray

You don't know the half of it! I will go in table thumping (obviously not with my right arm!) and see if I can get some action sorted. A tennis elbow brace could be a good idea, thanks for that, I will check it out.