arm pain with telecaster...

[paul_h]

So here is the deal, I have always played archtops and guitars with larger bodies. Now that I have been exclusively playing a Tele for about a month, I have noticed an odd feeling in my right arm on the opposite side of the elbow where the arm bends - after playing a while if I extend the arm it feels very tight and a bit tingly, and if I extend too quickly I feel pain there as well. I have had tendinitis prolems with my left arm (resolved for the most part) and it does not feel like that.

I can only imagine it is something about the transition between a larger body and smaller body. Has anyone experienced this? Any advice or exercises or anything to help? There's no way I am not playing the tele so that is out of course.

[Tim Armstrong]

Lengthen or shorten your strap, maybe? I'd definitely be trying to change the angles!

Tim

[paul_h]

Oh I should have mentioned this is sitting down.

[uOpt]

There is more fat and muscles where you arm rests on a 335 or similar, less where it rests on a Tele or LP. That bolstering probably makes the difference.

Be careful with this, you can develop very nasty long-term problems, in particular if you also have a computer job. On the other hand, it might quickly disappear.

[AJ Love]

get yourself a book called "Pain Free" by Peter Egoscue. Highly recommended

[brokenjoe]

A couple of things you might consider:
-Are you giving yourself time to rest? Taking short breaks, and stretching your arm/wrist during long practise sessions is essential.
-Concentrate on where the pain is coming from while you're playing. Are your muscles tense? They shouldn't be. Visualize the individual muscles and try to focus on them to keep them relaxed. Eventually this will come to you naturally.
-Switching between different guitars always requires a slightly different use of muscles/tendons/etc. It's very subtle, but does make a difference. Perhaps you just have to get used to using your arm, hand, and wrist in a new way.

Above all, never force yourself. The worst thing you can do is to try to forge on ahead through the pain, and muscle your way through things. You'll pay for it in the end.

Rest, stretch, and stay loose, stay loose, stay loose!

[craigoslo]

Maybe the forearm edge is cutting off circulation. I notice that edge digging in on my les paul home brew more than my 335. I Jeff Becked it. Sawed and sanded a forearm contour. It helped with the weight too. If thats not an option, try playing standing up, or in a classical style.

[tap4154]

Funny, as I used to get that from acoustics (mainly dread-size). Playing to long, and also resting on the edge when not playing. I even made a wood arm guard that suction-cupped to the top to act like a Strat bevel that works pretty well. I've since just relaxed more and reposition my arm to cross at a better angle. Sounds like you're just resting your arm in a bad spot, and holding the body too tight with that arm. Like others have said, remedy this now and don't play through the pain. I lost feeling in my right pinky and ring fingers many years ago, but it came back after about a year, and it's still a bit prone to going a little bit numb if my arm's on something to long.

I also play 000 acoustics now, and put the dread in the closet. Better fit for me, and I like the 000 tone palette better anyway.

Main thing: relax.

[John R.]

About the time I bought my first Fender, I had a similar pain. My picking arm, while in the playing position, did not seem to as bad, but when I bent my arm straight, I would get a pain in my elbow and upper arm. I finally went to an orthopedic surgeon and he determined that my problem was from my radial nerve. He suggested I switch to a computer mouse with a thumb button and suggested exercising prior to playing. A physical therapist gave me one simple exercise to do. After 6 months of doing the exercise the problem went away.

That was my problem, but yours could be something different. I think the best thing to do is have it checked out by a doctor who specializes in arm injuries. They can do several tests where they move your arm around and check the pain to determine what the problem might be.