Guitar and Tennis Elbow

[craichead]

Just wanted to put this out there because it's something I was completely ignorant of and it's something we should all watch out for.

A couple weeks back I was experiencing some pain in my left elbow and it turns out it's tennis elbow from playing guitar.

Apparently the same kind of tendinitis you can get from tennis and golf you can get from constantly squeezing and releasing the guitar neck. It can be debilitating and can make it impossible to play guitar anymore. I've had it about 3 weeks now and it's slightly better, but believe me I'm very nervous that I'm going to be dealing with this possibly forever.

I was always wary of pain in my wrist and forearm from stuff like carpal tunnel, so when the pain in my elbow hit it took quite a while before I connected it to guitar. Also, it doesn't hurt while I'm playin -- only after.

But anyway, I just wanted to put a warning out there that if you're getting pain around the elbow of your fretting hand, definitely pay attention to it.

 

[Maxwell Street]

Aircast is the standard means of relieving stress on the tendon where it attaches to the bone. Ibuprofen reduces inflamation. Played a bunch of tennis... And ice it for 20 minutes at a time at the elbow, 2-3x a day.

http://www.amazon.com/Aircast-05-A-Tennis-Elbow-Brace/dp/B000I3WLTC

 

[Middleman]

Getting through a pinched nerve in my neck from too much guitar playing right now. It's amazing how straining this muse can be.

 

[thekrees]

I have been experiencing this same thing, Craichead. In my case it has been going on for about six months. I only have to play a gat for about 3 mins, and when I stop the pain comes on. I have wondered if it is due to my AS tele's skinny neck...been thinking that a tele with a thicker neck could help.

My other thought has been that if the pain and issue continues I may have to go back to being a bass player, which I did back in the day, 15 or more years back.

 

[Lukos]

Maybe you will have to switch to lap slide so you can keep the arms a bit straighter? ;-)

 

[xtrajerry]

I have been experiencing this same thing, Craichead. In my case it has been going on for about six months. I only have to play a gat for about 3 mins, and when I stop the pain comes on. I have wondered if it is due to my AS tele's skinny neck...been thinking that a tele with a thicker neck could help.

My other thought has been that if the pain and issue continues I may have to go back to being a bass player, which I did back in the day, 15 or more years back.

I find that when you hold a tele the neck is farther away from the players body than with other guitars..

 

[Danos]

I've experienced the same thing, craichead. I had a really bad bout of it about 6 months ago, it was a throbbing pain originating from the pointy tip of my inner elbow, where the tendon joins to the bone. It was extremely tender to the touch.

The funny thing was, it all started when I was going through a phase where I was playing a lot of The Police, with Andy Summers' insane add9 stretches.

I still get smaller bouts of it, but usually only when doing a series of large finger stretches or a heap of barre chords. My acoustic brings it on much quicker than the Tele.

As far as my condition goes, icing doesn't really help too much, as it appears to be deterioration of the tendon as opposed to inflammation. Having said that, my symptoms now are extremely mild compared to those of six months ago. Not really sure what has helped with the improvement.

Do you drive a lot, craichead? I've heard that large amounts of driving can aggravate elbow tendons, due to the position of the arms and the resultant strain on the elbow joint during prolonged periods in the driver's seat.

Anyway, all the best with it. I know how frustrating and concerning it can be.

 

[xtrajerry]

Have you guys tried elbow supports, most likely the tendon is rubbing against the bone. If that is the cause the support or brace will be noticeable right away.

This type has worked well for me.

This one too..

 

[ricardo1912]

I have been experiencing this same thing, Craichead. In my case it has been going on for about six months. I only have to play a gat for about 3 mins, and when I stop the pain comes on. I have wondered if it is due to my AS tele's skinny neck...been thinking that a tele with a thicker neck could help.

My other thought has been that if the pain and issue continues I may have to go back to being a bass player, which I did back in the day, 15 or more years back.

It may the thin neck. I bought a Modern Player tele - neck about the same as the Squier CVs and played it loads cos the neck is quite fast. But I began getting really sore knuckles on my left hand, especially the index finger joint. I think it's because playing at the end of a thin neck makes you crunch up your fingers and exacerbates any wear and tear in the joints. Am Std is also a bit like that for me.
Been playing my Lite Ash version with its slightly wider, flatter neck recently and no problems, even when i play all evening. I also have the new MIM Cabronita, with a neck a bit like a Baja, and that's fine as well. Definitely worth trying a few of the wider ones.

 

[TwinReverb]

I wound up with a tennisarm last summer.
It's not only the wrist, it's probably your shoulder and neck too that need attention in treatment.


Good luck

Erik

 

[Carlsson]

I've had this too, but in my right elbow, so I guess it came more from working on a computer than playing guitar, but nevertheless it hurt when I played.

I quit playing, used diklofenak cream on the elbow to get rid of the inflammation, used my left hand for the mouse (not easy...), and generally tried to rest my right arm as much as possible for a couple of weeks.

When it felt better I started working out (lifting weights) to strengthen the muscles around the elbow.

It's all gone now.

I think excercise is the key. If you're subjecting a body part to constant light tension and micro movements it's important to give those muscles a good work through every once in a while.

 

[AussieAndrew]

Maybe this condition should be re-named ~ Muso's elbow, stringers elbow, or etc..
I used to get "Ice hockey elbow" in my teens from playing, duh ... ice hockey !

 

[BoogerRooger]

The only time I played just acoustic for a period of a few months, I got something like that in my right elbow. remarkably painful even when I wasn't playing and stuff like driving was no fun at all. I put it down to the angle my arm was at to get over the guitar's body. I'm looking out for a thinline acoustic now!

 

[AussieAndrew]

The only time I've had any discomfort playing guitar would have been due to other reasons, ie - injuries. Although playing acoustics and Hollow-bodies (thinline or full)while sitting down would pain me a bit after a long sesh by cutting into my ribs and leaving red welts.

 

[flyswatter]

I'm a guy in his 40s who has so far managed to avoid the old tennis elbow. One thing I'd recommend is varying between guitars and playing styles over long practice sessions. When I play (at home or in rehearsals) I like to switch between a couple of guitars (my two Teles of different weight or a Tele and Strat) and use both pick and fingers for different songs. Also at home I generally sit while at rehearsal/ on stage I stand.

Seems to me that if stress related injuries are due largely to poor ergonomics from doing too many repetitive actions, it helps to vary those actions within the spectrum of guitar technique as much as possible. Well, it works for me as I said.

 

[TeleTex82]

I have pain in both forearms but mine is aggravated by bulging discs in my cervical spine causing a lot of tension in my trapezius and rhomboid, there are two identical knots/pressure points that run just beneath and to the inside of my shoulder blades. If get a massage and the masseuse works on those points I can feel it all the way in my finger tips. It's from the muscles putting pressure on (I believe) the ulnar nerve as it runs down my arms.

 

[MaryBelle]

Always done stretches before playing havent had this for ages.

 

[thekrees]

Maybe this condition should be re-named ~ Muso's elbow, stringers elbow, or etc..
I used to get "Ice hockey elbow" in my teens from playing, duh ... ice hockey !

I have started referring to it as 'tele elbow'.

 

[Harry]

Have you guys tried elbow supports, most likely the tendon is rubbing against the bone. If that is the cause the support or brace will be noticeable right away.

This type has worked well for me.

This one too..

xtrajerry's right on the money. I've worn a brace similar to the top one for years. It's surprisingly effective. Most drug stores carry them.

 

[craichead]

I've experienced the same thing, craichead. I had a really bad bout of it about 6 months ago, it was a throbbing pain originating from the pointy tip of my inner elbow, where the tendon joins to the bone. It was extremely tender to the touch.

The funny thing was, it all started when I was going through a phase where I was playing a lot of The Police, with Andy Summers' insane add9 stretches.

I still get smaller bouts of it, but usually only when doing a series of large finger stretches or a heap of barre chords. My acoustic brings it on much quicker than the Tele.

As far as my condition goes, icing doesn't really help too much, as it appears to be deterioration of the tendon as opposed to inflammation. Having said that, my symptoms now are extremely mild compared to those of six months ago. Not really sure what has helped with the improvement.

Do you drive a lot, craichead? I've heard that large amounts of driving can aggravate elbow tendons, due to the position of the arms and the resultant strain on the elbow joint during prolonged periods in the driver's seat.

Anyway, all the best with it. I know how frustrating and concerning it can be.

Funny you should mention about the chords you were playing. I started down a path a little over a year ago of learning jazz chord melodies (obsession really), after having been a bluegrass flatpicker for over 20 years. I've been working my way through American songbook stuff and I'm wondering if it has to do with that.