Tendonitis

[Stephen Powell]

A couple of years ago I had severe bursitis and tendonitis in my right
shoulder and upper right arm (I'm right handed).  This seemed to be brought
on by hand sanding, hammering, and then by tuning and using any tools that
required lifting my arm (!).  I had the usual barrage of specialist
consultations followed by physio, massage, acupuncture, and strengthening
exercises, anti-inflammatories, pain killers etc.  But the more
strengthening exercises I did, the weaker I got.  Exercising was just
inflaming my injury.  So I did some reading up on tendonitis and came to the
conclusion that the best thing that I could do for myself was do nothing!  I
stopped all the exercises and rested my arm as much as I could.  Bit by bit,
it came right.  What I advise during work is: keep EVERY muscle relaxed that
you're not using and take regular pauses.  For me this meant constantly
telling myself to relax my shoulder while tuning and try and find a case
part to rest my elbow on.  Now, I can do strengthening exercises, and it
helps.  I suspect that some people are more prone to these injuries than
others.

I hope this bit of advise helps someone!

Stephen Powell
Auckland, NZ
-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Farinella <farinella@ne.mediaone.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Saturday, 19 February 2000 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: Tendonitis


>On Tue, 15 Feb 2000 PDtek@AOL.COM wrote:
>
>>
>> This isn't the first time, but it's back. Tendonitis in my "key pounding"
>> hand and wrist. I try to hold it down to four pianos a day, but it just
>> flares up now and again. I would like to alternate more with shop work,
but
>> sometimes its just all tuning.
>
>I have suffered with this for over 10 years.  In my case shop work is no
>relief as my elbows, wrists, and finger joints are all affected.  I am
>much better now, but at one time tightening action screws was
>excruciating.
>
>> I give my hand a rest and move it around a few times during tunings and
try
>> not to pound any harder than I need to but I can't shake it.
>
>I doubt this will be of much help.
>
>
>> Does anyone know of any effective therapy that would help? (Professional
or
>> self.) I could see how strength training would help but seems like it
might
>> just irritate an area that was already prone to injury. I enjoy my
avocation
>> as a musician and fear that I may eventually sacrifice mobility in my
hand.
>
>Strength training is helpful.  Painful, but helpful. :-)  Ice will reduce
>the inflammation.  Cortisone can now be administered externally by
>physical therapists, and I have found that very helpful.  Injections were
>great, but only a short term solution.
>
>Ice, light weights, stretching, and medication to get the inflammation
>down.  That has been my experience.  The permanent solution is the one I
>have been avoiding, yet was the first suggestion given to me long ago.
>Take a year off.
>
>Good luck.
>
>--
>Charles Farinella
>farinella@ne.mediaone.net
>
>