Double Jointed Thumb, Octave Mandolin, Arthritis.
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:44 pm
I've run into an issue with my octave mandolin playing that is greatly bothering me, as it is my primary instrument. I was curious as to whether any other members have had this problem and if there is any way they have adjusted thier grip which has alleviated the issue.
I am double jointed in both of my thumbs (and both shoulders, and legs..) , and due to this, I can not apply even the slightest pressure with my thumb on the back of the neck of my instrument without it popping out of it's normal position and going into the "out of socket" position. I never really thought much of it until recently.
In the past I might get some pain at the base of my thumb that would be between the base of the thumb and where it meets the wrist. This would only come about if I'd played for many many hours nonstop. I simply started adjusting my schedule to playing for no more than 1 hour, but playing more often throughout the day.
Last night I had played for only thirty minutes, and I started getting this pain again. My grip does not seem to be unusual or incorrect, as it seems a standard grip most people would use. The only difference, is that my thumb comes out of it's socket occasionally while I do this.
After I started having this pain, I noticed my thumb on my left hand protrudes at the base, whereas my right hand does not. I will be 24 on Sunday, and I think I'm far too young to have osteo-arthritis, but that's what I'm fairy sure I have. My thumb looks identical to that of a person with arthritic thumb. I have read that people with double-jointedness are more likely to develop osteo-arthritis more quickly, due to increased wear and tear of the cartiledge. I'm seeing a doctor on monday.
My question here is- Has anyone else with doublejointedness encountered this issue when playing a stringed instrument? If so, did you come up with any way to prevent it from occurring while you play? It never bothers me when playing whistles, only octave mandolin. I am thinking a fatter neck would help somewhat. I just bought a cheap kentucky mandolin to see if it would hurt my hand less than an octave mandolin, too. It hasn't arrived yet.
I am curious to know whether anyone else has run into this problem, if there is a connection between double jointedness and the onset of this problem, and also if anyone has found a way to reduce, or eliminate, this from occurring. It only happens when I play, and is gone by the next morning. It is not severe, but I'd like to find a way to adjust my grip to see if it might help. I hope this doesn't mean I have to give up octave mandolin, however if that's the price I must pay in order to prevent further cartiledge damage to be able to continue playing my other instruments, it' sa measure I will take, although I'd really like to avoid that.
I notice it happens more when I'm fretting two different strings with the same finger and need a tad more thumb support. Or when playing a chord, which is not very often for how I play.. That pinching type grip is usually what exerbates the issue. I can't think of a way to avoid it, though.
I am not looking for medical advice or anything of that sort, but moreso advice on technique and experiences of people who have ran into this problem when playing traditional stringed isntruments (mandolin, octave mandolin, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, etc etc etc)
I'm doing everything possible to reduce stress on the thumb and use it as little as possible, but it's only helping slightly, as I feel I only can so much. Is this a common thing?
Also- For people who have experienced this or have arthritis.. Have you found a fatter neck, or a thinner neck to help more? I am experimenting with a mandolin just to see if it works out better. If not, I will experiment with a fatter necked octave mandolin or mandola. Have any of you found any instruments (one which my octave mandolin skills might transfer to, tenor banjo, mandolin, mandola, etc) are less problematic for you personally?
I am also going to try experimenting with leaving the body of the instrument on my right leg, like most guitar players, instead of between my legs and with the neck at a somewhat diagonal angle. I think this might help somewhat, however it's very hard to have an octave mandolin sit on the right leg. Maybe I should start using a strap and standing with it in this position... There are a lot of things I want to try and experiment to see if it helps, however unfortunately I don't want to try yet until the soreness from today goes away. I want to listen to my body and not push anything if it's sore.
Perhaps this flare up in the pain could be due to the fact that we just had a ridiculously crazy blizzard. I've heard cold can aggrivate such problems. Hopefully it will vanish with the cold.
It doesn't help that I work in a 30 degree farenheit room doing repetitive tasks with my hands all day, probably... I'm going to be much more careful at work, too.
I just need to know what has worked for some of you, if anything. I can't expect octave mandolin advice from my doctor (unless I get a really cool doctor).. so, I feel it's a good idea to ask people who play stringed instruments.
Thanks,
I am double jointed in both of my thumbs (and both shoulders, and legs..) , and due to this, I can not apply even the slightest pressure with my thumb on the back of the neck of my instrument without it popping out of it's normal position and going into the "out of socket" position. I never really thought much of it until recently.
In the past I might get some pain at the base of my thumb that would be between the base of the thumb and where it meets the wrist. This would only come about if I'd played for many many hours nonstop. I simply started adjusting my schedule to playing for no more than 1 hour, but playing more often throughout the day.
Last night I had played for only thirty minutes, and I started getting this pain again. My grip does not seem to be unusual or incorrect, as it seems a standard grip most people would use. The only difference, is that my thumb comes out of it's socket occasionally while I do this.
After I started having this pain, I noticed my thumb on my left hand protrudes at the base, whereas my right hand does not. I will be 24 on Sunday, and I think I'm far too young to have osteo-arthritis, but that's what I'm fairy sure I have. My thumb looks identical to that of a person with arthritic thumb. I have read that people with double-jointedness are more likely to develop osteo-arthritis more quickly, due to increased wear and tear of the cartiledge. I'm seeing a doctor on monday.
My question here is- Has anyone else with doublejointedness encountered this issue when playing a stringed instrument? If so, did you come up with any way to prevent it from occurring while you play? It never bothers me when playing whistles, only octave mandolin. I am thinking a fatter neck would help somewhat. I just bought a cheap kentucky mandolin to see if it would hurt my hand less than an octave mandolin, too. It hasn't arrived yet.
I am curious to know whether anyone else has run into this problem, if there is a connection between double jointedness and the onset of this problem, and also if anyone has found a way to reduce, or eliminate, this from occurring. It only happens when I play, and is gone by the next morning. It is not severe, but I'd like to find a way to adjust my grip to see if it might help. I hope this doesn't mean I have to give up octave mandolin, however if that's the price I must pay in order to prevent further cartiledge damage to be able to continue playing my other instruments, it' sa measure I will take, although I'd really like to avoid that.
I notice it happens more when I'm fretting two different strings with the same finger and need a tad more thumb support. Or when playing a chord, which is not very often for how I play.. That pinching type grip is usually what exerbates the issue. I can't think of a way to avoid it, though.
I am not looking for medical advice or anything of that sort, but moreso advice on technique and experiences of people who have ran into this problem when playing traditional stringed isntruments (mandolin, octave mandolin, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, etc etc etc)
I'm doing everything possible to reduce stress on the thumb and use it as little as possible, but it's only helping slightly, as I feel I only can so much. Is this a common thing?
Also- For people who have experienced this or have arthritis.. Have you found a fatter neck, or a thinner neck to help more? I am experimenting with a mandolin just to see if it works out better. If not, I will experiment with a fatter necked octave mandolin or mandola. Have any of you found any instruments (one which my octave mandolin skills might transfer to, tenor banjo, mandolin, mandola, etc) are less problematic for you personally?
I am also going to try experimenting with leaving the body of the instrument on my right leg, like most guitar players, instead of between my legs and with the neck at a somewhat diagonal angle. I think this might help somewhat, however it's very hard to have an octave mandolin sit on the right leg. Maybe I should start using a strap and standing with it in this position... There are a lot of things I want to try and experiment to see if it helps, however unfortunately I don't want to try yet until the soreness from today goes away. I want to listen to my body and not push anything if it's sore.
Perhaps this flare up in the pain could be due to the fact that we just had a ridiculously crazy blizzard. I've heard cold can aggrivate such problems. Hopefully it will vanish with the cold.
It doesn't help that I work in a 30 degree farenheit room doing repetitive tasks with my hands all day, probably... I'm going to be much more careful at work, too.
I just need to know what has worked for some of you, if anything. I can't expect octave mandolin advice from my doctor (unless I get a really cool doctor).. so, I feel it's a good idea to ask people who play stringed instruments.
Thanks,