My arm freaking hurts

[pdadda]

Hey this is sort of a random post. I have been a guitar player for a long time. I recently took an interest in learning to play piano, and I have been practicing a good bit. Let me see if I can describe the problem: my wrist area (on the top side of my right arm) hurts like hell. It hurts much more when I play. I am thinking it is tendonitis, but I'm no doctor. Oddly, playing guitar doesn't seem to hurt it (I guess because the right hand uses less tendons when playing guitar).
What can I do to heal this? And please don't be a smartass and say just stop playing. I would do that, but I have a gig on Thursday that I had planned to play some keys on. I need to practice! I have been taking ibuprofen, but it doesn't seem to do much. Is there any solution other than just stopping the piano playing alltogether?

[xfinsterx]

ive played piano drums and guitar for years my man.
its called tendonitius.
your doctor will prescribe some ant-inflamatories for you more than likely and you should be able to cope.

best of luck to you

[ssscientist]

You use different small muscles to play keyboard than you do when you play guitar. Taking it slow and making sure your wrists are raised to the same height as the keyboard - even if you have to sit on a phone book - helps, but the only real solution is not to overdo it now or you could risk permanent injury.

I assume you are not playing an arena show next week - just relax with the practicing, get as proficient as you can in the time remaining and remember to breathe when onstage.

[tedluk]

It should also be pointed out that if you are using proper hand position and playing techniques you shouldn't be experiencing this. I'd suggest that in addition to the suggestions already made you get a couple of lessons from someone who knows what they're doing.

And, not being a smart-ass, the only thing that's going to cure tendonitis is going to be rest. So try to stay off your arms for a few days.

Ted

[In Tune Audio]

Like was mentioned earlier you use different small muscles for piano that you don't with guitar. The absoulute most important thing is your technique.

First, make sure the keyboard is at the right height, even more important if your standing while your playing. Your elbow should be level with the top of the white keys. Your wrists should be straight, not raised or lowered. But the key to this, is that they must be relaxed. You can not hold them stiff and rigid in this position. That will put unnecessary strain on your forearm.

Next check your shoulders while you play, the should be down and relaxed, not raised up to your neck. If your shoulders are raised, the top of your forearms will be tighten. And you don't need to use the top of your arms to play. You only need to push down, the keys will bring themselves back up.

Any forearm pain or discomfort is a sign of poor technique period. Your hands and arms will get tired (and you will want to take a rest), but there is a difference between pain and tired. Make sure you have no tension in your body. Moving your shoulders and arms around while you play, does nothing but take up energy.

This is just the beginning of proper piano technique. But like was mentioned, its a good idea to see a teacher. But audition your teacher and watch them play. Doesn't matter what instrument your playing, your body should not have to work hard. And if that teacher is straining, and physically working hard, they are not going to be able to teach you properly, so that you won't get arm pain.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm insanely anal about playing properly.

[metropolis79]

and, of course, buy an HANON book and practice more that you can!

[CGibson]

Originally Posted by pdadda

Hey this is sort of a random post. I have been a guitar player for a long time. I recently took an interest in learning to play piano, and I have been practicing a good bit. Let me see if I can describe the problem: my wrist area (on the top side of my right arm) hurts like hell. It hurts much more when I play. I am thinking it is tendonitis, but I'm no doctor. Oddly, playing guitar doesn't seem to hurt it (I guess because the right hand uses less tendons when playing guitar).
What can I do to heal this? And please don't be a smartass and say just stop playing. I would do that, but I have a gig on Thursday that I had planned to play some keys on. I need to practice! I have been taking ibuprofen, but it doesn't seem to do much. Is there any solution other than just stopping the piano playing alltogether?

Several years ago I also developed the same symptoms after to much exposer to playing guitar, typing and some heavy yard work.
Unfortunately I had to lay off all of the above in order to completely heal. The worse part was it took two full years to recover. I typed with one hand at home and work. I limited my guitar playing to stage work only. And forget about lifting or the heavy yard work thing. Don’t push a lawn mower or even pick up a shovel.
I also tried an arm brace but only made things worse. It’ll make your wrist weak and harder to make a strong recovery.
Don’t be surprised if it also develops near your elbow.
Sorry man, I know how much this sucks.

C

[In Tune Audio]

Originally Posted by metropolis79

and, of course, buy an HANON book and practice more that you can!

No don't buy a Hanon book. If your not seeing a proper teacher, hanon will probably make the problem worse. If your not playing with proper technique, and they you start doing a hand exercise, your just going to push your body in a worse way.

That would be like hurting your back while lifting weights improperly, and deciding to fix the problem by lifting heavier weights.

[bat63]

Calcium and Vitamin "E",

You need to heal yourself because,for a time,I suffered from the same thing as you.

You need to take care of yourself and the above is a good start..

[pianokey88]

It could also be carpel tunnel syndrome ... similar symptoms as tendonitis. Try taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, benoxoprophen, asprin etc. A wrist splint may help too - worn while you are sleeping to make sure the wrist is kept straight.
David

[In Tune Audio]

All of these ideas and vitamins, and drugs and whatever are good ideas. However (not trying to be an ass, but think this is a really important thing to understand) even if those things help, if you start playing improperly again, the problem will reoccur. You need to look at why your having the pain, and its not just because your a guitar player, its because your doing something improperly while at the piano.

[Michael Jones]

Are you playing an actual piano when you practice, or a keyboard?
If its a keyboard, you probably have it set at the wrong height, and its putting unnecessary strain on your wrists.

29" from floor to the top of the white keys comes to mind.

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by pianokey88

It could also be carpel tunnel syndrome ... similar symptoms as tendonitis. Try taking anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, benoxoprophen, asprin etc. A wrist splint may help too - worn while you are sleeping to make sure the wrist is kept straight.
David

That's what i was thinking. I was starting to show signs of it from typeing all the time and now I take my wrist position very serious. I bought a new chair and a neopreme wrist pad. I found that the same things would happen when i would use my midi controler. I haven't been formally taught in piano (with the exception of a very basic college intro course) so i'm sure my hand position is awful. I found the same thing that keeps typing less painful works when i use my keyboard. I'd try and adjustable hight chair, something to put your wrists on and good posture. If that doesn't help, you may want to see a doctor/physical theripist. Not that it is nessicarry for just playing but you don't want injuries later in life. Trust me, i am a skateboarder and didn't care about being nice to my body. My right ankle has half the lateral movement of my left. I regret trying to skate when i was injured unbelieveably.