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"The only people who can understand my problem -both physically and emotionally- are other injured musicians" (member 'Sarhahaha' in her intro posting!)
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Jun. 18th, 2009 @ 01:04 pm Flute and gum problems? (dental, not chewing)
How I'm feeling today: curiouscurious
Hi. I'm new. In fact, I just joined LiveJournal in order to post this question.

Looooong ago, I played flute for 13 years.  For various reasons, I quit playing.  Fast forward 30 years, more or less.  I'm now in my 50's with peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet, and gum disease galore in my lower jaw.  I've had gum grafts to treat the latter problem, but still have a lot of recession on my lower front teeth - right where a flute would sit. 

I miss playing music.  I love Celtic music, and would like to play tin whistle, but my numb fingers won't let me feel the holes.  "a-HA," I thought, "I could play transverse flute instead of tin whistle.  No pesky holes!"  But then I wondered about my iffy lower gums.  Is taking up flute again going to cause problems?  Might some kind of a mouth guard help?  I've been away from the instrument for so long that I'd have to re-establish an embouchure. Since I'd basically have to learn to play all over again, doing so with something in my mouth wouldn't be a big deal. 

Has anybody out there dealt with lower tooth/gum problems and flute playing?  I'd appreciate any tips.  Thanks!
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[info]jinksb:
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Aug. 6th, 2005 @ 12:00 am *waves nervously*
Current Music: If - Michael Nyman (featuring Hilary Summers)
So. I've been intending to introduce myself here for a while, but never got round to it...basically because I'm an idiot *beams*. Anyway. Hello, all. Whether I constitute an injured musician I don't know - feel free to send me off with a flea in my ear if I shouldn't be here.

( cut for length...I get carried away *blushes*. )
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From the stellaricons community
[info]lauradalloway:
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Jul. 28th, 2005 @ 12:14 pm Please Help
(xposted all over the place)

My boyfriend, a trumpet player, was attacked this week. Some jerks knocked him down and started pummeling him. Finally someone got the idea to take his wallet and they ran off.

They managed to bruise and cut him up pretty bad. He's only got soft tissue damage, but his face is still huge and black. They hit him nearly everywhere -- including his lips.

He's worried about getting to play his horn again, especially since he's got auditions to play in about a month (maybe a bit more, I don't know). I, being an ignorant string player, don't really know what to do to help him. Is there anything he can do to heal his lip faster and get his muscles back to where they should be?
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mememe
[info]bean_bunny:
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Jul. 25th, 2005 @ 12:34 pm sinus surgery
Current Music: Berlioz (trans. Liszt) - Symphonie Fantastique: III. Scene in the Country
My name is Joseph Kay and I'm entering my 1st senior year at Central Michigan University. I'm a music education major and my primary instrument is tuba (altho I do a fair bit of percussion and singing as well). Are there any singers/wind players who have had sinus surgery before? If so, how long before you started to play/sing again? And, more importantly, how long before you were at least back in decent shape in your playing/singing, if not back to 100%? I've had my procedure done already (last Friday) and was wondering about that. Thanks
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[info]cmujoiseyboy:
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Jul. 19th, 2005 @ 08:40 pm (no subject)

Hi, I'm new here.  I've been a musician most of my life.  I played piano in grade school, switched to clarinet, and kept going from there.  However, I have also had TMJ since I was 3 years old.  For those of you unfamiliar with it, TMJ is a jaw problem caused by (usually) the dialignment of the joint.  This causes plenty of rather annoying symptoms like headaches (sometimes migraines), jaw popping, the inability to open your jaw all the way, etc. 

My doctors have determined that my TMJ was hereditary, but when I was a toddler I fell on concrete and hurried it along.  It was bearable for the first 12 years, however, this year really got bad.  Now, I cannot play the clarinet for more than 15 minutes at a time without my jaw locking or finding my muscles too weak to keep my embochure, even though last summer I was in a tour group which practiced about 9 hours a day and I was fine then.  To make matters worse, I can't even get a mouthguard until my braces come off (I've had these on for 5 years, I really hope that's soon).

Right now, I'm taking clarinet lessons from a really great teacher, but he's saying he's going to drop me if I don't start practicing around 2 hours a day.  Balancing this and job where I've been working 30-40 hours a week is really no easy time.  I would really like to be able to continue playing, but things really aren't looking good for me.

I was wondering if anyone here had any advice.

Thanks

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kawaii not moon
[info]theoracle003:
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Jul. 9th, 2005 @ 04:10 pm (no subject)
Hello everyone, I just joined this community. I'm looking for anyone who can relate or share stories with, and it looks like I found the right place.

In about March of this year I was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. I'm in my second year of college, majoring in music education and I've been playing the flute for about nine years. I've been to 4 doctors since the first one, ranging from a chiropractor to orthopaedic surgeon, and they have all told me the same thing.

I was wondering if any of you have been through this or something similar and what were some things you did to alleviate the pain besides take ibuprofen. I'm currently going to a physical therapist for about 4 weeks now, and have not yet noticed a difference. I've been advised to take a break from playing, and have done so for about a month now, even though this will set me back quite a bit. Not only can I not play for 15 minutes without a significant about of pain throughout my arms and wrists, I find myself being able to do less and less with my hands, such as lifting things, gripping, etc. Technique was my strongest forte in my playing career and now has becomes my weakest because my fingers have become clumsy and lethargic.

Has anyone gotten cortizone shots or been through surgery for this? These are some of my options and I want to thoroughly research them before I consider them.

Also, my main support system, which are my friends and family, can't relate because they don't understand what I'm going through, and some have never even heard of, or see proof of syndroms like these.

Any advice from anyone would greatly be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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jon foreman
[info]honeyfly:
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May. 21st, 2005 @ 11:33 pm Tendonitis... argh.
So, I'm new to this community, and new to the world of musical injuries. Ha.

I'm a violist having some issues with tendonitis in my left wrist. The problem originates from the tendon on the outside of the wrist (the one below the pinky finger) and kind of runs down the arm when things get painful. It's basically from overuse (yes, I'm a dork and I practice a lot) and I'm having a bit of trouble bouncing back. My doctor gave me a brace and told me to take ibuprofen like candy and ice it a few times a day. This is working... sort of. A mixture of Pilates, yoga, and a little Alexander have been helpful also.

Just thought I'd drop in and introduce myself. :-)
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[info]bratchegirl:
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May. 18th, 2005 @ 03:14 pm The beginning of physical therapy...
Well, physical therapy started this week.

Ouch.

At least I now have something to feed my over-analytical, worrisome side.. instead of continuously wondering "how bad is it?" or "when will I begin to move my fingers again?" I can torture myself using finger flexation techniques that I've been told to repeat on each finger of my injured hand every waking hour.

The true scope and gravity of my injury truly hit me on two occassions so far this week.

The first was during my therapy session, when the hand therapist showed me a basic timeline of what to expect and when during my treatment and rehabilitation. It truly struck me how long this will take... I mean, forget writing or swimming or playing piano... hell, I won't be allowed to start grabbing things with my hand until the middle of July! Then, of course, comes the sensory re-education that comes after the tendons are repaired...

So, that's where I'm at. Goodbye summer, goodbye fun in the sun... I'll be in a splint of some kind and useless until it's cold again!

My injury was also shoved in my face quite shrewdly by my would-be employer, who in an e-mail sent not only to me, but to multiple musicians asked if we could all come in for training in certain aspects of the job which was previously promised solely to me! Now, what could that mean?

I swear, I should've been a lawyer.... all this work, for what?
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[info]punkedoutpiano:
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May. 15th, 2005 @ 03:23 pm Ups and downs....
I'm quickly learning that going through a traumatic injury, especially one that has the potential to screw up your entire professional life, is a journey of highs and lows, ups and downs.

Since I've injured my dominant hand (I'm left-handed!), I feel so left out of everything!

I can deal easily enough with the day-to-day trials (eating, bathing, dressing, shaving, walking the dogs, etc.), but it's really the extras that I came to take for granted that are killing me.

My biggest example is videogames. I've always loved my games, and after a hard day of work, nothing made me feel better than playing a few rounds of something before bed. Now, that's gone. Who knows if I'll ever regain enough motion to play them again...

...it just makes me so depressed. I'm not a passive person; I always have to be doing something. But now, there's nothing for me to do!

What have the rest of you done for fun during the times you've been hurt? Have you been able to go back after a while to activities you used to enjoy before your injury/disorder/illness?

I mean, not to mention the really important things... writing again with my left hand, and of course playing piano.. I can't even think about that right now... I'm trying to take it slow. So tell me, do you think I'll ever be able to play my games again?
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[info]punkedoutpiano:
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May. 13th, 2005 @ 11:31 am First injury report...
Well, I've decided that as a type of catharsis, I'll be using my journal here to give reports on my injury, physical therapy and everything related to it. I'm hoping that by going back and reading previous entries, I may see my progess better. Anything to stave off depression...

So, last Saturday I tripped over the dog barrier, fell on a glass and severed 3 tendons and a main nerve in my left hand. An E.R visit, 19 stitches and one surgery later, and I find myself confined to a plaster cast for at least 4 weeks, physical therapy starting next week and progressing twice a week indefinitely and the very real possibility that I'll never regain the level of motion or feeling in my hand/fingers that I had before the accident.

Bummer. But, there has to be a silver lining somewhere. I know it.

I may lose my job that I just got... they might not want to wait around for 6 months to see if their new piano teacher can ever play again.

I may have to give up all I've fought for since I've started college what, 7 years ago now...

But right now, I have shorter-term goals. Learn to write my signature with my right hand. Learn to put the dogs' collars on... learn to extend my thumb and index finger out again.

Baby steps. Physical therapy starts Tuesday.

I will not give up on myself. I'm too close to who I want to be.

Bring it on.

I'm not a quitter.

(x-posted to my own journal)
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[info]punkedoutpiano:
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