Trumpet tendinitis for 2 years..Healing needed

Peter0112 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 12

Hello,

my girlfriend is a music student and plays trumpet. She cannot hold the trumpet anymore without pain. Her arms makes problems since two years, she got already massage weekly but that does not help. What can help her?

we ordered an ergobrass support system (similar to shulman system), but maybe this is not enough. Can you give some advice so that she can play again without pain? Of course she went to doctors but they just say time will heal it

cheiden · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 9:09 am Post subject:

I've known players who have arm/shoulder pain when they play. Often they employ a high horn angle and elbows raised high. Some consider this a demonstration of superior technique but I find it to be particularly hard on the body. If your gf is the same you might want to suggest a lower horn angle and lower elbows.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

JayKosta · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 9:55 am Post subject:

tendinitis for 2 years.

That seems like a long time ... has the 'cause' of the tendinitis been identified?
Perhaps a 'sport injury', 'work related', 'physiology', 'diet', etc.
The doctors should have suggested some sort of treatment and rehabilitation plan.
Does the condition affect other aspects of daily activities? Such as cooking, cleaning, dressing, bathing, shopping, etc.?

Jay
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Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

arthurtwoshedsjackson · Veteran Member Joined: 20 Aug 2020 Posts: 159

I’ve been using an Ergobrass regularly for a few weeks and figured out that key to making it work (for me) is to let the support take the weight of one’s arms in addition to the horn. This might seem obvious, but I was letting it take the weight of the horn alone (and not compressing the spring) without realizing it. This support now makes a world of difference to me.

Peter0112 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 12

Yes the condition affects all things during normal day too. There is no doctor plan there. they just say you need to train muscles and masssage.

she played too much trumpet this is the cause of her condition

Any more suggestions /support systems recommendation are welcome

Thanks for the answers so far

deleted_user_687c31b · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

We're not supposed to give medical advice on these forums and even then I don't think this is the right place to ask for it. Your doctor is far more qualified to help you out.

Peter0112 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 12

As I said, the doctors say massage and time will heal. She already follows these instructions and will follow in the future, no worry

I dont ask for medical advice here but for tips how to handle this problem, all right?

There should be many more people here with the same problem. Maybe they can tell how they overcome it

klaus_o · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 1:03 pm Post subject:

I recently attended a Zoom session with Brianne Borden. Ms. Borden is a newly appointed Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.

Brianne shared her insight on yoga and it's application and influences for trumpet playing. Some of the issues associated with playing the trumpet are directly related to stress of the muscles and associated tendons in the arms neck and wrists. She has lived through this and overcame these issues via yoga stretching and breathing. Brianne led us through some exercises which for me helped reduce some of soreness I was experiencing in my left shoulder.

The ergobrass (and Schulman - I used to have one) are great in allowing you to continue playing and performing by reducing the stress on those muscles so they have time to heal. Prior stretching and relaxing the associated muscles help prepare the body for the muscular effort required for playing.

I encourage you to check out Brianne's website

https://www.yogaforallmusicians.com/brianne-borden
_________________
Klaus_O

Peter0112 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 12

Thank you klaus_o this is what I was looking for. THIS IS IT!!

mcstock · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:18 pm Post subject:

This bass trombonist worked through similar issues and is now working with other musicians.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/74-austin-pancner/id1447777266?i=1000489229629

https://www.thefunctionalmusician.com/

Best
Matt
_________________
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
Epictetus

deleted_user_687c31b · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

Peter0112 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 12

of course she has. still almost no improvement

cheiden · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:26 am Post subject:

Is the problem on both arms or is it only on one? Where is the pain localized?
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

Seymor B Fudd · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:30 am Post subject:

Peter0112 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 12

Interesting Seymor, can you tell which regular exercises help with this condition? What is your daily routine?

she has pain on both arms and also cannot lift little things even.

cheiden · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:33 pm Post subject:

Shoulder, elbow or wrist?
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

Peter0112 · Regular Member Joined: 23 Nov 2020 Posts: 12

ellbow and wrist she has pain on both arms

BraeGrimes · Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 5:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Peter,

First of all, good on you for wanting to help out your girlfriend. It's a pretty amazing thing to find a forum on the web full of other trumpeters to look for advice.

I've heard of a number of musicians having success with the Alexander Technique. There are many practitioners across the world and I'm sure that you could find someone local to help in a one-on-one style session. They not only help with recovery, but also preventing the same injuries reoccuring.

Many have recommended doctors, etc. which is perfectly logical, but in my experience, doctors (general practitioners at least) are best at referring you to an expert. I'm not sure what it's like in your country, but referrals for countries with Universal Health Care (not trying to start a debate, because it's better and I know I'm right) will be able to provide referrals free of charge, and you'll likely pay out of pocket for an expert.

Hope that helps. Best of luck to your girlfriend in her recovery - time will absolutely help, but the correct recovery strategy will prevent further injury in the future.

Denny Schreffler · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 12:39 am Post subject:

krax · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2020 8:22 am Post subject:

Techniques and exercises mentioned above are the key, but then sometimes it is also worth thinking about trying another trumpet with a slightly different placement of the valve block. That is, how far away from the body you hold it or just another grip.

The trumpet in my avatar is a Selmer Radial and I love, love, love the sound of those horns, but I can't play them for a longer period without getting problems in my back and shoulder as they have to be hold closer to your body than other trumpets. I've realised that I have to play trumpets with other designs where the valve block (and my left hand) is placed more far away from the body to be able to have a relaxed posture.