I got tendinitis a few years ago and I had to stop practicing my instrument at a time when I was a member of several ensembles and it was really tough to deal with. This video talks about what I did once I found out that I had tendinitis and hopefully some of the information will be helpful to others.
Also, some clarification:
-This video is for musicians who have a hand/forearm/wrist injury related to playing their instrument.
-I use "tendinitis" as an umbrella term in this video. Most people who are diagnosed with tendinitis probably don't actually have tendinitis, because it's frankly not a condition that people know that much about, it's easily confused with other conditions, and the terminology has changed a bit over the years. Instead of using the term "tendinosis," which is a more common condition, I stuck with "tendinitis" so that people who need this information can more easily find this video.
-This video is not about how to prevent tendinitis. It's about what to do once you already have it. I will make another video about prevention soon.
-Taking time off your instrument could just mean a day or so in very mild cases. For me, it meant one to two months, and for others with very severe cases, it could be much longer. Taking time off is really difficult, but it is necessary. Take as much time off as your body needs. Tendinitis does not have to be a permanent condition if you take action quickly.
-Don't wear the wrist/arm brace for too long. I have heard stories of people who wore it for weeks on end and lost a lot of strength in their arms. Be cautious.
-The compression gloves are helpful for when you need to go to a rehearsal but you feel very mild pain beforehand, or if you have finished a rehearsal and you want to be careful. It does not do the same thing as a wrist brace.
-Similarly, there is a product called KT tape that basically does the same thing as a compression glove, but it lets you play your instrument while wearing it. I do not recommend this because you should not be playing your instrument while you're feeling pain.
-If you google "tendinitis," you'll see RICE as a treatment method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Personally, resting helped me the most and the other things seemed to have no effect, but it is 100% worth a try.
-When I went to the clinic, they told me to take NSAIDs (like Ibuprofen). You should do your own research on these as a treatment for tendinitis. Whether or not you use them, remember to continue resting. They might ease your pain, but they might not target the source of the pain, so you could still do damage.
Helpful links:
Someone else who recovered from tendinitis and has tips: [ Ссылка ]
I do not have experience with Alexander Technique, but it has been helpful for many musicians and it might be helpful for you: [ Ссылка ]
Most helpful in this article is the "tendinosis and its treatment" section: [ Ссылка ]
