Pain in Fretting hand

CountryMan · September 2023

***Not sure I've posted this in the most appropriate category. Sorry***

Hi all,

Before I start, I want to state that I’m know way expecting/asking for medical advice. Just want to share my experience and wonder if anyone else has suffered the same

I’ve only been playing guitar for just under 2 years (am 50 now), although about 20 years ago, bought an acoustic and tried learning, but after learning a few chords, and a few months put it down. Over the years, I’d pick it up and try again, then stop again (would always get to barre chords and be put off). Up until November 2021. Something just clicked and just got them. Started watching youtube videos of tutorials and before I knew it was playing songs. Gave it a couple of months and bought a Taylor for £800.

Once my fingers started getting used to the playing and my callouses started forming there was no stopping me. Cut a long story short, and the purchase of another acoustic (Martin this time)…fast forward to January this year. At this point I’d pretty much practice for at least an hour a day and had a fair few songs under my belt (still not played in front of anyone except the wife and kids, but loved it). Then whilst learning Pink Floyd – Nobody home, I started getting this ache in the base of my left thumb muscle (later found out this is called the Thenar muscle), seemed to happen whilst holding the Fmaj7, C and C7 chords for extended periods on this song. Over the course of the next 2 months, this pain got worse and now not just on this song (stopped playing it when the pain increased). This now started on every song. Used to be about 30 minutes in, but then started sooner, until March when it was within the first 5-10 minutes playing (no matter what song).

Wen to the doctors and he said to lessen playing (easier said than done), whilst I wait for an X-ray appointment to rule out arthritis.

I did lessen it as was scared I was doing damage. Then after 2 weeks and had xray, back to doctors who told me, no arthritis…phew. But now said need to give the guitar a rest whilst an Ultrasound appointment was coming. This came after 6 weeks (played probably couple of hours in total per week, 10-15 minutes at a time…didn’t want to lose my progress (as well as my callouses

CountryMan · September 2023

Once I’d had the ultrasound and back to doctor, he told me it found Dequarivans tenosonivitis and would arrange Ultrasound guided steroid injection. Now pretty much insisted that I stop playing completely. That was May 18th. Had the steroid injection, which took ages, then waited more as advised…fast forward (again) July 23rd. Picked up guitar for the first time…exactly the same pain within 5 minutes!!!!

Back to doctors who referred me to a hand surgeon.

Mentioned all this to a friend (who doesn’t play) and she suggested to see someone she knows, an osteopath. Arranged an appointment and after initial consultation and a feel of my hand, wrist and forearm told me she thought it wasn’t dequarvians or Carpel tunnel but muscular. She worked on my hand, wrist and forearm for 30 minutes and a bit of acupuncture (said muscles were really stiff) and said to try playing the next day.

Played the next day, and although there was still something there, no where near as bad. On here advice, only played for 30 minutes per day until I saw her again 2 weeks later. As the 2 weeks started coming to an end, I could feel the pain starting to come back. Had another session with her and the next day played again. Again, pain was still there, not as much as when it started, but not as little as after the first session. In the meantime a hospital apooitnment came through for September 19th. A couple of weeks away on holiday (not playing) and 3 more appointments with the osteopath and the pain is back. On the last session (on 13-09-2023) she said my hand, wrist and forearm are really loose, and no tension so unless it’s doing any good, to not bother going again.

I tested this the morning of the 13th before the osteopath app, played 3 songs (Pink Floyd-Wish you were here, Luke combs-Beautiful crazy and The Smiths-Please, Please,Please), by the last song the pain in my Thenar muscle was bad. The day after last Osteopath appointment, done exactly the same songs, and pain exactly the same.

I have now been experimenting with this and the pain actually changes over the time of playing. It starts in my thumb pad (see pic 1), then if I have a break from chord heavy songs and do some picking (I don’t know many, but practice Metallica – Nothing else matters and ‘Stairway’!!!), If I then play some random songs (not in any particular order), but then play the same 3 songs (approx. 25-30 minutes into playing), then pain has turned into an ache, or sometimes actually moves to an ‘ache’ around the front of my thumb and knuckles (and moves up-Pic 2). After playing, can feel the ache for a few hours sometimes in my Thenar muscle, but only sometimes.

Pic 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XwOpi2Bq6kLS9BR2ZaoMZ2VJX1Rfmc9G/view?usp=sharing

Pic 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZNTwu-ohQaElCipBqQdqm0_SAoOSuD1Q/view?usp=sharing

Sometimes the top of my thumb ‘clicks’ as I move it forward and that seems to relieve it (whilst playing and throughout the day too).

Anyway, had the hand appointment at the hospital and he thinks it’s the start of Arthritis in the CMC joint at the base of my thumb (but he didn’t seem 100%). Has booked me in for Steroid injection directly into the joint (under sedation), but didn’t seem certain that it would work, just said it’s wear and tear and if it didn’t work, could just keep doing them. He did however say that if I carried on playing I wouldn’t do anymore damage, just up to me how much pain I wanted to go through.

I will state that (my own fault) I think it came because I never did any stretches before or after playing (did see them on youtube, but didn’t bother). Since the osteopath appointments though, I stretch before and after (and now heat before and ice after too).

My question really is, has anyone else experienced this type of pain? If so, what did you do? Amongst all the professionals I’ve contacted about this, NONE of them play, so not sure how accurate al this is. I ideally wanted an MRI, but the hand surgeon said there’s no point.

Thanks for reading (if you’re still with me), and eagerly awaiting some responses. Still playing and love the guitar. Would ruin me if I had to stop.

Danny

Lewy · September 2023

I have a similar experience to yours .... DeQuervaines diagnosis only for it to turn out it's not that but in fact arthritis. I found that quite liberating because splinting was annoying, the exercises were doing sod all, I was feeling guilty about still playing despite being told not to, and in the end, doesn't make any difference.

I have lightened up dramatically on acoustic string guage which is a bit miserable because it doesn't sound as good but hey ho. I've used is at as a catalyst to get back into electric playing and on that front I'm now better than I've ever been, and improving too.

Flanging_Fred · September 2023

I’ve been getting pain in my knuckles following playing since the start of the year. I had an X-ray last week and am awaiting results. I guess I might be getting arthritis too.

CountryMan · September 2023

Lewy said:

I have a similar experience to yours .... DeQuervaines diagnosis only for it to turn out it's not that but in fact arthritis. I found that quite liberating because splinting was annoying, the exercises were doing sod all, I was feeling guilty about still playing despite being told not to, and in the end, doesn't make any difference.

I have lightened up dramatically on acoustic string guage which is a bit miserable because it doesn't sound as good but hey ho. I've used is at as a catalyst to get back into electric playing and on that front I'm now better than I've ever been, and improving too.

Strange that you've had a similar experience to me and glad that you're better. Not sure If I'd go down the lighter strings route (did try extra light strings, but hated the sound), and even though I have an electric...am really just into the acoustic side of things

CountryMan · September 2023

Flanging_Fred said:

I’ve been getting pain in my knuckles following playing since the start of the year. I had an X-ray last week and am awaiting results. I guess I might be getting arthritis too.

Just be aware that my xray didn't show any arthritis, but the hand surgeon still thinks it is, just in the early stages. Best of luck

boogieman · September 2023

You could try a couple of things: have you got access to another guitar? It could simply be caused by the profile of the neck or where your thumb position falls on the neck? The size/shape of the guitar body could be making your fretting hand fall in a certain uncomfortable position. A different guitar might solve the issue? I can’t play dreadnaught guitars any more for this very reason, the body shape throws my wrist into an awkward position and I ended up with an aching wrist. I switched to an OM guitar and things have improved a lot. Similarly does the pain occur if you’re standing or sitting? Again it could be an issue with your hand positioning, so try standing if you get it when sitting, or vice versa, and see if that makes any difference.

guitargeek62 · September 2023

Not a big help, but you could try silk & steel strings on your acoustics. They have a lower tension (and warmer overall tone), so they shouldn’t put as much strain on your fingers and therefore your thumb may benefit too? Worth a try for the cost of a pack of strings:

https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/blogs/blog/whats-the-deal-with-silk-and-steel

Supportact · September 2023

Sorry to hear of your problems, it can be hard to track these problems down. I can't offer any medical experience but another suggestion is to try Newtone 'Heritage' strings. They are also lower tension, and I found them really good and easy on the fingers. Hope you get some answers, good luck.

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