I've started serious hand and wrist stretching before practice or gig. One finger at a time the first round, then all four fingers. Four fingers to the right and then roll your wrist to the left and stretch in that position as well. Then back to one finger at a time and then forward with the wrist then all four fingers backward. I do this routine for five minutes before I play and it has helped seriously. Also I use a wine cooler/insulator that you put in the freezer overnight and then slip over the top of a wine bottle to keep it chilled. I slip my hand through the cooler and hold it on my wriswt for 10 minutes. It's intense cold and is a little uncomfortable at first but you have to gut it out and then REST your hand. Also, 400-600mg of ibuprophen before bed helps too. And don't forget your wrist splint.
2 2010-09-03 15:02:30
Topic: Carpal Tunnel Syndrom (12 replies, posted in Acoustic)
Nothing gives me more pleasure and satisfaction (with one exception) than playing acoustic guitar. If my wrist didn't hurt after an hour I would play all day long. Has anyone found a way to get around this problem short of surgery? I sleep with the splint and use ice and ibuprofen but I still have problems with my left wrist. Last year I was gigging 5-6 nights a week. This year I plan to gig 3-4 nights a week and hope that will ease the problem.