Drumming medicine? Knuckle pain

[JahJahwarrior]

I know it's not really related to diving, so please mods feel free to delete this post and warn me....I don't wnat to be spamming up the boards.

But my knuckle hurts!

I've been a drummer for about two and a half years now, just jamming a few hours per week. Never had any problems with anything except the occassional bloody knuckle from hitting the rim of the snare or floor tom. I've been away at college and not playing much, but thelast few times I've been home, I've been very annoyed by an uncomfortable feeling in the knuckle closer to the palm on the index finger of my left hand. It's not always pain, though soetimes it's a jarring feeling. It just feels uncomfortable, almost like it itches or something. And it's like pain, but not the same as when you cut something, if that makes any sense.

If I try to change how I hold the stick, it sometimes makes a small difference but then I hit the snare a few more times and the feeling always comes back. Even after I stop for a while the uncomfy, odd feeling remains.

I haven't played drums for three weeks, this only happened this time and the last time I was here. The first time, I thought I injured the knuckle or something and it just needed to heal. But now it's doing it again after only playing for 30 minutes or so.

What is wrong with me? Or rather, since this is not a doctor's visit, what could be wrong with me? Any ideas?

 

[fisherdvm]

It could be syphillis? Palm syphillis to be exact. But it could also be carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, arthritis, contact allergic dermatitis, and of course, decompression sickness! Where's doc Deco when we needed him.

Suck on some nitrox...

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Well...I'm more careful about safety stops now than I have ever been as a diver, I doubt it's DCI

I was wondering if it's a nerve or something, and if it's likely to fix itself or if I should ask a doctor about it. Also, is there anything I can do to try and narrow down the options? Lastly, depending on what you all think it might could be, will that have any impact on diving? For example, if it was carpal tunnel, would that mean I should be more careful to take safety stops, or does it mean I'll offgas like crazy and never need to deco and might infact grow gills?


I played some more later this evening (couldn't resist...) and it wasn't as bad as it was this afternoon, when I stopped playing abruptly when it suddenly began to bother me. But now I'm taking the drumkit with me to college and hope to jam atleast weekly on top of parking garages at night...as odd s that sounds....

 

[Web Monkey]

But my knuckle hurts!

I've been a drummer for about two and a half years now, just jamming a few hours per week. Never had any problems with anything except the occassional bloody knuckle from hitting the rim of the snare or floor tom. I've been away at college

I can tell you what my doctor told me when I said "My thumb hurts"

He said "Yeah, it sucks to get old."

You owe me 1/2 a co-pay.

Terry

 

[Web Monkey]

I haven't played drums for three weeks, this only happened this time and the last time I was here. The first time, I thought I injured the knuckle or something and it just needed to heal. But now it's doing it again after only playing for 30 minutes or so.

Wait, I forgot the other piece of advice he gave me: "Don't do stuff that hurts."

Terry

 

[TSandM]

Nobody's going to be able to give you much help with this on line, unfortunately.

Most likely it's some kind of overuse injury, whether it's arthritis or cartilage damage or a ligament strain or something neurologic. The general medical prescription will be, "Don't do stuff that hurts." Or, in other words, "Give it a rest."

But only someone who can see the hand and do various tests on it can really sort it out.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Well then, I'll try to be careful to it and maybe I'll see if I can see someone about it if it's still a problem when I'm back in town for spring break.

Even today a few times I have moved it in a way and it felt like it still hurt or was bruised or something. I gave it a rest of about three weeks.....

Thanks for the advice and which half of copay do you want? cop or pay? If you really insist on an even half, I'll bust out Photoshop and cut the P in half....