Thank you, and a couple of questions

[Cole_Shoemaker]

Hello everyone! I have been learning different techniques from this site for about a month now. This site is so easy to use and allows you to learn techniques at a slow or accelerated pace. I will be extending my membership from 1 month to one of the other options over the next few days, so hopefully, I can get to know more of you! Big thanks to Troy and everybody at Cracking the Code!

I’m sure I am not the only one who has experienced pain in their hands or wrist from practicing these techniques, or just generally over practicing. It could be tendonitis I suppose. I’m also having pain in a less common spot (for me anyway). When I make a fist with my left hand the tendons just below the pinky finger knuckle start hurt pretty bad. Both of these things are anoying because they get in the way of practicing and force me to take time off.

If anyone has any suggestions on these I’d love to hear them! That way I can continue learn and practice.

[Tom0711]

If anyone has any suggestions on these I’d love to hear them! That way I can continue learn and practice.

Yes:
Stop, see a doctor.

As far as only one hand is affected, practice with the other only. You can practice the picking concepts shown here with your picking hand isolated. This way you can concentrate on that hand even better.

When your hands are healthy again, try to use as little force as possible by pressing just as much as is needed to produce a good tone with your left hand.

Hope you get better soon, Tom

[Troy]

Yes:

Stop, see a doctor.

Seconded! Don’t flirt with pain. It’s not worth it.

[Brendan]

Hey, welcome to the forum!

A few related discussions here re: pain / injury:

Injury prevention

Hi everyone! I’m just curious about what everyone here does to prevent injuries and develop a safe technique. A few months ago I started to feel some pain in my forearms, and after a visit to the physiotherapist, I started to warmup and look a deeper into the subject. I’ve started to use Adam Neely’s approach to left hand technique and some sort of version of John Petrucci’s warmup mixed with some exercises the physiotherapist gave me. Does any one have any book, YouTube video, article or anythi…

Repetive Strain Injury from guitar practice

Currently I’m unable to practice much guitar because of pain in my wrists. They started to hurt last summer and I’m pretty sure it’s some kind of repetive strain injury. I’m assuming it was a result of way too many years practicing way too much with way too much tension. Metronome practice I’m sure was partly to blame as well. Luckily the pain hasn’t interfered too much with my job or general life. Stretches, self-massage and contrast baths seem to help, but I’m only able to play guitar occ…

And more recently:

Tendonitis and injury - what are your warmup rituals?

Are there any warm up rituals that you do before playing to avoid injury? I suffered from tendonitis in different places, but now I found my equilibrium with all sort of things, would you be so kind to share your experience about this dreadful issue? Personally after some horrible experiences with doctors, cortisone shots and quitting music for months, I found my own way to keep strains as far as possible. Here’s my routine: Immersion in hot water for about 3-4 min up to elbows Slightly pull …

But yes, none of this is a substitute for real medical advice, particularly for acute pain.