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Topic: Thumb arthritis from picking? |
Jim Rossen
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2015 1:56 pm |
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I use a thumb pick, have played for about 3 years and practice about 7 hrs/wk.
The metacarpal joint of my picking thumb gets sore, swollen and tender. I think my technique is OK. I otherwise don't have arthritis.
Anyone else have this problem?
Any advice?
Jim |
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Chase Brady
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2015 6:25 pm
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I've been noticing minor pain lately. Of course at 64, I have minor pain most places, but it concerns me. I've been playing for five years now, so it's not the sort of soreness that comes from new activity. To add fuel to the fire, I ran across this interview with Leo Kottke
http://www.guitarmusic.org/kottke/ggpn87.html
where he seems to blame fingerpicks, and particularly the thumbpick for the serious issues he had at the peak of his career. I've been playing around with hybrid picking, i.e. flatpick and fingers. It seems to result in less pain. I believe Steve Cunningham picks that way, and he's amazing. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 12 Dec 2015 6:34 pm
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I use Zookies thumbpicks because they are angled, and I think it helps eliminate using my thumb in an unnatural way.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Robert Allen
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 12 Dec 2015 7:16 pm
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| I've been through the hand, finger, thumb joint problems for the last 20 years. I've had the steroid injections and surgery followed by therapy. The doctor tells me the best non-surgical treatment is complete rest at first followed by limited easy exercise. I took NSAID drugs such as Advil and Naproxen for years which helped some but those drugs, even the non-prescription kind can be rough on the kidneys. I had to stop taking them when my kidney function dropped to 33%. My kidney function has since improved. At 76, I don't expect miracles. At times I simply limit my playing. |
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