[unknown-user–2]

Thanks for the recent replies.
Alison, can you explain what you mean by dropping the hand, reducing the need to stretch? Drop the hand how? What is being stretched? The article looks interesting and I will take a look at it later today. Unfortunately, I’m not in the UK.

Saul – everything you’re saying sounds perfect. Unfortunately I’ve been to the best harp instructors – all names you would recognize – in both of the closest cities to me. No one can figure out what is wrong. They all say that my position etc. looks good, but that there is a lot of strain. Most had suggestions, but each was an incredibly subtle position change. The problem I am having is not subtle, and during the 2-3 months during which I had somehow found a solution (before losing it again) my position did not change.

I have been “resting” for quite a while, now. I put that in quotes, since my physical therapists and doctors have insisted that I keep trying to play as part of rehabilitation. Of course, I don’t play much, and when I do it is nothing other than trying to figure out my technique. I haven’t worked on learning a piece of music in over a year and a half.

I am currently once again on total rest and prescription anti-inflammatories. It’s been a year and a half since my initial diagnosis, and it really ought to have healed 100% by now.

[unknown-user–2]

I don’t mean to hijack the original poster’s thread, but since she’s interested in hearing more about this, I’ll continue to reply.

I’ve now been to two music medicine doctors as well as two performing arts occupational therapists. I just saw the second doctor this past week, so I can’t say what the results would be, but I was very dissatisfied with the first doctor.

He was convinced that I had problems playing simply because I was injured; as soon as I healed all my playing problems would be gone. Of course, I was right in this instance. The injury is much better than it was (not gone, mind you) but the problems while I play are worse if not the same. My new doctor works with athletes mostly, and I’m hoping he can give a different perspective.

My left hand has similar problems playing, too, but it was never injured, probably just because the left hand usually does not play as intensely as the right hand. That is, whatever is going wrong with my right hand is probably going wrong in my left – it’s just that my right is the only arm with an injury.

The first doctor I saw did watch me play and said that nothing was “ergonomically wrong.” I agree with that. Position is correct, but something is going wrong with the mechanics. At least that’s what I think. I’m hoping my new doctor will work with me to figure out once and for all what’s going wrong.

[unknown-user–2]

I currently have tennis elbow. Yours sounds like it came from what they call a “traumatic event” (when you fell down the stairs) but mine is a repetitive stress injury and they call it “chronic.” We’re 99.99% sure I gave it to myself through playing. How, we’re not sure.

Because my injury is chronic, injections and surgery don’t really make sense. I’ve been on anti-inflammatories, had wrist splints, been to physical therapy, taken Alexander technique lessons. It’s gotten better, but it’s not gone.

I haven’t been able to play without tightness and soreness for over a year and a half. I used to be an award winning harpist on my way to a professional career. Now I can’t even play a child’s piece without problems. It has hurt me greatly from an emotional standpoint.

I’ve seen practically every notable teacher in the two major cities I live near, and no one can figure out what is wrong. Most just say “it looks like you’re straining” and that’s that.

At this point, I’ve almost entirely given up. I’m currently a college student, and will probably end up selling my harp soon after I graduate so that I can pay off my student loans before they accumulate any interest.

I’m sorry – I can’t offer you anything except solidarity.

[unknown-user–2]

Hi Minnie,
Thanks for getting back so soon.

I’ll make sure to ask about vitamin or mineral deficiency – doesn’t sound wacky to me. But my right hand will relatively quickly become practically immobile because all of the tension. Probably more than a vitamin/mineral problem, but that could definitely be a contributing factor.

Thanks again!

[unknown-user–2]

Hi Minnie,
Thanks for your reply. I think you’ve misunderstood the place that I’m at right now.

First of all, the injury I have (had – I’m no longer in physical therapy) is tendinitis. Its just on the top of the forearm rather than the bottom.

Secondly, I’m far past the point of “deciding to change techniques.” I’ve been trying to make a major overhaul of my technique for over a year. In fact I successfully changed my technique completely a year and a half ago (before I was injured) with great success. I fell back into old habits and injured myself. Also, I’d disagree that there is no wrong technique. A technique that injures is a wrong technique. This is no debate on that.

I’d love to hear about the changes you’ve made. Unfortunately my issue seems to be beyond changes to position, which what it sounds like you’re eluding to.

[unknown-user–2]

Thank you for more replies!

Gretchen – unfortunately my harp is actually the lightest strung pedal harp I’ve ever encountered. It is an unusually loose 23 – everyone who plays on it comments as such,

Alison – your experience sounds a lot like mine, actually. I have the same problems playing piano, and my hand seizes up quite easily when writing. How did you actually get past it?

[unknown-user–2]

I should mention that I actually do practice as you have described. I think I have excellent practice habits ad strategies – unfortunately I have not actually worked on any music in over a year. It’s probably worth noting that I had realized there was a problem before injury, and the fall before the spring during which I was injured, I completely revamped my technique. It went beautifully and everything was so relaxed. I somehow lost that technique I had found and was subsequently injured. I have been searching for that relaxed technique ever since.

[unknown-user–2]

Thank you for the recent replies – I hadn’t logged in in a while.

The issue is really in both hands, but injury only ever occurred in the right.

As far as I can tell – and I’ve been trying at this for A LONG time and have had a lot of body awareness (Alexander Technique) training – the tension is actually happening during application of pressure to the string. Of course it carries through my playing and builds up, but the tension is there even if I’m pressing into the strings without actually plucking them. I can’t seem to let it go.

Actually, at this point I’ve basically given up and am just getting used to telling acquaintances that “I used to play the harp.” At the end of the month I’m revisiting a music medicine doctor that I saw last summer, but other than that visit (which I am not optimistic for) I don’t have any resources left and will be stopping if it is not fruitful.

[unknown-user–2]

Hannah – I’ve just sent you a private message that relates to this thread. Just wanted to make sure you see it! Thanks – S

[unknown-user–2]

Thanks for your reply, Gretchen. I’m working with a leading hand/music specialist, and she cannot see anything wrong. My harp teachers agree that my position is good. I play low on the strings – my right wrist is on the soundboard. It’s quite a conundrum.

[unknown-user–2]

Hi Tacye,
YES. That sounds perfect – “the right movements but using the wrong muscles”! Unfortunately I’m based out of New York and Boston, so it would be quite the trek. Anyone know a teacher like that in the states?

[unknown-user–2]

Hi Alison,
Thanks for your reply. Large chords are not usually a problem for me – my hands are large (I’m a guy!). Instead, pieces with intricate lines are using the biggest problem. There doesn’t seem to be much correlation between the piece and how badly the injury is affected. As far as I can tell, the tension occurs *during* the pluck, and not in between. That is, I’m literally using the wrong muscles to pluck the strings. My chiropractor has said it’s not bad enough to stop playing entirely, but I’m of course taking things easy.
Thanks again.

[unknown-user–2]

Thanks, Ellen.
My chiropractor has told me that there really isn’t very much inflammation in the arm, actually, so I don’t think a cortisone injection is for me. He said instead its mostly just that the muscles are locked in a more contracted state than they should be. He said this is happening because my wrist joint has tightened… and so somehow my technique is tightening my wrist and that’s causing my arm to tighten.

The treatment right now is proving largely successful. After only three weeks it’s definitely closer to healed than injured. It was a mild case, admittedly. At this point I’m more interested in finding a fix for my technique than a fix for the tennis elbow itself since the latter is going so well. Even if I’m just lightly plucking strings, I can actually feel my arm tightening back up. Needless to say, that’s very frustrating.

I’ll definitely take a look into the brace, though. I wasn’t sure if those really worked or not. Perhaps it can keep my arm uninjured while I continue to work towards a solution.

Thanks again!

[unknown-user–2]

Hi Sylvia,
I’m playing French method, but I don’t really like to put a name on it since there was never a time that I was taught “you are playing French method.” When I was just starting, I learned Salzedo method, but I’ve strayed far from Salzedo elbows and wrists (!), and the problems started long after my technique became more French.

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