Trigger finger surgery

[martinbr]

Hey guys, haven't been here for awhile but I have a problem going
here. I have been playing a lot of drums lately. I live in the S.F.
bay area and have been mainly sitting in at various club sessions.
This is all jazz bebop.

I had surgery on my right hand twice about five years ago. The
surgeries did not work, It was a waste of time off work and my hand
has been cut open twice just below the index finger.

Now when I play up tempo tunes, I lose control about a third of the
way into the tune and my hand gives out. Anyone else hear have had
surgery on there hands? I was in construction for 30 years and this
played havoc on my hands swinging a hammer and lots of abuse to my
body. Actually, I am pretty beat up as I just turned 58, but I still
like to play.

The only thing I can think to do at this point is to try some power
putty to try to strengthen my hand up. Man, this is a drag. My playing
might be permantely over if I can't stregthen my hand because I can't
play to my full potential.
martinbr

[Sean Conolly]

Post by martinbr
Hey guys, haven't been here for awhile but I have a problem going
here. I have been playing a lot of drums lately. I live in the S.F.
bay area and have been mainly sitting in at various club sessions.
This is all jazz bebop.
I had surgery on my right hand twice about five years ago. The
surgeries did not work, It was a waste of time off work and my hand
has been cut open twice just below the index finger.
Now when I play up tempo tunes, I lose control about a third of the
way into the tune and my hand gives out. Anyone else hear have had
surgery on there hands? I was in construction for 30 years and this
played havoc on my hands swinging a hammer and lots of abuse to my
body. Actually, I am pretty beat up as I just turned 58, but I still
like to play.
The only thing I can think to do at this point is to try some power
putty to try to strengthen my hand up. Man, this is a drag. My playing
might be permantely over if I can't stregthen my hand because I can't
play to my full potential.
martinbr

Maybe a practice pad and some heavy sticks to help build up your strength?

My grip keeps morphing unintentionally over the years, now I find that my
right hand is gripping with just the 2nd and 3rd fingers and my 1st finger
is just a guide. My left hand was just using my pinky for a few years
(matched grip), but recently I've stopped using my pinky entirely. Hard to
believe that after 35 years of playing my style and technique is still
changing, sometimes for the worse.

Sean

[martinbr]

Post by Sean Conolly

Hey guys, haven't been  here for awhile but I have a problem going
here. I have been playing a lot of drums lately. I live in the S.F.
bay area and have been mainly sitting in at various club sessions.
This is all jazz bebop.
I had surgery on my right hand twice about five years ago. The
surgeries did not work, It was a waste of time off work and my hand
has been cut open twice just below the index finger.
Now when I play up tempo tunes, I lose control about a third of the
way into the tune and my hand gives out. Anyone else hear have had
surgery on there hands? I was in construction for 30 years and this
played havoc on my hands swinging a hammer and lots of abuse to my
body. Actually, I am pretty beat up as I just turned 58, but I still
like to play.
The only thing I can think to do at this point is to try some power
putty to try to strengthen my hand up. Man, this is a drag. My playing
might be permantely over if I can't stregthen my hand because I can't
play to my full potential.
martinbr

Maybe a practice pad and some heavy sticks to help build up your strength?
My grip keeps morphing unintentionally over the years, now I find that my
right hand is gripping with just the 2nd and 3rd fingers and my 1st finger
is just a guide. My left hand was just using my pinky for a few years
(matched grip), but recently I've stopped using my pinky entirely. Hard to
believe that after 35 years of playing my style and technique is still
changing, sometimes for the worse.
Sean- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

I am doing the same thing with my right hand. I can't grip tight at
the fulcrum point anymore. I have to use the last three fingers on my
right hand for execution and my index finger and thumb act as guide.
But there is nothing I can do about it. Thanks for sharing your
experience.
martinbr

[Pete Pemberton]

Post by martinbr
I am doing the same thing with my right hand. I can't grip tight at
the fulcrum point anymore. I have to use the last three fingers on my
right hand for execution and my index finger and thumb act as guide.
But there is nothing I can do about it. Thanks for sharing your
experience.
martinbr

This grip is also known as the Moeller grip for heavy hitters, it works
well. YMMV.

PP

[Bill Coffin]

Two suggestions: work with a physical therapist, and work with a good
drum teacher. Changing your technique is never easy at our age (I'm 59)
but that's probably your only answer. (Although another approach would
be to go with a sparser ride style.)

-Bill

In article <4c088d05-b45d-4288-a073-bf2891b7e422
@w37g2000prc.googlegroups.com>, ***@yahoo.com says...

Post by martinbr
Hey guys, haven't been here for awhile but I have a problem going
here. I have been playing a lot of drums lately. I live in the S.F.
bay area and have been mainly sitting in at various club sessions.
This is all jazz bebop.
I had surgery on my right hand twice about five years ago. The
surgeries did not work, It was a waste of time off work and my hand
has been cut open twice just below the index finger.
Now when I play up tempo tunes, I lose control about a third of the
way into the tune and my hand gives out. Anyone else hear have had
surgery on there hands? I was in construction for 30 years and this
played havoc on my hands swinging a hammer and lots of abuse to my
body. Actually, I am pretty beat up as I just turned 58, but I still
like to play.
The only thing I can think to do at this point is to try some power
putty to try to strengthen my hand up. Man, this is a drag. My playing
might be permantely over if I can't stregthen my hand because I can't
play to my full potential.
martinbr

[robschuh]

Hey guys, haven't been  here for awhile but I have a problem going
here. I have been playing a lot of drums lately. I live in the S.F.
bay area and have been mainly sitting in at various club sessions.
This is all jazz bebop.
I had surgery on my right hand twice about five years ago. The
surgeries did not work, It was a waste of time off work and my hand
has been cut open twice just below the index finger.
Now when I play up tempo tunes, I lose control about a third of the
way into the tune and my hand gives out. Anyone else hear have had
surgery on there hands? I was in construction for 30 years and this
played havoc on my hands swinging a hammer and lots of abuse to my
body. Actually, I am pretty beat up as I just turned 58, but I still
like to play.
The only thing I can think to do at this point is to try some power
putty to try to strengthen my hand up. Man, this is a drag. My playing
might be permantely over if I can't stregthen my hand because I can't
play to my full potential.
martinbr

Martin,
I think this may be as simple as going back and doing more shedding.
Make sure you don't over work you hands or you could make it worse. I
think just spending time will help. When I was on dialysis, I had an
access in my left arm. It connected a vein near my hand to an artery
there, so after I played for long periods at fast tempos, my hand
would cramp because it was not getting enough blood. I had to go back
and start practicing again after not needing to for 20 years or so. A
ball is rubber ball is also good for getting your hand strength up
too. Good luck.

Rob

[martinbr]

Post by robschuh

Hey guys, haven't been  here for awhile but I have a problem going
here. I have been playing a lot of drums lately. I live in the S.F.
bay area and have been mainly sitting in at various club sessions.
This is all jazz bebop.
I had surgery on my right hand twice about five years ago. The
surgeries did not work, It was a waste of time off work and my hand
has been cut open twice just below the index finger.
Now when I play up tempo tunes, I lose control about a third of the
way into the tune and my hand gives out. Anyone else hear have had
surgery on there hands? I was in construction for 30 years and this
played havoc on my hands swinging a hammer and lots of abuse to my
body. Actually, I am pretty beat up as I just turned 58, but I still
like to play.
The only thing I can think to do at this point is to try some power
putty to try to strengthen my hand up. Man, this is a drag. My playing
might be permantely over if I can't stregthen my hand because I can't
play to my full potential.
martinbr

Martin,
I think this may be as simple as going back and doing more shedding.
Make sure you don't over work you hands or you could make it worse. I
think just spending time will help. When I was on dialysis, I had an
access in my left arm. It connected a vein near my hand to an artery
there, so after I played for long periods at fast tempos, my hand
would cramp because it was not getting enough blood. I had to go back
and start practicing again after not needing to for 20 years or so. A
ball is rubber ball is also good for getting your hand strength up
too. Good luck.
Rob- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Rob, thank you for tips on hand therapy. That is all I probably need
to do. This is the first time this has ever happened. I was sitting in
with a organ trio, and we were playing a pretty fast tempo tune for a
lot of choruses. The ball thing sounds like a good idea. Boy, it
sounds like you really had physical misgivings yourself. As we get
older, we have to take care of ourselves a little bit more cautiously.
Health is everything.

btw, what do you sit down and practice on when you practice? I always
like to try to get another jazz drummers point of view.

Martin

[robschuh]

Post by martinbr

Post by robschuh

Hey guys, haven't been  here for awhile but I have a problem going
here. I have been playing a lot of drums lately. I live in the S.F.
bay area and have been mainly sitting in at various club sessions.
This is all jazz bebop.
I had surgery on my right hand twice about five years ago. The
surgeries did not work, It was a waste of time off work and my hand
has been cut open twice just below the index finger.
Now when I play up tempo tunes, I lose control about a third of the
way into the tune and my hand gives out. Anyone else hear have had
surgery on there hands? I was in construction for 30 years and this
played havoc on my hands swinging a hammer and lots of abuse to my
body. Actually, I am pretty beat up as I just turned 58, but I still
like to play.
The only thing I can think to do at this point is to try some power
putty to try to strengthen my hand up. Man, this is a drag. My playing
might be permantely over if I can't stregthen my hand because I can't
play to my full potential.
martinbr

Martin,
I think this may be as simple as going back and doing more shedding.
Make sure you don't over work you hands or you could make it worse. I
think just spending time will help. When I was on dialysis, I had an
access in my left arm. It connected a vein near my hand to an artery
there, so after I played for long periods at fast tempos, my hand
would cramp because it was not getting enough blood. I had to go back
and start practicing again after not needing to for 20 years or so. A
ball is rubber ball is also good for getting your hand strength up
too. Good luck.
Rob- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

Rob, thank you for tips on hand therapy. That is all I probably need
to do. This is the first time this has ever happened. I was sitting in
with a organ trio, and we were playing a pretty fast tempo tune for a
lot of choruses. The ball thing sounds like a good idea. Boy, it
sounds like you really had physical misgivings yourself. As we get
older, we have to take care of ourselves a little bit more cautiously.
Health is everything.
btw, what do you sit down and practice on when you practice? I always
like to try to get another jazz drummers point of view.
Martin

To be honest,
I have not practiced hard since college, but from the age or around 12
until I was 21 or so, I shedded just by myself 6-8 hrs/day and that
did not include playing with bands etc. I used Stick Control, all the
Rudiments and played to a lot of records. The key to playing fast
tempos is to be as loose as possible. That has always been one of the
hardest things for me to teach to people too. I've been playing long
enough now where playing is just like sitting down and eating with a
knife and fork. You just think about eating and not your hands etc.
That is where you have to get in music to really master the
instrument.. Just be patient, but you can do a million variations just
from Stick Control. I also used the first Chapin book a great deal,
but the key to that is to concentrate on making it swing and to get it
down at VERY slow tempos. I used to have students who could play the
exercises fast, but when I made them slow them WAY down, they would
always eat it! :-) I'm waiting now for a 2nd kidney transplant, but
the good news is that my transplanted kidney is still working well
enough that I don't need dialysis. The hope is that they can find a
new kidney before it gets to that point. Good luck with all of this.

Rob