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LunarStandstill wrote:Well, now I've done it. Drumming in low light last evening and injured my right thumb, deeply bruised. Any suggestions on how to baby this and get back to drumming quickly? It's not broken, just bruised deeply to the bone.
Thanks for your input.
Debra

Ive had a few issues recently with injuries from drumming .Nothing as severe as yours but some aches and pains etc .I take cod liver oil etc on a daily basis and started taking glucosamine for the injury and its much better in a very short space of time .Rest is the best thing though as playing with it will do nothing but make it worse . All the best with it .

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Leedy is exactly right on this. Drugs / "supplements" like glucosamine, chondroitin, cod liver oil are the wrong approach here. Solve the root of the problem, which is poor playing technique possibly combined with incorrectly mounted skins. First make sure the rims of your drums are at least 1/4" below the plane of the skin top. Probably 1/2" or 3/4" is better but 1/4" is enough to prevent injury with good technique. Second, find a good experienced player, preferably an older player who has evolved his or her technique for many years and has not experienced significant long term hand injury. Ask the player or teacher to critique your playing technique. Observe your own playing and see where, when, and how you are hitting your thumb. Practice hitting the drums without hitting your thumb, also aiming for the best sound quality. You don't need to stop playing while your thumb heals, in fact your bruised thumb will rapidly train you to avoid even touching it to the drum. This is all about technique, learn to hit the drum correctly and you will be fine.

LunarStandstill wrote:Well, now I've done it. Drumming in low light last evening and injured my right thumb, deeply bruised. Any suggestions on how to baby this and get back to drumming quickly? It's not broken, just bruised deeply to the bone.
Thanks for your input.
Debra

Hi Debra,
Hope you heal soon. I would hate to picture your hands ending up like JC'S (no disrespect for JC) but then again he's been playing for years. Excellent advices here.
Lord bless
Juancho

Not completely relevant but not completely irrelevant. I have some kind of RSS/carpal tunnel problems - yeah like I can afford to go to a doctor to find out what it actually is. It first showed when I was framing houses with a big old framing hammer. When I bought my throne years ago it just happened to have a higher than usual seat height. While reading up on RSS injuries I came across something that basically said to keep your movements in the middle of your range of motion. MY current seat height sits at about 23" from the floor, (I'm 5' 9.5", and yes only people that short include the .5" which allows me to have my arms bent at around 90° when playing congas. This keeps my wrists pretty straight. Sitting on a standard height seat has my wrists bent and starts to cause slight pain and tingling within minutes.

Now for playing bongos, that seat height is ridiculous.

jorge wrote:Leedy is exactly right on this. Drugs / "supplements" like glucosamine, chondroitin, cod liver oil are the wrong approach here. Solve the root of the problem, which is poor playing technique possibly combined with incorrectly mounted skins. First make sure the rims of your drums are at least 1/4" below the plane of the skin top. Probably 1/2" or 3/4" is better but 1/4" is enough to prevent injury with good technique. Second, find a good experienced player, preferably an older player who has evolved his or her technique for many years and has not experienced significant long term hand injury. Ask the player or teacher to critique your playing technique. Observe your own playing and see where, when, and how you are hitting your thumb. Practice hitting the drums without hitting your thumb, also aiming for the best sound quality. You don't need to stop playing while your thumb heals, in fact your bruised thumb will rapidly train you to avoid even touching it to the drum. This is all about technique, learn to hit the drum correctly and you will be fine.

Some of the responses on this forum are getting very strange .First of all i explained that i had a few issues recently due to drumming , none of which where caused by bad technique or hitting the drum wrong .Ive been drumming for 20 years and i know how to play hand percussion and with sticks etc . My problems where caused due to bad luck and nothing else .I know lots of drummers with great technique that have had issues like repetative strain etc and that has nothing to do with bad technique .Omega 3 / cod liver oil are used for keeping joints supple etc and glucosamine is used and recommended in the recovery of injuries , used by athletes etc . Of course good technique etc is essential in staying injury free but sometimes shit happens and theres not much you can do about it . Drumming of all kinds is a very physical thing is it not ? Top athletes , footballers etc all get injured during there career and they have impecable technique in what they do . Any chance you people could read someones post before you respond

I think the best we can say for glucosamine and condroitin is 'inconclusive.'
http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/news/20100916/study-glucosamine-chondroitin-no-heop-for-arthritis

Rest would be the best medicine for OP imo.

LunarStandstill wrote:Thank you Everyone....
I really appreciate the discussion and varying points of view. I suspect that thumb injury was due to playing on a slope with placement of the tumba off kilter instead of where my hand normally moves. It was one bad stroke, which hit the low rim, so I suspect that height and location was primary culprit.
The information you suggested is all good. My mentor taught me to practice in front of mirror to check tecnique, as well as watching others as I play.
My natural tendency is to play hard because I am profoundly deaf, though I have not always been deaf. I sense vibration now, and can hear a certain range of tone slightly, but I do play very visually due to my inability to hear. Oft-times, I find myself leaning into the drums to "sense" better and with more discrimation.
I'll certainly not let deafness stop me from my dream of becoming a master Conguera!
Thanks again for all your help, advise and support.
Debra

I admire you Debra.............kick ass!!!!

Debra and others!

How superb is to read and feel one's determination to succeed!!! So motivating!!!
Debra, talk to your thumb and heal it with your will, ackward to some, but it works!!!

Hip Hip Hooray!

PimpS

Man ..did everybody missed the point, she wants to heal a badly bruised thumb. First of all place ice on it as much as you can and elevate, and before you go to bed massage the bruised area with Tiger balm ( the most natural of all ointments )this will bring the required circulation to heal the bruised tissues. Repeat the procedure till you feel it getting better If you like you can also take an anti - inflammatory.

Peace
Olsongo

Olsongo,
Thank you. I intuitively iced it down last night. Did again tonight and slathered Tiger Balm on it. It's turning pretty colors but already the swelling is starting to recede. I appreciate your suggestions. I love Tiger Balm but have never used it for bruising. I'll see how it feels tomorrow.
Good evening to you, and thanks again. Debra

Debora

Look for Arnica as well. Rugby players take it before playing to reduce the effects of impact. It comes as a balm and as a pill and you should be able to get it from Herb shops.

Dice