Tendonitis Management

groovenut

groovenut

Power User
Hey all, for the last 3 weeks to a month I have been fighting a mild to medium case of tendonitis in my left index finger first joint. I dont have to tell you guys how much we use this finger and joint. If it were a severe case I would have been to see a hand specialist by now but I currently dont have the funds and think it's probably manageable by self medication.

Anyone have any good suggestions? I have been using warm water to warm it up before playing, stretching and then ice after playing. I have a low tolerance to ibuprofen so I cant take enough of it to really make a difference. Its slowly getting better, but I was hoping to have it gone before Axe Fest West.

I have to play for work everyday so taking time off is very limited to me.

Hopefully some one has some good suggestions.

Thanks
 
Sorry to hear that groovenut. Could you be a bit more specific? How do you know it is "tendonitis"? Tendonitis does not usually effect just one joint, rather the tendons that move it. I'm not a Dr, but have a lot of experience with this sort of thing. For many people, adding a joint supplement helps. I use Triple-flex. It is available at Costco.

So what exactly is going on with your finger?
 
Believe it or not what has helped are back exercises, chiropractic and physical therapy. I've never exactly had tendonitis, I don't think, but I've had some pain in the hand. I play long hours for many years sitting with a bad posture. A few back exercises cleared it right up. The problem is I stopped after a few months and I'm starting to feel it again. But for about 6 moths or so no pain or tension. I'm going to do them again.

Remember the back is an integral part of all of that business. Good luck!
 
Sorry to hear that Lawrence. I found a very good article that may be helpful to you. It helps one to understand the causes, diagnose, treatment and prevention. It's a good read. I've had a few bouts with tendinitis myself and rest for the joints and tendons that are affected is the best thing. Then after is has healed is to manage the amount of repetition(s) of those movements. I also think proper stretching and limbering of the joints is quite beneficial in prevention. So what you're doing to relieve things is about the best that can be done since you have to keep on doing what you do. Hope the article is beneficial and your tendinitis is gone soon.

Tendinitis - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis - Pain Management - Body & Health
 
Last edited:
@Groovenut
I aggree with geezerJ-I have arthritis and that can affecct that joint, Tendonitis-if you turn your hand over-palm facing you and you press on the bump(joint) right there(bottom of index finger-it makes your finger move when you press it. That is normally the signs of tendonistis in the index finger joints-if it hurts there I mean.. I'm no doctor but I have been dealing with arthritis and tendonitis all my life. Sounds more like arthritis to me. Not trying to bum you out-I'm a lot older than you and I have been playing for many moons. If you take care of it you will be fine. One finger joint is weird. Also, psoraitic arthritis (comes from psoriasis) is actually the arthritis I have (it's genetic) Damage and look is the same as rhuematoid. I would get it looked at just to make sure what it is or isn't.
Doctor told me the reason I can play like I do is because I have always played-all my life-so my joints were always moving. Same will go for you. Just trying to help.
 
Hey guys thanks so much for the thoughtful responses

@Geezerjohn I am almost positive it's tendonitis. I have had several bouts with it from workout injuries and having to do physical therapy, so from how it feels, I am pretty sure. When I fully flex my finger to my palm, there is a burning sensation along the left lateral slip tendon of the distal joint of my left index finger, or in English the left side top of my index finger at the first joint :). I just need to get the inflammation under control. As I get older (47) I have found that I have to warm up a bit more when doing physical exercise to avoid connective tissue injuries. I suppose this could be a byproduct of an exercise injury as well, though no other parts are hurting.

@Swass I will read the article for sure. Thanks!
 
Last year I had a problem with my middle finger, it had also swollen. Apart from rest, massaging the finger gently, warmth and vitamin supplements for joints it has taken about a year for it to get back to almost normal.
I kept playing and I am sure that helped to regain the flexibility, but in the early part of recovery I had to adapt my playing and play for shorter periods. I think the key is not to overdo it.
 
Did you try soaking in Epsom salt? That usually reduces inflammation. I have a similar issue with mild tingling in the left hand. I usually have the physical therapist strip the forearm muscle and that takes care of it. It gets worse with age, especially with weekend home improvement projects, and 40+ hours of computer work.
 
Interesting you should mention Epsom salts. I tried soaking the joint yesterday in Epsom salts and found that it was very effective. I will continue on that path and hopefully will be back to normal soon.

Thanks!
 
Salt combined with cold water was a favorite remedy for sprains as it helps reduce the inflammation. I think it also had potassium which is good for soreness. Aspirin and Advil are also good anti-inflammatory options.
 
henryrobinett said:
All true. But once again I'd try for the SOURCE and very often the SOURCE is the back. The back hold it all together.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna go ahead and start the inevitable flame war here, I suppose, but back stretches and exercises will do wonders for your back pain, upper leg pain and shoulder pain, but its not gonna do much of anything for a single knuckle joint. Chiropractic has its place, but in my experience it relies heavily on one's mistaking coincidence for causality. I'm not saying its mumbo jumbo (I've used it a couple times to great effect in my lower back pain) but for a finger, stick to actually helping the finger.

Law, from fifteen years of guitar playing and seven years of competitive running, as well as more visits to Dr. Symbas at Emory Medical Center Orthopedics than I care to recall, the only guaranteed medical remedy for tendonitis, as hard as it is to swallow, is absolute, prolonged rest of the afflicted joint.
 
Though I do soak my left hand in a bowl of steaming water with salt followed by the same in a bowl of ice water most days after practicing. The base of my pinky has given me trouble for years.
 
I can attest to the effectiveness of Chiropractors. It is not a solution by itself though. Life has a way to irritate our bodies and tight muscles, bad posture, etc. will cause issues. What I found that works is a combination of physical therapy and chiropractic sessions. I used to think the tingling in my fingers was caused from my wrist (carpal tunnel) until I found a great masseuse that started working in my arm pit stripping the muscle attached to the rib cage, all the way down to my elbow and hand. It was very painful and left bruises at the time but did the trick. Talk about paying to be tortured!

The best part is you feel better without medication. If I had gone to a doctor they would have prescribed pain medication and muscle relaxers which only masks the problem. I would take my chances with a good chiropractor and physical therapist any time. It works for me.
 
Thanks for all the input guys! I know the only real cure is rest as has been in every case of tendonitis I have had before. I just have to figure out how to do that and still make a living. Time to institute the three fingered rule I suppose.

In the 30 years that I have been playing this is the first time I have developed any trouble with my fingers on either hand, so it's probably not going to be too hard to repair.
 
Last edited:
It's true, opening up your back, especially your thoracic spine, will undoubtedly help your extremities perform/recover to their highest potential.


I would suggest trying to treat the cause, not the symptom. Decrease inflammation in general. You can easily be chronically inflamed without really knowing it. It all starts with diet.
 
groovenut said:
Hey guys thanks so much for the thoughtful responses

@Geezerjohn I am almost positive it's tendonitis. I have had several bouts with it from workout injuries and having to do physical therapy, so from how it feels, I am pretty sure. When I fully flex my finger to my palm, there is a burning sensation along the left lateral slip tendon of the distal joint of my left index finger, or in English the left side top of my index finger at the first joint :). I just need to get the inflammation under control. As I get older (47) I have found that I have to warm up a bit more when doing physical exercise to avoid connective tissue injuries. I suppose this could be a byproduct of an exercise injury as well, though no other parts are hurting.

@Swass I will read the article for sure. Thanks!
Click to expand...

That does sound like tendonitis. Usually, that is an impingement of the tendon (it gets partially trapped when passing through the tendon sheath at the wrist). I still suggest some type of joint medication (non prescription). As noted, I use Triple-flex. I take it two times per day (morning and evening). Seems to help these old fingers keep moving. You can also try wrist splints, but wear them when you are sleeping. Most people sleep with their hands curled, and that puts pressure on the tendon sheath. Wrist splints are available at most pharmacies. They actually work better than most might think. The trick is to wear them at night to keep your wrists from compressing.

What you have is no fun, and can lead to more serious issues. I sure hope this helps groovenut. I always hate to hear of fellow guitarists dealing with such things.
 
ccroyalsenders said:
I'm gonna go ahead and start the inevitable flame war here, I suppose, but back stretches and exercises will do wonders for your back pain, upper leg pain and shoulder pain, but its not gonna do much of anything for a single knuckle joint. Chiropractic has its place, but in my experience it relies heavily on one's mistaking coincidence for causality. I'm not saying its mumbo jumbo (I've used it a couple times to great effect in my lower back pain) but for a finger, stick to actually helping the finger.

Law, from fifteen years of guitar playing and seven years of competitive running, as well as more visits to Dr. Symbas at Emory Medical Center Orthopedics than I care to recall, the only guaranteed medical remedy for tendonitis, as hard as it is to swallow, is absolute, prolonged rest of the afflicted joint.
Click to expand...

True. That's if it is INDEED tendonitis. AS I said earlier I don't think I had tendonitis. But I did have numbness and general pain when I played the guitar over 15 minutes. The arm controls the fingers and the back controls all of it. 15 years of guitar playing? I go more than twice that. Everything is connected. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether the pain is REALLY just on the knuckle or it has it's source further up some place else.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom