New guy - question for Mark

[Ged.Leitch]

Hi Mark, love the site - really good lesson/articles on here!!

Quick question about overuse injuries - I've read on your site the article about overuse inj's etc, and how you overcame them, I myself have been playing for 14 years (im 30yrs old) and recently have had a slight bout of tendinitis symptoms - prob because ive been coming home from work(computer work) and practicing 4-5 hrs a night, im a bit of a "shredhead" and love fast licks etc - so i tend to practice them for too long - i do have good technique and realx as much as poss when practicing - (i practice very slow) i also warm up for 10-15mins slowly.
So, it's been a classic case of me overusing my fingers.The pain(only very slight) is in my fret hand (feels like tendons) so i'vee stopped playing for 2 days and will not play till i feel "ready" but it doesnt help when i just got a brand new Paul Gilbert PGM301 to play!!!! arggh!!!!

What has helped is soaking my hand in a sink of hot water for about 5mins and doing your guitarist stretches, i was scared at first to strech my fingers but they feel fine after it.
Any other advice for me would be greatly appriciated Mark, as playing the Guitar has and always will be my fave thing to do!!!
pls help!!! idn_smilie

[Mark Wein]

Thanks!

The best thing for me is really the wax bath (kind of like multiplying the benefit of your warm water tenfold) coupled with the stretches....check this one out: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FDLA1E?ie=UTF8&tag=markweinguita-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FDLA1E

The one I link to in the article isn't available anymore but this is the same one with less wax capacity.

Obviously the next best thing would be reducing the amount of wear and tear on your hands, but that isn't very fun smi

[Ged.Leitch]

Will keep an eye out for that, thanks Mark,

well just finished a 9hr shift at work on PC all day - a couple of visitis to the bathroom to soak frethand under warm water felt great!!

at home now - feel 75% ok - i KNOW i could play guitar today but im going to give myself a week off to give my tendons a rest.

[Mark Wein]

no problem...the rest is a good idea, I think....and then start back up slowly. Any kind of moist heat like a heating pad would also be good.....