Since the last few weeks or so I can’t play for longer periods due to very strong pain in both of my hands. I’m pretty sure that I didn’t change my way of holding the flute (I’m basically using the Rockstro grip as described on Terry’s website). Both hands feel quite weak somehow, and as soon as I hold the flute in playing position, the ache starts. I have to stop playing and relax my hands several times during a typical set, which makes all this not very enjoyable.
I don’t know if it’s caused by the weight of my flute (a blackwood eight-keyer) or the fact that it’s a Pratten with huge holes and quite a wide hole spacing, or by a undetected faulty posture. I’m playing this flute for over a year now and the problems started just a few weeks ago, so I guess it’s not the flute. It’s also probably not age-related - I’m 22.
Any ideas? Maybe some of you experienced similar problems? Playing the flute is a torture at the moment, and my new whistle still isn’t here, so I don’t know what to play at all.
Are you doing anything else in life new or different from previous routine? I drive for a living and, over the years, have found that developing mechanical faults with vehicles or a particular vehicule causing a particular postural problem can lead to minor (or even worse) strain injuries which in some cases I haven’t really noticed while driving, but do when I play my flute for an extended period. I currently have such a problem (mild) with tendons in my left shoulder/neck at least intermittently and am inclined to blame it on the ridiculous tendency of vehicle designers to offset steering wheels’ centres from the centre-line of the driver’s seat, so your body’s attitude to the wheel is inevitably twisted and you use your arms unequally… I have in the past had pain in my hands from the constant pull on the fingers when your arm-weight hangs from your grasp on the steering wheel. Typists RSI can cause that kind of back-of-hand tendon pain.
I doubt the weight of the flute has anything to do with it, nor things like hole-spacing in themselves when, as you say, you’ve been working on this instrument without problem for over a year.
Mindful of the board rules on medical matters, although you are young, various forms of arthritis can onset at any age, I believe, so should not be ruled out. You need to examine both your flute posture as you already are doing and other possible sources of injury first, but other possibilities remain.
Sorry to hear about your troubles, mate. Mindful of the board’s policies on quasi-medical advice, let me make the following general statements:
As Jem suggests, look elsewhere for possible aggravating factors.
Pain in the hands or wrists can actually be a signal from something further up the chain, particularly the shoulders, back or neck. Not saying that’s necessarily what is going on with you, just that it pays to keep in mind that everything is connected.
Don’t freak out or lose hope. I’ve had problems that stopped me cold for a while, but went away 100% with rest, treatment, and/or adjustments of technique. Get professional help soon (chiropractor, doctor, homeopath, or whatever suits your personal health care philosophy) and above all, keep a positive mental attitude.
Some vehicle designers are still putting the driver’s seat and steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle for some strange reason that goes against common sense. And oh for the days of bench seats, when you could make the self-alligning adjustments that you refer to. My grandfather, a rural mail delivery person, sat in the middle of the vehicle so that he could deliver mail out the right hand window. Bench seats also come in handy for other things that will go unmentioned on this forum. I don’t regret the absence of seat belts, however.
What’s wrong with putting the wheel on the right side of the vehicle? It goes against common sense to put it on the wrong side, just as it does to drive on the wrong side of the road. As most of us are R-handed, driving on the left is much more obviously the right thing to do!!! And having a Tipple at the wheel is now a big no-no!
Sorry for the digression, Gabriel when you have a serious problem! I second Rob’s best wishes and sympathy.
Thanks for your sympathy. I’m planning to visit my orthopedist as soon as possible, he will know what to do (it’s about time anyway, so it won’t hurt!).
We were rehearsing with the band tonight and I noticed that if I concentrate on staying relaxed, everything works quite fine. As soon as I start to apply any pressure on the fingers/flute, it starts to hurt, but even ornamentation is enough pressure to make it hurt! I’ll report back as soon as I know more…
I betcha it’s tension that’s causing the problem.
Try a shot of whiskey before you play next time.
Or two shots if one doesn’t work.
After three you won’t even feel your hands.
Bb flute caused me enough problems that I had to quit it and sell the thing. I doubt your new problem and the new flute are coincidental to one another…
And having a Tipple at the wheel is now a big no-no! 
