I went to the doctor 1 week ago, and she said that i have tendinitis, but that it's nothing serious. Cold water and ice should help to recover.
Today i woke up with severe pain in my right hand and it lasted for at least 5-10 hours. (I am seeing doctor again in Monday). The injury will »steal me« more time than i thought, i will stop playing piano untill august.
However, i know that my hand will recover, i just need some rest.

What i am scared of is what to do in the future?
I've been playing for ten years, but i wasnt serious until last year. The only thing i could do one year ago was playing fur Elise, badly of course. In past 12 months I have improved a lot, i can finaly play with emotions and i was preparing myself for some advanced pieces (Chopin op.10 no.12 for example).
But now i have realised, that if i will continue to play like this, i will have problems with injury again...

What should i do? Is it enough to remove some tensions with awarness of my hands position? I tried this, and it helped a lot, but there was still a lot of unnessecary tension. Do i need to relearn some aspect of my technique? I really don't know what to do… Have you ever had a student with problems like this?

I will appreciate every answer.

I forget, Green, are you taking lessons? If not, you'll need to find a teacher that can help you with tension issues. It's not enough to cut out playing for a while and then jumping right back into it with poor practice habits and tension. In the voice world, there is injury to the cords that can result from two things: misuse and overuse. Sometimes a combination of the two. I think the same is with piano as well. When you do return to practicing, do not do more than 45 minutes - 1 hour without a break. I think if you have a teacher that specializes in helping pianists with injuries you will get exactly what you need.

I would not even suggest anything as exact as 45 minutes. Beginning back may require even shorter sessions. The important thing is that NOTHING more should be done at the piano without finding a teacher who is able to find solutions to the incorrect physical habits that are causing the injury.

Morodiene's right. You're doing something wrong. Find a reacher (spelling mistake, but I think I prefer it!). Were these of no help? http://www.youtube.com/isstip

Gary, you're right. I should have clarified that this would be for someone who is not recovering from injury, just a general guideline. For the OP, he would *definitely* have to get back into practicing in small increments and gradually increase if possible. But under the guidance of a good teacher (or reacher, if you prefer :P)

Thanks for replys.

To gary and Morodiene:

Yes, i have the teacher. However, I haven't seen her since May, because i rarely practice because of pain. I will definitely meet her soon, "outside the lesson". We need to talk about recovering and the future. She already talked with my mum and she said to her that she will show me "relaxation technique". I don't know what she meant with that. She also said that she will ask her friend, who is concert pianist and very advanced teacher, for help.

My teacher ussualy teaches first 6 grades. I am currently 7th grade so my teacher said that i will need more advanced teacher soon and that her friend is a very good teacher for advancer students).

Guess i'll have to wait. The future seems very uncertain right now.

As far as the practice time is concerned, i rarely (=almost never) practice more than 30 minutes without a break, so that won't be a problem.



kbk, i saw some videos like that. I remember the taubman technique video that you posted a few months ago, but as you know, it is hard to "learn technique" from a video.

Even harder if you don't make the effort.

No one has mentioned yet that there are tight fitting finger-less gloves available for this condition.

I do not know how well they work, but it may be worth looking into.

good luck to you.

Ebony, i have never heard for "piano gloves"! I will check it out.

KBK, i don't think that effort is the problem. Watching the video or having someone showing you technique is like day and night!

A video of someone showing you technique is someone showing you technique.

But a poor substitute for being with someone who is doing the same thing, assuming (of course) comptetence, and that is assuming a LOT.

Soon? You need help NOW. Many other problems can be straightened out later, but not physical damage.

No. What you don't get with a video is diagnosis. But then few seem competent in that anyway.

Changing the technique that i've been using for 10 years with help of one video is impossible. It is not the same if you watch videos or if someone actually sits next to you and is telling you what to do.

I was referring to the new teacher. I will receive help as soon as i will start playing again.

Dear GreenRain,
Your injury is the result of misuse, not overuse and though rest may be a first step, you need an expert teacher who understands how to help you achieve a healthy technique which will resolve your problems permanently. "Relaxation exercises" are not the answer. If you learn how to play without tension, you'll not need to "relax". (Relaxation can equal "collapse" and that will result in different pain and problems.) The Golandsky/Taubman approach has helped many serious amateur and professional pianists to achieve an effortless, coordinate technique. You can see videos and other visual aids, but nothing works as well as having a teacher trained and certified in this work watch you play, diagnose the issues and help you to achieve a healthier way of playing. Good luck!

Dear Green Rain,
I have had a repetitive stress injury for over 10 years now. I know how difficult it is.Practicing for short amounts of time is very helpful. Sometimes I just have to take a day off.I have found Yoga and relaxation techniques and therapeutic massage to really be helpful too.A good massage therapist/ yoga instructor can help you learn to relax and work with your body. Some pianists are qualified to help you with specific difficulties you might be having. Seek them out.I found that my posture and excess tension were major factors. Check your bench height(I switched to an adjustable computer chair with no arms)
Hope these ideas help!

Paulette

Dear Green Rain,

I agree with legatofingers10. I had a nasty case of CTS for over 2 years and tried just about everything except for surgery. Finally I found a teacher who had trained a fair amount overseas at the Golandsky Institute. I am all but cured!

Also, you might like to have a quick look at these links describing something called Tension Myositis Sydrome. I also found this to be of enormous help as well.

http://tmswiki.wetpaint.com/
or
http://www.tmshelp.com/

Good luck to you,

How can I find a teacher who is trained in the Golandsky/Taubman technique? I'm dealing with chronic tendonitis in both elbows and it's seriously affecting my ability to practice.

Get a new teacher. I had a lot of hand problems - tendonitis, ganglion cysts, bursitis, you name it - for years. I chose to not go into music as a profession because I thought my hands were too wrecked to make it as a pianist.

And then, early this year, I had one master class with an amazing professional pianist. She immediately identified all the points of tension in the way I was playing, and gave me some exercises to work on to help me relax. After that master class, I went home and started doing those exercises and consciously trying to relax as I played.

Soon afterwards, I noticed that I was able to practice for two hours at a time without problems. I never could do that before. Even 3 hours a day was OK.

Please find another teacher, and get your technique fixed. Piano playing should not hurt.

Thanks for replys, guys.

I had piano lesson yesterday and my teacher has already made a plan. We are going to work on "light" (silent) and slow romantic pieces, so that i will learn how to play without unnessecary tension. I will also have to do many excercises (scales, chords...). Very slowly at the begging, but once there will be less tension in my playing I will be practicing them faster.

She said that at least 3 months will be needed for a visible improvement. After 3 months i should be able to play a little faster and louder pieces with less tension.

I will stay optimistic. I'm quite sure that this is the right way of dealing with tension and i'm sure than 12 months from now i will be able to play pieces like Revolutionary etude or Schubert's op.90 no.2 again, this time without too much tension.

Guess that time will be my judge.