[Phil Gaynor]

Guys hiya I'm new here - great to be mxing it up with fellow heads - question -when playing kit, I get terrible thumb cramp mostly in my right hand - end up putting the stick between my next two fingers for comfort which eases the pain, but reduces natural bounce of the bell or snare - I know it's probably bad technique, and trying to loosen the grip but can't get my head around it - I'm playing over 25years but never had a proper lesson, do alot of session work could be just wear and tear but any help or suggestions appreciated - cheers Phil from Dublin, Ireland!

[Tainojim]

Greetings,
I would suggest soaking your hand in warm water with Epsom Salts. After that (If you could find it) rub it with some "Tiger's Balm" (I learned about this ointment when I was 16 from the Chinese)and wrap it up with some gauze. If you can't find any Tiger's Balm, use some lineament or some sort of muscle compound. Your Pharmacist should be able to suggest some kind of cream or paste of that sort.
If you do this before retiring at night, it should work well.
Been drumming for 50 years myself. This has happened to me also.

[Phil Gaynor]

thanks Man much appreciated - will try anything at this stage - think it might be a symphom of Carpel Tunnel syndrome -

[Meddy]

Mmm I get it as well sometimes. Only after drumming for a long time though. But I find myself holding the stick between my middle and index finger as well sometimes... specially when doing snare flams heh. I think im getting into a bad habit with it... but it seems to get so much more power for some reason?

[george kurtz]

i used to get cramps playing metal until i went down in stick size never had a problem with it since, oh yeah 5b's woodtip

[slingerland]

Phil Gaynor The first thing I would do is what Tainojim suggests then I would find a Drum teacher and see if your holding the sticks wrong somehow, if that don't work you may have Carpal tunnel in your hand, that's not a big deal I had that 2 years ago and now they do surgery with a scope it's called Arthroscopic, healing time is very fast my wife had both hands done 1 week apart, you can see the procedure on youtube.com that's if it is Carpal Tunnel, in the mean time you can get gloves that are made for people that have problems with their hands type in Triplet Drum Glove their worth the money I bougt a pair when I feel like not using my hands very much as crazy as that sounds.Send me an e-mail and let me know what you think PS THERE'S A VIDEO YOU CAN WATCH BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING.
OH AND BY THE WAY MY WIFE IS IRISH GOOD LUCK SLINGERLAND

[Bevo]

A glove is a good idea. I always use one on my left hand to lessen any rim shot sting and it really helps. Still have the infamous "sixth finger" but without the pain during rimshots. Hope you remedy the situation and without any surgical proceedures becoming necessary. Good health to you.

[Phil Gaynor]

Originally Posted by slingerland

Phil Gaynor The first thing I would do is what Tainojim suggests then I would find a Drum teacher and see if your holding the sticks wrong somehow, if that don't work you may have Carpal tunnel in your hand, that's not a big deal I had that 2 years ago and now they do surgery with a scope it's called Arthroscopic, healing time is very fast my wife had both hands done 1 week apart, you can see the procedure on youtube.com that's if it is Carpal Tunnel, in the mean time you can get gloves that are made for people that have problems with their hands type in Triplet Drum Glove their worth the money I bougt a pair when I feel like not using my hands very much as crazy as that sounds.Send me an e-mail and let me know what you think PS THERE'S A VIDEO YOU CAN WATCH BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING.
OH AND BY THE WAY MY WIFE IS IRISH GOOD LUCK SLINGERLAND

Cheers Man much appreciated the very detailed effort you've gone to help - must be the Irish influence - yeah I was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnell last year - not only have I been playing kit forever but percussion too and of course never really did any warm up's typical Irish man just dive straight in -in particular with Irish music when a session could last more than 10hrs playing in a row - I got some steroid injections on my writsts after waiting over ayear to see a specialist - even trying to go private made no difference and it has'nt worked - so I'm gonna check out an op think I need it - waking up a couple of nights a week with bad pains and pins and needels in my hands - not fun - plus when I practise rudhements I'm in bits for days afterwards - just have to get it sorted my playing stamina is at about 75% as a result - I'll def check out the gloves sounds like a great quick fix - Cheers man you guys have been great / Phil.

[Phil Gaynor]

Originally Posted by Meddy

Mmm I get it as well sometimes. Only after drumming for a long time though. But I find myself holding the stick between my middle and index finger as well sometimes... specially when doing snare flams heh. I think im getting into a bad habit with it... but it seems to get so much more power for some reason?

Man take my advise stop now in the long run it will really effect your technique -you won't get that groove or swing on your right hand - take a few lessons and solve the problem much better in the long term take it from me!! / thanks for the reply / Phil.

[Phil Gaynor]

Originally Posted by george kurtz

i used to get cramps playing metal until i went down in stick size never had a problem with it since, oh yeah 5b's woodtip

Cheers tried that too - I was playing with a 5B all my life now moved to a Vik Firth 7A - round tops - lovely for bounce and ride work - and slightlylonger than a 5A - really nice balance but can't believe I just can't use a 5B anymore messes with my speed and stamina - old age I guess even if I am only 37 - years of bashing the skins to hard played metalin the past days as a kid used to break at least a pair of sticks a jam - now well musch more chilled / Cheers man / Phil.