Focal Hand Dystonia

[Jim]

Hi

I have been playing bass reguarly for 30 years and have been recently diagnosed with Focal Hand Dystonia. It affects my right hand in that I find my thumb and index finger increasingly difficult to control. They curl inwards towards the palm.

I was wondering if any of you guys / girls had been unfortunate enough to contract this condition?

Cheers

Jim

[Dood]

Hi Jim, I'm really sorry to hear that. Must be dreadful. - I'd heard of the name of the condition before, but didn't know what it was. I'm going to look up to find out a bit more about it now.

[Dood]

Wow, that was quite a read! [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focal_dystonia"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focal_dystonia[/url]

[mrtcat]

Hey Jim I'm sorry to hear that.

The chap who plays bass for pub rock legends "The Hamsters" suffers with this and has made some changes to his playing technique to enable him to continue playing a very busy full time schedule. There's an interview on their site about it.

[url="http://www.thehamsters.co.uk/interviews/dystonia.php"]http://www.thehamsters.co.uk/interviews/dystonia.php[/url]

I gather medical knowledge is limited and you may find his experiences helpful.

[SaxxyBass]

Sorry to hear this - I do know that it is a problem for some woodwind musicians too with their hands and their embouchures. Wasn't there someone on this forum who has it and wears a silk glove? He put up some youtube tutorials but I can't remember who it was.

[essexbasscat]

try visiting the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine at bapam.org.uk

Hope they can help you

T

[gaz66]

Hi Jim, I agree with the previous poster with regard to contacting BAPAM. I have recently been to see 2 doctors there to help with my arm and hand problems and found them to be very good. You will see the top specialists in their field and will get a better insight into your problem and hopefully a solution. I've seen many physio's over the years and never really got to the root of my pain but after seeing the doctors at BAPAM I at least now know why I have a problem and what it is. The service is free and there's more info on the site www.bapam.org.uk.
I can also recommend checking out Katherine Butler at www.londonhandtherapy.co.uk. She works very closely with Prof Rodney Grahame at BAPAM and is a musician herself and a specialist in musicians hand problems.
My injury is the result of over 20 years intense professional gigging and studio work and she has advised changing technique and devised specific exercises which hopefully will help. Unfortunately she is not free but if you are referred from BAPAM you get a slight discount.
I don't think you'll find an overnight solution but the people at BAPAM will really try to help and hopefully keep you playing.

Good luck

Gary

[Mike]

[quote name='SaxxyBass' post='1043941' date='Dec 1 2010, 03:37 PM']Sorry to hear this - I do know that it is a problem for some woodwind musicians too with their hands and their embouchures. Wasn't there someone on this forum who has it and wears a silk glove? He put up some youtube tutorials but I can't remember who it was.[/quote]

Scott Devine - think he's "devinebass" or similar.