Shoulder pain, "brachial neuritis"

billder99 · #1 07-16-2018, 02:07 AM

I have seen numerous posts in the past regarding shoulder pain by guitar players. Has anyone been diagnosed with brachial neuritis? If so, what have you done about it?

This is my left shoulder (supporting fretting arm/hand). It is so painful I cannot play in my normal classical position (guitar waist on elevated left leg)... I am able to play in "cowboy position" with the waist of the guitar on my right leg, but this is requiring a complete rework of my playing technique.... really slows me down, frustrating.

Brachial Neuritis is a sudden onset inflammation of one of the 5 major brachial (arm) nerve bundles... not preceded by any trauma. I am hunting for a specialist now who can do "nerve conduction studies" to isolate which nerve bundle is the culprit of the pain, and hopefully give me a formula to recuperate without surgery.

HeyMikey · #2 07-16-2018, 06:47 AM

Subscribed. Watching with interest. I have shoulder pain playing larger models. No diagnosis other than arthritis, which is probably a generic diagnosis for anyone of a certain age.

gfspencer · #3 07-16-2018, 06:52 AM

I'm so old that I have pain everywhere . . . especially in my left shoulder. I would be interested in hearing more about what you have.

Toby Walker · #4 07-16-2018, 07:01 AM

I've been diagnosed with minor arthritis in the front part of my left shoulder, which was explained to me as inflammation. The treatment I am currently undergoing has been visits to a physical therapist, specific exercises that target the area and strengthen the surrounding muscles, being made aware of proper posture, a diet and meds which are geared towards reducing the inflammation, and a take-home TENS unit, which provides electrical stimulation to the area.

In the same facility, I also see an acupuncturist.

All of the above have proven very effective.

rmyAddison · #5 07-16-2018, 07:16 AM

I have arthritis, I'm 68, lost the battle to dreads a decade ago (shoulder and elbow pain), only play OM/000/00's, but I am a daily player.

I have one hard fast rule, if anything starts to hurt I stop then and there, wrist and finger pain more than shoulder or elbow these days, but I do not push the pain, I shut down to not further strain/damage.

I take hot as I can stand Epson salts baths along with my daily meds, and had physical therapy twice in the last few years, stretching everything (light yoga) helps.

See the best specialists you can, and life doesn't end for a player when dreads/jumbos "hurt", switching to smaller body instruments and managing playing time worked for me as well as anything. Best of luck..........

JonWint · #6 07-16-2018, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billder99

I am hunting for a specialist now who can do "nerve conduction studies" to isolate which nerve bundle is the culprit of the pain, and hopefully give me a formula to recuperate without surgery.

I went to a physiatrist (a real MD) to cure my sciatica problem after epidural injections were ineffective. He measured the nerve impulse travel speed, evaluated muscle/bone mechanics, and eventually found the cause of nerve compression which was a long-term spasmed muscle. Focused stretching cured the problem. Neurosurgeon was no help.