Fellow Musician who beat CTS here to help!

In Reply to: Someone please help me. posted by A Discouraged Guitarist on March 24, 2004 at 00:34:27:

Ray,

Hi, I am 27 year old guitarist/graduate student and I know deeply about the pain that the repetive stress of music can bring someone. I had CTS for 1.5 years and now live pain free. I am not sure about those cysts, you really need a doctor to check them out. They could be cause by your taut muscles pulling on your bone or they could be muscles spasms/triggerpoints in your muscles. A experienced doctor or licensced massage therapist who specializes in trigger point therapy would know.

Anyway, there are two resources you need to get to educate yourself about your muscles and repetive strain AND how to treat and prevent that pain.

1. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Clair Davies. - This is a book written by a former piano technician, the top in his field, now a licensed massage therapist who has studied how trigger points in muscles compress nerves. (His website is: http://www.triggerpointbook.com/ ) You can go over to his site and read up on how his book works. It is based on medical fact (derived from two textbooks that you can order on Amazon) and can help not only your arms and helps, but your legs as well. Buy this book ASAP!!

2. The second resource is the Julstro Technique at www.aboutcts.com . The theory behind this program is quite similar to the Trigger Point there. It costs a little more, but you get two videos which details all the points from your neck to your hands that you need to work, an awesome massage tool to really be able to work the muscles in your arms without straining your already strained hands, a detailed workbook and muscles chart. You also get to download their e-book The Pain Free Triathelete which will show you how to treat the muscles in your legs so your feet won't go numb again.

Ray, I hope this helps for your repetive strain pain. Again, you need to see someone who specializes with muscles about those cysts.

Please email me if you have more questions or want to hear more of my story. Remember, the power to heal yourself is in your hands.

Musically yours,
Jim