| Author |
Subject |
drcello
Registered User
(5/3/01 1:36:02 pm)
Reply |
learning with disabilities
Anyone out there playing the cello
in spite of disabilities? I am planning an article on how to learn
to play the cello in spite of such problems. Advice and inspiring
stories would be welcome.
Marshall C. St. John
drcello@vei.net
Cello Heaven
|
DoDahlberg
Moderator
(5/3/01 2:54:29 pm)
Reply |
Re:
learning with disabilities
I have psoriatic arthritis which is
currently in remission. How do you want us to answer this - here or
privately?
Dorie
|
drcello
Registered User
(5/4/01 6:10:22 am)
Reply |
Let's
answer here...
Sorry about your arth! If folks
could answer here on the board in general terms, it might prove
helpful to some poor soul passing through.
I have some
disabilities, myself, though I rarely think much about it. When I
was in college I cut through the tendon and nerve to the little
finger on my left hand. It will not lift independently, so that
slows me down.
Then about 5 years ago I fell from a ladder
and crushed my left shoulder. I still have rods and wire in my upper
left arm and shoulder joint. This makes it difficult for me to lift
my left arm over the cello for thumb position, but I do barely make
it.
My left arm generally hurts every day, no matter what,
but of course it hurts all the time when I play the cello. But, I
thank God I still have an arm, and can still actually play fairly
well.
I'm beginning to have pain in my right shoulder too,
and I have a suspicion that it is a problem with the rotator cuff,
or tendonitis, but it still works OK, and doesn't hinder my bowing.
I just ignore the pain.
My understanding is that a lot of
musicians have a variety of disabilities and pains, and just keep on
playing anyway.
Best to you,
Marshall
Marshall C. St. John
drcello@vei.net
Cello Heaven
|
MaryK
Registered
User
(5/4/01 8:27:47 pm)
Reply |
Re:
learning with disabilities
I have repetitive strain syndrome in
both arms, had tendinitis in my left forearm pretty bad for a while.
Took nine years off from playing as a result.
No heartwarming
story here, alas. My suggestions are to listen to your body; get
medical advice promptly (and follow it!); consult w/your teacher re
ways, if any, to modify technique to avoid exacerbating your
problem(s); and don't let cello be your life/identity to the extent
that you feel like your life is over if you have to give up playing
for a while, or forever.
MaryK
|
DoDahlberg
Moderator
(5/4/01 9:37:50 pm)
Reply |
Re:
learning with disabilities
Some people here already know this
so ignore.
In early 1998, I started having tremendous pain in
my hands; couldn't clap them, they were swollen. I started having
all kinds of tests. In the end, I was diagnosed with psoriatic
arthritis - I have the skin condition, 10% of the people with the
skin condition also develop the arthritis. I was put on all the
anti-inflammatory meds but begged the doctor I was seeing to let me
try something else. I was so sick from the medication it was like:
my hands hurt then I took the medicine and I was sick and my hands
still hurt. I went with glusosimine-chondroitin at the time; Dr.
thought I was nuts.
In retropect, and with discussions with
the rhuematologist (sp), it's pretty clear I had other flares
previous years - I just didn't put 2 and 2 together and the flares
were less frequent. Psoriatic arthritis is much like the skin
disorder; it has a mind of it's own, comes and goes when it feels
like it - moves from place to place. A wrist can hurt terribly for 5
weeks or so and I'll wake up one morning and the pain is absolutely
gone like it never hurt. Last summer I had a very hard time with my
hips and my left hand starting with my middle finger and across the
back of the hand - very painful when playing cello so I didn't play
and went through a crisis about whether I should continue. Then, of
course, the pain went away. In December 1999, I had very severe back
pain - that time I went to an acupunturist who was amazing. I've
been taking glucosimine-chondroitin since 1998 but I'm not saying
that this is a cure. I've cut back on it to 1/3 the dosage that's
all the rage. I take one Aleve everyday. When I have a flare I take
one at night also. I've also noticed I need a lot more sleep then I
used to. I start to fall to pieces at around 9 p.m. (This is unusual
for me to be up this late.)
I get a lot of exercise. I do
resistance work to strengthen the muscles around my joints. As a
former runner; I've replaced it with rollerblading. I tried to go
back to running but it's clear that I can't do it any more.
I
am going to try to stay off anti-inflammatory medication for as long
as I can. I almost caved-in last summer. I'm now wondering if I'm
going to have another tough summer. I've noticed I've had the
hardest time when the heat and humidity kicks in here in the
northeast.
I'm going to keep playing the cello. I'm going to
keep doing everything I can or some form of it. I once was a tennis
junkie and although I need a...PARTNER! I'm also a little afraid of
it hurting my right wrist - that's always been the more sensitive
one.
I expect there to be ups and downs with this. This
condition and it's flares are stress related too. I've got myself in
a pretty good place mentally. I tend to be on the high energy end of
the spectrum but I'm much more accepting of my limits and I've
learned there are great benefits in practicing patience. I'm so much
more willing to give myself a break than I used to. Maybe it's my
age but I even though I notice I've lost flexibility, I've had some
serious pain, I always have some sort of stiffness/minor pain...I
feel extremely healthy these days. It's an attitude thing.
Dorie
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