Tendonitis

Switch to your right hand?

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

I remember seeing some Jazz guy on TV do this neat trick where before he'll even pick up the guitar he'll soak his hands and wrists in hot water for a few minutes.  The warm water he says softens his hands, loosens up the joints, and prevents any pain or swelling.  And to boot the guy was a monster on the guitar.  He used a ton of taps and sweeps for a jazz guy.  Also try just playing what I call garbage scales that are just random notes but are fairly spaced apart box paterns from the low E all the way down eventually to the high E and back.  Depending on how large your hands are and reach, but I try and spread like 5-6 frets between my first fretting finger and pinky.  It is very important to warm up before attacking that guitar with wide bends and fast runs.  Good luck, hope this helps!

I once had this in my left elbow.
It was a pain to play guitar and I had to refuse on playing for weeks to cure it.
You really should make a break of playing (I know how hard it is ) but to avoid
that its becoming chronic take your time to cure it.

Alex

You can get an Ibuprofen gel here in the UK and I'm pretty sure you can get it in the US and Europe.

Does the trick for my dodgy knee after i've played 80+ mins of rugby!

It's a topical gel, so it's absorbed through the skin and into the underlying tissues....therefore reducing pain and swelling to the local area. I prefer applying the gel direct to the area instead of taking oral Ibuprofen, works quicker and reduces the risk of peptic ulcers...which aren't very nice

Have a chat with your doc or pharmacist...you can buy it over the counter or in the supermarkets in the UK, AND get stronger preparations on prescription. Not sure what the score is in the US, but your phamacist should know.

Always read the label/leaflet before taking any new meds!

Hope this helps

Becky...your resident Nurse

A visit to a physiotherapist might be the answer if it keeps recurring. I've had tendonitis in both shoulders at one time or another and both needed physio. It's like having toothache in the affected area, it just niggles away at you all the time. On one occasion, the problem was so severe that my fingers were tingling. That affected my playing as I couldn't move them properly. That needed a cortisone injection to ease it. With the exercises the physios give you, you'll at least know how to cure it, or ease it, should it happen again.

There's also a condition called carpal tunnel that affects your wrists and fingers, so it might actually be worth a visit to the doc  to find out what's causing the problem if it persists.

Thanks for the advice everyone   Shall be putting it to practice
the warm up's very good idea becaue i just tend to pick up and play

Take care all

Stevie Boy