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DJEMBE-L FAQ
Hand Care
v13a

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Dear list members,

Not finding any entry on this on the FAQ pages yet, and not finding anything about this (as opposed to dark-urine info) in the archive , I am wondering if anyone can tell me whether long-time hand-drummers, specially djembe drummers, suffer any long-term damage to hands, e.g. arthritis in the finger joints? Has this been studied and if not, is there anecdotal information? If there is any such long-term damage, is there any way of avoiding or minimizing it?

Thanks for any info anyone can provide,

Cheers,

Denis dj.robinson@auckland.ac.nz

Denis,

I am no medical researcher, but I have a Guinean drum teacher friend who has hand pain in the Winter up here in the Northeast US. I think each individual has his or her own suscepibilty to arthritis, and other degenerative diseases, whether that person drums or not. I think it is
always best to take good care of yourself, like putting gloves on before going out on a cold Winter day.

Bob Feuer rfeuer@bcn.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Beverly Nadelman ( Motherbeat ) <nadelmb@mailexcite.com>
To: Djembe drumming/hand percussion <djembe-l@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thursday, June 25, 1998 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: (was Hand care: lemon juice ...) Toughening hands and leg care (!)

>Ubaka Hill (Drumsong Institute, CDs "Dance The Spiral Dance" (released in May '98) and "Shapeshifters" makes and sells a preparation which contains comfrey and arnica in a base of a cream made from African shay butter. This is refined from a nut,however. Perhaps the leaves, used fresh, are helpful for the hands. The shay butter preparation is wonderfully soothing, softening, seems to speed healing and feels wonderful. Also, using it on the hands before playing does not clog the pores of the skins or the drum heads as other oils or creams do.
>
>Vitamin C and bioflavanoids taken together greatly improve cell wall integrity. I used to play heavy duty competition volley ball complete with much flying through the air and landing on wood floors. Before taking the above I was always covered with bruises. After upping my doses of these nutrients (taking in combination with a full complement of nutritional support) I rarely bruised although heavy bruising runs in my family and I have many broken blood vessels in my legs as a result of previous bad bruising.
>
>Beverly
>
> having it banging against my leg whilst parading
>>means I develop a beautiful dappled look on my legs that lasts
>>about a week after each performance. I am a very white whitey;
>>and if I perform more often (we played six nights in a row in the
>>Sydney Festival this year) I look like I've been severely mauled.

----Original Message-----
From: Happy <happy@drums.org>
To: Djembe drumming/hand percussion <djembe-l@u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, June 22, 1998 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: hand damage? hand care?

>>>> since the topic of hand damage and care has come up again...i have a question. has anyone else ever experienced "bone spurs" or calcium deposits on their hands? when i started drumming i kept telling people the bones on my knuckles were getting bigger. of course everyone laughed and told me i was getting calluses and just never knew what they were due to the fact that i never engaged much in manual labor. (okay...so they were right about that) however, i was constantly mousturizing my hands and the skin was getting any harder...my bones were. well recently i had the opportunity to be speaking with an othopedic doctor and showed him my hands. he told me
>i have developed bone spurs or calcium deposits on my knuckles from the drumming. he went on to tell me it was the body's way of protecting the bones in my fingers, and i shouldn't do anything about it, unless i was giving up drumming. well, since that is obviously not an option, i will
>live happily ever after with my well earned bone spurs. has anyone else had any experiences with this?
>>
>>without a ring that can fit...-kim
>
>
>Taking Magnesium 500 mg, 1x day, for 30 days, as a supplement works magic
>in eliminating bone spurs and calcium deposits.
>
>Doing hand exercises before drumming, strengthens the tendons, muscles and
>stretches the bones in the wrist and hand. A former gymnast gave me this hand stretch exercise: clasp the hands together, elbows touching, and do figure eights for 2 - 3 minutes before drumming.
>
>And, using pure arnica oil in olive oil base (available at any natural foods
>store), works wonders in eliminating hand and joint pain.
>
>Of course, those of you who know me and Happy Hands, drummers and dancers salve
>that I make, know of its wonderful healing properties, made from Malian shea butter with added healing essential oils.....email me privately for more info
>
>Peace,
>HappyShel
>

-----Original Message-----
From: Jacqueline McGirr <jachi@planet.net.au>
To: Djembe drumming/hand percussion <djembe-l@u.washington.edu>
Date: Thursday, June 25, 1998 6:47 PM
Subject: Re: (was Hand care: lemon juice ...) Toughening hands and leg care (!)

>My percussion teacher, Edson Ribeiro, often asks his students if any of them have heard of a leaf that can be rubbed onto your hands to toughen the skin. (I think he says *toughen*.)
>
>Eddie said he can remember seeing drummers doing this in his travels through Africa, but he can't remember what leaf they used.
>
>Does anyone know?
>
>I suggested comfrey as this can be used externally for healing in the case of sprains and swelling (see note at end). Eddie thought the use was more for preventative purposes. He didn't describe what the leaf looked like, and I haven't remembered to ask.
>
>I missed alot of the recent arnica thread, and I haven't had a chance to read back through my digests yet, so I'm not sure if this was mentioned then. [Excuse me if I repeat anything others have said.]
>
>My experience regarding arnica is good. I recommend it for external application. But my experience goes deeper as well, and lower! I am a fragile thing on my surface level and I bruise very, very easily, so playing surdo [very big drum that is played in Brazilian percussion parade music; carried with a shoulder strap and resting against the body] and having it banging against my leg whilst parading means I develop a beautiful dappled look on my legs that lasts about a week after each performance. I am a very white whitey; and if I perform more often (we played six nights in a row in the Sydney Festival this year) I look like I've been severely mauled.
>
>[An acquaintence saw me walking with a mutual friend last summer. She stopped my friend next time she saw him and asked if I had been bashed. The bruising curtails my beach lounging, let me tell you. Other friends (!?) have played the fools once or twice when we were at the community pool by saying very loudly, "how many times do we have to tell you to leave that guy Jacqui, he's doing
>you no good." Thanks guys.]
>
>A nature-friendly doctor recommended that I take arnica internally. I did. I bought a bottle of arnica in homeopathic pill form and took them diligently. The result was that although I still bruised,
>the bruising was far less severe (ie painful), less colourful and far less long-lasting than prior to taking the arnica. I found that the effect of the pills was more pronounced in the healing than the application of arnica as a cream externally, and the combination of both was great.
>
>I do wear home-made padding when I am performing, but sometimes I forget. Winter is easier, as I am able to wear thicker, therefore more protective, layers. I have yet to find a source of aesthetic padding that covers the areas of concern: both above and below the knee
>on one leg and below the knee on the other; and that could be worn without being covered AND let me maintain a sense of cool and dignity (none of this pink, logo sports-stuff, please.) And, I am yet to making my own. (I've just thought, I might ask my theatre costume designing, Brazilian friend, Carlos. I'll report back to you.)
>
>With regards the bruising I used to get on my hands when I first started playing and I sometimes still get when I don't warm up or I lose my technique momentarily in faster tempos or more
>dynamically loud moments, I have found that my hands have changed dramatically in the way they heal. Any bruising or swelling I inflict on myself now heals overnight, and does
>not resurrect itself if I have to play, perform or learn *hard* again the next day. Going from having bad circulation in my hands from being an ex-smoker (very heavy), to having fantastic
>healing and circulation in my hands is a wonderful gift that my instruments have given my body. Thank you djembe, thank you
>surdo.
>
> I don't expect this will happen to the same degree on my legs.
>Fragile legs run in the family.
>
>[Ha ha, I just reread this last line.]
>
>Now, does anyone know what you can rub on a bruised ego?

>Jacqui
>
>NOTE: Comfrey is a herb that has been said to have toxic effects. So please don't read my note above as a recommendation for comfrey. I suggest that if you are interested in using it: do not use it
>unless you know what you are doing; or unless you buy it in a herbal preparation from a reputed source; or a reputed source tells you how to use it. The books I've read say DON'T EVER take
>comfrey internally.
>

From: R Clark <clark@acceleration.net>
To: Happy Shel <happy@drums.org>
Date: Friday, July 17, 1998 7:03 PM
Subject: Re: hand damage? hand care?
Dear Happy,
I thought that you might like this receipe I worked up for spreading the word and allieviating the suffering hands out there. If you wish you may include it in the FAQ.
Blessed Be
In Time
R
Arnica/ Saint John's Wort Salve

1 ounce Arnica herb
1 ounce Saint John's Wort herb
2+ ounces Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 ounce Bee's Wax (if a paste consistency is desired)

Using a wide mouth jar (a canning jar will work) pack the herbs and cover with oil. Allow to macerate (soak) for several days in a warm place, the longer the maceration, the better the extraction. Keep adding enough oil to maintain coverage and shake jar occasionally to mix contents thoroughly. Bear in mind that too much oil will result in a dilute product, so be
frugal. Strain the resulting mixture through several layers of cheese cloth or one layer of tightly woven linen (the type of cloth used for dinner napkins) and twist to separate every precious drop of oil. If you wish to have a paste place the bee's wax in a double boiler and melt thoroughly.
Allow to cool until it just begins to cloud again add and very quickly mix the strained oil. Time is of the essence here as the wax will harden rapidly after adding the oil.
Note: In my product there are a number of essential oils in small amounts selected for additional pain and aromatherapeutic value. However, they are not absolutely necessary to a good product and the cost of them individually would be prohibitive unless you were making gallons of salve.

-----Original Message-----
From: R Clark <clark@acceleration.net>
To: Djembe drumming/hand percussion <djembe-l@u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 1998 11:19 PM
Subject: Hand Care

>Hail ALL,
>I found this new (to me any way) product that is IMO really kule. It is called "New Skin; Antiseptic Liquid Bandage" manufactured for Medtech, Jackson, WY 83001 USA; 1.800.443.4908.
>When you have a minor boo-boo/ owy on your hands (or elsewhere) you paint this stuff on the hurt. The jar says 'may sting' in my experience it would be more accurate to say 'WILL STING.' However, it has oil of cloves in it so after a couple of minutes this numbs out and soothes the hurt. The great thing about it from a drumming stand point is that it stays on without tape that may or may not stay on during a drum session. I recently had a cut on the back of one of my fingers and I loved the results. No messy sticky tape between me and my drum!
>
>Thanks and Praises, JAH
>Blessed Be
>In Time
>R
>
>
>R Clark@acceleration.net
>Gainesville, FL USA

-----Original Message-----
From: R Clark <clark@acceleration.net>
To: Djembe drumming/hand percussion <djembe-l@u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 1998 4:08 AM
Subject: Osteoarthritis and Drumming

>Hail ALL,
>Since Johannes does not seem to be posting URL's today, here are ones I found interesting (well hey I'm PreMed, Naturopathy or TCM and I tested a new Medical Search engine out on this). These articles are a little technical, some big words and not too bad.
>
>Osteoarthritis Journal
><http://www.hbuk.co.uk/wbs/joc/>
>
>Osteoarthritis and Sports
>It seems that "reasonable activity" should not increase occurance, that is, if you drum "reasonably" IMHO it will not. This page seems to bear this out and as of yet I am unqualified to supercede the care of a licensed physician. Do what you will with the information. I will encourage ones again to drum in such a way that it is not painful. As I recall Baba Olatunji to say "Take care of your instruments," while holding up and showing off his hands in his video "African Drumming." Please be gentle with yourselves, dears. ><http://www.hbuk.co.uk/hb/journals/oc/oc97/oc005.002/oc960045.art/0045h.htm>
>
>
>Rheumatoid Arthritis
>Not apparently linked to trauma and is kind of interesting to _me,_ any way.
><http://www.duq.edu/PT/RA/BackgroundOfTheDisease.html>
>
>BTW, I am soon on the trod to Pittsburgh where my honey lives. My virtual loved ones, please take note that I am maintaining active status and will sort through All the posts with my customary carefullness when I return in a week or two. Posts to my InBox always receive priority status, of course, so if there is something you post to the list that you need me to see posthaste then Cc: it to my InBox, if you will, or I will get to it sequentially in the fullness of time.
>
>Thanks and Praises, JAH for the World
>For my brothers, sisters, and companions sake,
>I NOW say Peace be with in the I halls
>And Prosperity with in the I palaces,
>Blessed BE
>IN Time
>Selah
>R
>
>R Clark@acceleration.net
>Gainesville, FL USA

Hail John, Dan, Happy and ALL,

HAPPY could you place the following on the FAQ? That way we can refer folks
to it and avoid the impact to the bandwidth as this seems to be a recurring
thread.

John Barron writes:

>I started to get an unbearable pain in my
>right hand, it was like a bone was broken inside my hand, the pain
>was unbearable....

Dan in Halifax writes:

>From what you described, a doctor might be a good idea and then maybe
> have some one more experienced evaluate your drumming technique.

John,
Given the severity of the pain you speak of, I agree that you need to be
seen by a physician, and get some x-rays to possibly scope out the nature
of the difficulty. That said, my considered opinion is that (given the
description which is a bit vague for diagnostics) it MAY be tendinitis of
some sort. If this is so it will respond to icing (freeze a plastic cup of
water and use the "popsicle" formed) and massage and stretching. I have
this condition in my ankle and was told recently by an orthopedist that
short of surgery there is not a lot of options otherwise (and this is
actually a lot of expense and pain that might not solve the difficulty).
OTOH (apologies for the gallows humor pun) it is possible that it might be
carpal tunnel syndrome (common amongst computer users due to repetitive
movements) that might be alleviated by a change in habits and ergonomic
aids like like gel pads in front of keyboard and mouse, etc. This is
indicated by pain across the hand just past the wrist where the ligaments
pass over the nerve to the thumb and first two fingers that would become
numbed by the pressure on the nerve. Since you do not describe any numbness
this is getting a bit far afield, still, I am trying to cover all the
bases.
Speaking of bases, have you touched the FAQ? The section on hand care (link
below) has my recipe for a salve that will help to make you more
comfortable.

Also you may benefit from this reprint of a previous post of mine to
Michael Smith. In any case I wish you well.

----------
> From: R Clark <clark@acceleration.net>
> To: Djembe drumming/hand percussion <djembe-l@u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Physical Maladies
> Date: Thursday, October 08, 1998 1:46 PM
>
> Hail Michael,
>
> I empathize with your pain and impediments to your pursuit of happiness
> with the drum. I am sending you a treatment (Reiki) as I write. I will
> tender some advice and please take note that this is only my best guess
and
> the caveat is that I am as of yet not credentialed formally, your mileage
> may vary. This advice is the product of much study, however, and carries
> the weight of my experience. Also Pleas take note that all statements I
> make below are to be taken with "as _you_ will"; "when _you_ are ready";
> "if _you_ so desire" and like qualifiers firmly in mind as I have no
> interest in taking your "power". The guidance I offer is in the form of
> assistance only, fellow humans can _treat_ illness and the "healing",
> IMO, is ultimately between you and JAH or what ever you conceive
> JAH to be. This advice is not meant to replace or circumvent the advice
> and or treatment of a duly licensed doctor of medicine and is offered in
> the spirit of education only, O.K.?
>
> You write:
>
> > I am once again appealing to the wisdom of the list for solutions to
> > some problems I am experiencing physically. I have had a "muscle
spasm"
> > or tension knot in my back for about four months now. It is situated
in
> > the upper back between the spine and shoulder blade. I went to my
> > chiropractor in June, and he acknowledged the existence of this
> > "thing." Anyway, he asked was I doing some activity that consisted of
> > repetitive motion for my right arm. Well now, the ONLY activity that I
> > was doing AND have continued to do repetitively is playing djembe.
>
> Did he find any subluxation that might be causing this?
>
> > That brings me to my request for help. Am I doing something wrong with
> > my technique that is causing me to develop this condition? The muscle
> > spasm is pinching on the nerves and causing me to also have some
> > "sensations" around the right elbow and underside of my forearm. I had
> > a right wrist operation in 1991 and I oftentimes get pain there also.
I
> > do not have a teacher who can observe my technique or comment on what I
> > am doing with my playing that could be causing this. I know none of
you
> > can observe me either, but I wondered if any have seen this before.
>
> Yes, I agree that we cannot observe you. However _you_ can, in these
sorts
> of things the focus is to avoid re-injury. There is something in your
life
> that you are doing that is injuring this area repeatedly or it would not
be
> an ongoing difficulty. I encourage you to be aware as much as possible of
> ALL your daily movements that may be stressing these areas. How you walk,
> hold yourself (IE posture), how you sit, how you lie down, how you lift
> heavy objects, in short all the varied ways that you move through your
> routine and occasional activities.
>
> > Second problem - pain in my hands. One place that is very significant
> > is the crease at the first digit of my left middle finger - I always
> > feel it when playing slaps. Another place is the fleshy area of my
> > right hand that starts at the wrist and extends up to my pinky. It
> > feels like the muscles are tight and it hurts when I play. This may be
> > a result of my right wrist condition. Please, anyone who knows what I
> > can do to ease the pain HELP!!! Any and ALL comments are invited. I
> > feel it is my technique in arm swing and handing and finger control. I
> > am open to any suggestions for healing also.
>
> On the F.A.Q. <http://www.drums.org/djembefaq/v13a.htm> you may find my
> recipe for Arnica salve. Nearly as good is a product that may be found at
> your local GNC (USA) or health food store is a product called Arnica gel
(a bit
> more pleasant as it is non-greasy), the brand I am familiar with is
> "Roberts". These preparations will help with the pain of all your
affected
> parts, caution needs replace the feeling of pain because pain is a signal

> that something is out of balance. I stress the avoidance of re-injury
with
> attention is of utmost importance when medicated. Do you "warm up"
> and do stretches prior to play? I encourage you to do so, work through
> and massage and even lightly strike areas of pain and tension to bring
> blood and drain lymph and promote relaxation to the tense areas.
> If you can find a good work on reflexology or acupressure there will be
> charts of the nodes that will also help to relieve the pain in these
areas.
> Do you practice progressive relaxation and/or meditation as a means of
> reducing mental stress? If not this might be an area for you to
> study, as well. IMO one of the most therapeutic things is the feeling
that
> we are doing something positive in regards to the imbalance. This
something
> can take many, many forms and I feel to be effective it must
> be in alignment with all our various bodies E.G.: emotional,
intellectual,
> physical, karmic, and spiritual bodies so do what you will and what seems
> appropriate, when appropriate, for as long as appropriate and listen
please
> to personal guidance for it is the strongest, wisest, and most intimate
> with your condition for the unique and quite dear person that you are.
> This is Love as I know and feel it.
>
Please feel free to contact me directly. *I wish you well* and this is an
active statement of fact coming from me, as is you are *In my prayers*.

May the Sun not smite the I by day, nor the Moon by night.
May the Lord JAH our JAH keep the I from all harm;
May JAH preserve I'n'I soul.
May the Lord JAH shield the I's going out
and the I's coming in from now on, Even for Ivermore.

Blessed BE
IN Time
R
Thanks and Praises, JAH for the WORLD
R Clark@acceleration.net
Gainesville, FL USA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: Wynnie <poohdrum@yahoo.com>

--- Paul Marshall <paul@powerhaus.freeserve.co.uk>
wrote:

> I have a number of students who wish to do something
> about toughening up
> their hands and wish to know about hand maintenance
> generally.

When I began, I wore weight lifting gloves. These have
a padded palm and half fingers (or less). This allowed
me to learn the Body Memory of the strikes while
working on the tone, yet without the bruising. I soon
learned I would rather hit the drum correctly than
hard ;)...

When there is bruising, even now ;), the best we have
found to use is Zeng Gu Shui. It is a liniment with
camphor, menthol, in an herbed cinnamon base. It will
pull the bruising out completely in a day , or two. My
husband is a professional hand drummer and swears by
it. Asian food stores et al are where we find it.

>
> Also every teacher has a nugget of wisdom for their
> students,

Mine are:
1) Silence IS a note.
2) ONE is ONE, not 1.1 or 1.5... (referring to
starting together and ending together).

Wynnie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonnie <b.l.t@mindspring.com> wrote April 21, 2000
I seem to have developed two blood clots, one each on
two of my middle knuckles.

"Charles Terry" <terry@harborhomes.org> responds:

Is it a blood clot or a blood blister?

A blood blister is simply blood and fluid that has become trapped in a pocket
under the top layers of skin. It is usually caused by a pinching or impact type
injury and appears deep purplish turning to dark brown as the blood dries. This
will eventually harden, and become loose as the layers of skin are replaced from
below.

A blood clot - or thrombus- which forms inside an artery, causes thrombosis
which can partially or completely block the flow of blood. If a clot breakes
free it is an embolism which can travel to a different part of the circulatory
system, and possibly lodge in the vessels of the heart, lungs or brain.

When thrombosis occurs in an artery, the tissues that the artery normally
supplies with blood suffer an infarction - that is they die from lack of blood
borne nutrient. Coronary thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis or pulmonary thrombosis
can be life threatening. Veins as well may be damaged by thrombosis.
Thrombophlebitis occurs when a clot forms near the surface of the skin and
causes swelling and inflammation where the clot develops. Deep vein thrombosis
usually strikes older people with poor blood circulation. Coronary thrombosis,
cerebral thrombosis or pulmonary thrombosis can be life threatening.

I hope this isn't to much info.

Welcome To DJEMBE-L FAQ Hand Care v13a

Welcome To
DJEMBE-L FAQ
Hand Care
v13a