Shoulder pain advice?

[Tessa Broyles]

I was painting a drop all day today, (and within the last few weeks I have been doing a lot of bamboo-heavy projects anyways) and my shoulder/arm has started to hurt. It feels like I recently hit my funny bone and tingles all the way to my pinky. Some research told me that my ulnar nerve is unhappy.

My question is: do any of you have advice for how to prevent this? Do you have stretches you recommend? Is this a common problem for scenic artists, or am I holding the bamboo wrong/have the wrong posture?

Thanks!

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[nancykatzer]

I had the same problem a long time ago. After multiple doctor visits and cortisone injections, someone told me to wear a copper bracelet on my arm. I wear a copper bracelet all the time when I paint and never had a problem since. It’s worth a try, although it will take some time for this recent injury to heal. Maybe it was as only psychological, but at least I was pain free. I think it is a common injury when painting with a bamboo for a long time.

[Former Member Content Archive]

I work almost exclusively on backdrops and I sometimes get finger tingles when I’ve been standing a lot and/or my insoles have worn out. My chiropractor says its the lower back being compacted and putting tension on the nerves. I usually try to keep my back stretched and do a few forward folds/toe touches a day. And I replace my insoles.

[Jason Strom]

Do you point your forefinger when you paint with a bamboo? Prolonged pressure can put a lot of stress on your nerves over time, and cause that tingling sensation, even in your ulnar nerve. Try gripping the bamboo with a fist style grip. Takes time to break the habit, but definitely helps take some pain out of your arm.

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[Mary Novodvorsky]

I had the same problem but it didn’t hit me until after I turned 45. I was referred to a physical Therapist because mine was a pinched nerve as well. One of the stretches that you can do anywhere is to try to touch your elbows together behind your back. It pulls your shoulders back, gives them a good stretch and releases that nerve I think. I do it as a break every so often. The other exercises required me to lie down and do some repetitions with a rolled up towel. But I haven’t needed to keep up with them after the initial therapy. The elbow/shoulder stretch kind of does it for me enough. There’s a couple of things that can go wrong with your shoulder. It might be worthwhile to visit a therapist.

[Tessa Broyles]

stromwerks wrote:

Do you point your forefinger when you paint with a bamboo? Prolonged pressure can put a lot of stress on your nerves over time, and cause that tingling sensation, even in your ulnar nerve. Try gripping the bamboo with a fist style grip. Takes time to break the habit, but definitely helps take some pain out of your arm.

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I did recently read that the fist style helps, so I did try that out. I think it helped on that day a bit, but I think my nerve was already well on it’s way to being really agitated. I’ve had a bit of a sore elbow and shoulder for a few weeks, but it hadn’t started tingling till this week.

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