Kemper caused me an injury

cybermgk · January 5, 2017 at 4:08 PM

K. Since I have gotten my Kemper, and switched from my tube amps and pedals, I have found myself playing a lot more often, and for longer times. Getting the great tone at any volume, allows me to play at different times than I used to be able to. The overall feel and tone has me wanting to play more, inspires me. That inspiration, fun as well as a lot less ear fatigue has me playing longer at a sit too.

Well, this last Sunday, I had a marathon 6 hour session of practicing, noodling, creating riffs, etc. Just lost track of time. When I finished I realized how sore my fretting fingertips were. Almost got them to bleed through.

Monday morning though, my strum hand started tingling a little in the thumb, and fingers. As the day progressed, that turned to pain. By Monday Night it felt like I had sprained the wrist or thumb, or broke something. It hurt that bad. Tuesday. even worse.

Saw the Dr, and he determined it was really bad, inflamed tendonitis. Cortisone shot Wednesday, and it's getting much better overnight.

waraba · January 5, 2017 at 4:33 PM

I don't know if it's better to cry or laugh while listening to this story, I don't think the KPA is the cultrip, but your guitar... Killer tone is clearly addictive, but you can eventually get used to it and concentrate on writing instead.

Been there and had to push myself in good habits & rules (I'm 46 and working on a computer keyboard since I'm 11), I now limit myself to an hour per day of playing and one hour mixing & recording.

There is a good thread about hand & wrist problems, check here

paults · January 5, 2017 at 4:35 PM

I'm sorry to hear that - if you also use that hand with your computer mouse, be careful

cybermgk · January 5, 2017 at 5:53 PM

Quote from waraba

I don't know if it's better to cry or laugh while listening to this story, I don't think the KPA is the cultrip, but your guitar... Killer tone is clearly addictive, but you can eventually get used to it and concentrate on writing instead.

Been there and had to push myself in good habits & rules (I'm 46 and working on a computer keyboard since I'm 11), I now limit myself to an hour per day of playing and one hour mixing & recording.

There is a good thread about hand & wrist problems, check here

I probably need to use some rules too. Been in IT my entire adult life, and on a keyboard, and a little less than a decade older.

nightlight · January 5, 2017 at 5:56 PM

Sounds painful. Give your hand some rest for a while and it should be right as rain in a while.

barryjohns2126 · January 6, 2017 at 4:35 AM

You know it sounds ridiculous but I developed a serious case of carpal tunnel within three weeks of owning my Kemper.

I'm not joking, I literally went from playing maybe 30 minutes a day, to five and six hours every night seven nights a week, I was addicted to the tone from the Kemper. My body just wasn't used to it, so I've been having to wear a wrist guard for the last month, I completely had stop playing for over a month, as I got tested for carpal tunnel, and they said if I didn't stop and give it time to heal it would require surgery!

FTUcub · January 6, 2017 at 5:36 AM

KEMPER- Making better guitarists (because we actually like how we sound now) since 2012.

Klappy · January 6, 2017 at 5:50 AM

From a recent Kemper binge:

[Blocked Image: https://s27.postimg.org/srhoksb0z/WP_20161124_01_07_58_Pro_2.jpg]

ColdFrixion · January 6, 2017 at 6:49 AM

Quote from Klappy

From a recent Kemper binge:

Green fingertips. Which one were you playing, the Kemper or the guitar?

MuddySludge · January 6, 2017 at 7:11 AM

If the sounds gonna fit, you just can't quit. I need a timer on mine. Watch your chops man, they're hard to repair.
I'll be playing slide on a lamp post before I'm done.

cybermgk · January 6, 2017 at 4:17 PM

Got a Cortisone shot Wed afternoon. Getting better each day (wearing a brace all day too)

Antipodes · January 6, 2017 at 4:32 PM

Take it easy for a while. Tendon issues have a nasty habit of recurring.

Players get an overuse problem and then rest and recover and feel confident to resume practice and then the problem comes back - this is a pretty common pattern with fretting hand issues.

Klappy · January 6, 2017 at 7:00 PM

Quote from ColdFrixion

Green fingertips. Which one were you playing, the Kemper or the guitar?

Fresh Ernie Ball nickel strings. Not my usual brand. That will be the last time I try those.

Michael_dk · January 6, 2017 at 8:08 PM

Quote from Antipodes

Take it easy for a while. Tendon issues have a nasty habit of recurring.

Players get an overuse problem and then rest and recover and feel confident to resume practice and then the problem comes back - this is a pretty common pattern with fretting hand issues.

Yeah - I think it's necessary to relax for longer than it takes for the pain to disappear.

cybermgk · January 6, 2017 at 9:59 PM

Quote from Antipodes

Take it easy for a while. Tendon issues have a nasty habit of recurring.

Players get an overuse problem and then rest and recover and feel confident to resume practice and then the problem comes back - this is a pretty common pattern with fretting hand issues.

Quote from Michael_dk

Yeah - I think it's necessary to relax for longer than it takes for the pain to disappear.

Pain went away for certain Thursday. I was planning on resting through the weekend. Think that's good enough?

Michael_dk · January 6, 2017 at 10:50 PM

Quote from cybermgk

Pain went away for certain Thursday. I was planning on resting through the weekend. Think that's good enough?

I'm not a doctor, so I couldn't say. If it's exclusively due to the sunday session (and not an effect of playing more during a longer period), maybe if you take it slow and with frequent breaks. Maybe not.
Whatever you do, take frequent breaks, listen to your body - stop and notice how your hand feels. And warm up before you start playing etc. All the boring smart stuff Don't rush into flight of the bumblebee immediately.

whippinpost91850 · January 6, 2017 at 10:53 PM

Quote from Klappy

Fresh Ernie Ball nickel strings. Not my usual brand. That will be the last time I try those.

I've been using Ernie Ball strings for 30+ yrs and I have never had that happen. VERY STRANGE

Klappy · January 6, 2017 at 11:28 PM

Quote from whippinpost91850

I've been using Ernie Ball strings for 30+ yrs and I have never had that happen. VERY STRANGE

Yeah, I've used them before in the past, but never on a marathon session with the strings fresh out of the pack. I seem to remember having the grey fingertips a little bit, but not like this. I thought it was just a general nickel thing, but I had Black Diamond nickels on the same guitar just before these and there was no discoloration.

My acids, their alloys I guess. I did like the tone though, similar to the Black Diamonds.

Torshalla · January 6, 2017 at 11:47 PM

Lol
I thouht it blew up or you got electrocuted!

Hope u get better soon and can play as much as you want without pain!

MuddySludge · January 7, 2017 at 6:02 AM

You played so long You started to show patina ahead of the guitar's hardware. Damn!