lower back ache

o.k. I have everything tms except back problems. go figure. Anyway, I haven't played guitar in over 15 years. I picked it up and played for 30 minutes yesterday which was a miracle in itself. This morning I awoke with a severe lower back ache. I assume from the position of holding the guitar, bending and twisting motion that I haven't done in years.

will this subside soon? is this tms? or is it because my muscles did something they are not use to?

 

Hi, mncjl. I think the pain came because of some still-held belief that you get pain from playing the guitar. You may have to give yourself a new and higher dose of belief in TMS, that some emotion(s) are causing the pain. It isn't from how you sit or play the guitar. It's psychological, not structural.

I suggest you keep playing the guitar as you always did. Do it for short periods each day. You will work that into longer play. And be sure to enjoy playing the guitar and don't think it will cause pain.

I also recommend you start the Structured Educational Program, free in the subforum of this web site. It helps us to discover the emotions that cause our pain.

 

thanks walt. I wasn't even thinking about the guitar causing pain until I woke up with it. it was the fear of the neuropathy pain in my fingers and being able to physically hold the thing because I am so weak.

I did the SEP program. I don't think I have much more to discover or dig up from the past in the way of emotions. I have pretty much exhausted that area over the past 20 years.

 

Question? Do all guitar players that have back aches from playing (that seems common on the internet) have emotional problems?

 

Here's a thread discussing musicians and tms that may offer some insight:

http://www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/my-story-and-doubts.12921/#post-67933 (My story and doubts)

 

Like you, I have all kinds of TMS manifestations, from back pain, to IBS and even tinnitus.

But guitar tends to be the one thing that works like a drug and takes away the pain. Although one of my back pain triggers is prolonged standing and sometimes a 2 hour practice with the band will cause back pain.

But 2-3 hour gigs don't. I guess the excitement and distraction help!

Jay