The cause of headaches and playing ukulele

Nickie

Nickie

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2010
Messages
11,247
Reaction score
3,718
Location
Tampa Bay, FL
My new chiropractor, determined to get to the bottom of the cause(s) of these terrible, debilitating headaches that go on and on, made a suggestion. I showed her what I was doing when a horrible headache attacked me Wednesday. I was sitting playing the Cocobolo, my head started hurting worse and worse, so I put it down. My head continued to pound all evening at work until about 11PM. I was dizzy and nauseated, and wanted to leave and check into an ER. But calling off at my job can be very detrimental.
She asked me if I could stop playing for one week. After I stopped laughing my butt off, I asked for a 2nd option. She asked me to play strapless (not topless, more laughter ensued).
I did, seated, for about 2 hours last night. It's hard.
There is a stand that some Classical guitarists use when playing. Does anyone know of such a stand for ukuleles?
 
There's a foot rest, but I doubt that would help. Hope you get it sorted out before TBUG
 
Maybe it's just mental pressure. Sometimes I get so involved, I hafta quit for awhile. Are you trying really hard to get ready for your upcoming audition? Are you really digging in?

Try and relax. Stop every 20 minutes or so, do something else and do some deep breathing--drink some water.

Sometimes I get so involved in stuff I can't even go to sleep at night. I'm a worrier too--not good . . . :eek:ld:
 
Check with an orthopedist for bone stenosis in your neck, a narrowing of the canal through which your nerves run, it pinches the nerve. My twin brother had it, showed up when he'd play basketball and his arm would tingle and hurt. He had micro-surgery to shave off the excess bone. It can show itself when you keep your body in a certain position, like playing a uke, the strap putting pressure on that spot, or just having your head turned a certain way. A guitar playing friend had something similar, but he didn't want to do surgery, he ultimately had to give up playing the guitar, too bad because he was really good.
 
Try playing laying down. Not kidding.
I do it all the time... mostly with ukes that don't have a strap.
 
Did the chiro check over your posture? Are you holding tension in your body? Google Jamie Andreas Principles of Correct Practice.

I used to get headaches from the combination of the riding position on my last motorcycle, a standard with a forward position, from the weight of my helmet and the angle of my neck (looking up). I moved to a cruiser and they went away, same helmet but no bend in my neck taking the weight,

And, sorry to hear it! :(
 
Last edited:
I don't know of a stand, but wonder if a uke leash might help? If you look at the options of how to use it, some look like they avoid putting pressure on the neck:
http://www.ukeleash.com/instructions.html

I haven't tried those options, but maybe it's something to look at and see how it might work with your situation.

How about the Alexander Technique?
http://www.alexandertechnique.com/

Would there be any benefit in exploring different chairs? Different ways of holding your neck when playing? Just random thoughts.
 
My first guess was going to be looking at song sheets and suffering from eye strain. How wild that a strap hurts your head, and not your shoulders or back. But, hey, stranger things have happened.
 
So sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but before one " experiments" with all sorts of options or relies on a chiropractors " advice and diagnosis", you should consult a MD to at least ensure that there is no other medical cause for your headaches
 
here's one of the stands people were talking about - under $100, not sure if it will work with a ukulele.

http://mbracestand.com/
 
Here's my two bobs worth but please don't take my word for it. Headaches are simply a symptom of inflammatory disease. When there is an underlying level of inflammation going on then the muscle stress of playing for a while can tip you over the edge but its not really the playing that is the fundamental cause.

Look into inflammation as the cause. Increasing anti inflammatories and reducing the foods/chemicals/stress that causes inflammation is probably your best bet.

Anthony
 
Tunguy said:
So sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but before one " experiments" with all sorts of options or relies on a chiropractors " advice and diagnosis", you should consult a MD to at least ensure that there is no other medical cause for your headaches
Click to expand...
Ditto. I had terrible headaches almost daily for more than a year. Found out my blood pressure was out of control (like 180/120 at rest out of control). My eye dr. actually discovered it when he saw the vessels in my eyes were leaking. Had two different doctors use the phrase "stroke territory" with me. Once I got my BP under control (with meds) I've had very few headaches since. A simple solution to a problem that literally could've killed me.

But Nickie, what you're describing sounds like it MIGHT be migraine. Migraine is not merely a bad headache, it is a distinct neurological condition. You should really consult with your family doctor and maybe ask for a referral to a neurologist.
 
here's one of the stands people were talking about - under $100, not sure if it will work with a ukulele.

http://mbracestand.com/

Thanks!



So sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but before one " experiments" with all sorts of options or relies on a chiropractors " advice and diagnosis", you should consult a MD to at least ensure that there is no other medical cause for your headaches

You should really consult with your family doctor and maybe ask for a referral to a neurologist.

My DO wants to send me to a specialist. I've been to a couple of neurologists before, for another issue. One of them was a real numbnuts.
I knew Cocobolo wood was toxic to work with before I ordered the Cocobolo uke. But the dust is long gone, and it's not the only uke I play. I guess I have to stop sniffing the side port...LOL
Thanks for all the caring replies!
 
Last edited:
This stinks! I get headaches too -- and often they start from tension, either bad posture, something pushing on my shoulders like a heavy purse strap, or clamping down my jaw. It seems like you could experiment a bit with eliminating some of these common triggers. (Any chance you're eating a ton of dark chocolate while playing uke -- 'cause that could do it ;)).
The uke leash could take the pressure off your neck -- as could lying-down-playing. But so could a suuuuper wide strap or even placing the strap differently. I wear my strap & uke really high, at bosom level, and that seems to take some pressure off my neck. Do you use a music stand so you're not looking down at music?

Are there other things that give you the headaches?

I hope you figure it out! Headaches are the pits!
 
Sorry you are getting headaches when playing. Are you looking down at the uke when you play? You should be looking at the music. If so, maybe try playing without looking down so much, and raising the level of the music sheets so you don't have to bend your neck.
You might try putting a pillow on your lap to raise the playing height for your uke.
A Uke Leash® will help stabilize the neck when you play, and if positioned as shown in the manual, it shouldn't touch the neck area. Pay close attention to sitting/ standing with erect posture, and take lots of breaks. It is so easy to fall into a slumping position without even knowing it.
Good Luck!
–Lori
 
I use this support on my classical guitar. http://tenuto.ca They could put smaller suction cups on one for you or make you one. The prices are in Canadian, so the price will be cheaper since you're in the U.S.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

KevinFL
Would this grain cause the uke to be more susceptible to neck twist over time?
Replies
1
Views
196
Kenn2018
Kenn2018
mikelz777
Would this cause anyone else stress?
2 3
Replies
40
Views
2K
mikelz777
mikelz777
B
Why does lowering string action (without buzzing) cause decreased volume?
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
Beau Hannam Ukuleles
Beau Hannam Ukuleles
Eggs_n_Ham
  • Suggestion
Closed Regarding member signatures- limiting or removing all references that would easily dox that person and cause potential harm, financial or otherwise.
Replies
4
Views
267
Eggs_n_Ham
Eggs_n_Ham
M
Forearm sweat can cause irreparable gummy crud
Replies
14
Views
616
Patty
Patty
Top Bottom