So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis?
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Posted by: jamie keesecker ®

10/14/2003, 03:47:51
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I'm curious to know if anyone can prove that ignoring the problem can make it worse. I know for a fact that my condition is not getting any better on it's own. I'm in college, so of course i'm expected to play a lot. I would like to seek professional help and take some time off to recover slowly, but that doesn't really work out too well for me because i need to keep playing in ensembles in order to keep my scholarship. I'm sure i could work something out with my school, but i would need some hard evidence that proves that i really need to take some time off and get my face back in working order.
So is it worth it to keep working extra hard to pay my tuition through school? Or could i really damage things? How would a professional diagnosis help me? and how might a professional be able to help with my problem with school? any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
THank you
jamie k






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Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis?
Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis? -- jamie keesecker Top of Thread Archive
Posted by: violinist ®

10/14/2003, 07:47:18
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Jamie,

You are definitely in a tough position and I can't tell you what is the right choice but I can give you something to think about. When you get out of college and are looking for a job, things are only going to get more complicated. Getting a job will be harder if you are dealing with a dystonia and when you get it you won't want to tell your employers that you need time off to deal with a career threatening condition. You might be best to find out what doctors can do for you now as you are about to start your career. I don't know if catching it early helps from a medical standpoint but if it does, that is one more reason to deal with it now. The other issue is that you are probably still on your parents medical insurance. If you are are planning to be a full time musician it might be a while before you have a job with medical insurance.

I wish you the best.

J







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Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis?
Re: Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis? -- violinist Top of Thread Archive
Posted by: eternaloptimist ®

10/14/2003, 17:49:33
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I'm not sure how much the mainstrem medical establishment will be able to help you once you've been diagnosed .If you do have a focal dystonia diagnosis, they may offer you botox injections (yuck!) or a drug (I forget the name) that supposedly will take down the symptoms for a while. my own feeling is that these are, at best, stopgap measures. I for one have never tried them.

I think it would be better to try to get at the root of the problem. As I stated in my other post, I have had some success with the Taubman technique which is especially aimed at pianists, although I have heard she works with other instrumentalists as well. I have seen her work with a flute player and there was a classical guitarist at the school when i attended. At any rate, there must be the equivalent of a Dorothy Taubman in the string players community.

Also, Alexander technique has helped me somewhat. It gave me a foundation I never had before, a starting point if you will for finding the right kind of physical relationship of my body to the piano.

I am now enrolled in the Feldenkreis training, which I am convinced will further support getting to the bottom of my problem.I wish more musicians would check this out.

There is an interesting article in this month's Scientific American. Although it specifically deals with pianists with focal dystionia it is well worth reading by anyone with this problem

Good Luck.

Oh, and in answer to your quesion, get a professional opinion if it makes you feel better, but my experience was that it was a waste of time and money. I went to the guy Heifitz and Oscar Peterson went to. He had zero to tell me!

There may be medical advances thatI don't know about, so I couldn't say for sure that it might not be worth your while.
good luck,

Brian







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Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis?
Re: Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis? -- eternaloptimist Top of Thread Archive
Posted by: violinist ®

10/14/2003, 21:03:11
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Just remember if it turns out your problem is something other than dystonia, doctors might be able to help you very quickly. Without a professional opinion, you might misdiagnose and mistreat your problem. I found it very helpful to be able to rule out any "structural" problems with muscles or nerves. You need to know what you are battling to be able to know how to fight.

J







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Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis?
Re: Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis? -- violinist Top of Thread Archive
Posted by: violinist ®

10/14/2003, 21:07:24
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p.s. I think you said something about getting your face straightened out. I'm assuming you are a brass or woodwind player and it is a possible embechoure (spelling?) dystonia that you might be dealing with.

I don't know about that but I know in focal dystonias in hands there are all sorts of experimental treatments going on the the traditional medical community that are yielding some positive results.

J







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Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis?
Re: So... How important is it to get a professional diagnosis? -- jamie keesecker Top of Thread Archive
Posted by: Lauren ®

11/01/2003, 09:08:24
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Dear Jamie,

It is always better to get confirmation of what you are dealing with. Actually it is relieving to finally have a concrete answer and not be in bewilderment. I went through a similar situation that you are describing. I was a trumpet player who developed embouchure dystonia at the end of my junior year in high school. Desiring a career in music I picked up the bassoon and learned it rather quickly. I attended Ithaca College as a music performance and music education major on bassoon in Fall 2000. Unfortunately, during my second year of college, I developed embouchure dystonia in my jaw forcing me to quit the bassoon.
I explained my situation to the head of the music ed department and to the assistant dean and also provided medical references. Ithaca College was extremely sympathetic and willing to make accommodations for me so that I could still pursue a music education degree. I am now in my final year and student teaching. I absolutely love teaching, and am no longer saddened by being unable to perform. Having dystonia has guided me onto a path that I probably would not explore so extensively if I was still playing bassoon. Dystonia can be a frustrating and demoralizing battle, but it can also put you on another path full of rewards.

Take care,
Lauren







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