How do I keep my right hand from going to sleep?

[felty]

It happens after I play for over 20 mins straight

[jaguar36023]

I've never heard of anything like that. What is your right hand doing most of the time? It seems strange that your hand would fall asleep while it is moving around.

[Drumbledore]

Warm up with your rudiments, even just some simple singles, doubles, flams and triplets on a practice pad, before you play.

[felty]

I have been trying to warm up, maybe some stretching

[Bish]

Whack it with a stick occassionally. J/K

Or maybe you are gripping your sticks too tightly?

[jordison515]

Hmm this is interesting. Does it always happen or does it happen on occasion?

[MartyM]

not to be an alarmists but could be a circulation issue..see a doc?? unless you are sitting on your hand for hours with hand backwards..other wise not sure whats going on. could also be a pinched nerve....so take two asprins send me $25.oo consultant fee and post in the morning..

[marko138]

My right hand used to cramp up really bad. But this was a couple of years ago when I first started playing. I think I was holding the sticks to tightly. Doesn't do it any more.

[chafey]

mine used to do that, it would be numb for hours. im not sure what got rid of it though, i spent alot of time in the gym, and moved my ride around

[gretsch]

This is basically just seconding the rest, if you are gripping to tightly it could cut off a little circulation, so just grip lighter and warm-up. Watch videos on technique, and improve every way you can.

[itchie]

make sure your not playing with the knuckles down

[bongobro]

Welcome aboard, felty!

If you're a noob on the drums, any or all of the suggestions you've read so far will help.

If you're a more experienced drummer, you might have a problem with carpal tunnel syndrome. Any repetitive motion involving fingers, arms, and wrists(drumming, typing, etc.) can irritate the nerve sheath linking the fingers and arms and cause numbness, pain, etc. If this is the case, you might need to check with your physician, because if you let it go too long, it may impair your hands to the point you'll need surgery (my good friend and drum teacher had to undergo surgery to one hand for that very reason).

BTW, felty, take a break every so often during practicing and see if that doesn't help you.

Good luck!

[Tadman]

Like Bongobro indicated, take a break, do some exercises. This sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome. Do you type at the computer a lot, too?

See WebMD description of carpal tunnel syndrome below, to build on what Bongobro said. (Caveat: as the WebMD site says and as you likely know, this is not a replacement for seeing an actual doctor's diagnosis or treatment instructions!)


Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Symptoms

The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain felt in the fingers or, less commonly, in the palm. Symptoms most often occur in the parts of the hand supplied by the median nerve: the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. If your little finger is not affected, this may be a sign that the condition is carpal tunnel syndrome, because the little finger is usually controlled by a different nerve than the thumb and other fingers. See a picture of areas affected in the hand .

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome often occur in both hands, but symptoms are usually worse in one hand than the other. You may first notice symptoms at night. People with carpal tunnel syndrome can usually fall asleep, but pain or numbness may wake them up.

Mild carpal tunnel symptoms primarily affect the hand and sometimes the forearm, but they can radiate up to the shoulder. Symptoms include:

Numbness or pain in your hand, forearm, or wrist that awakens you at night. (Shaking or moving your fingers may ease this numbness and pain.)
Occasional tingling, numbness, "pins-and-needles" sensation, or pain. The feeling is similar to your hand "falling asleep."
Numbness or pain that gets worse while you are using your hand or wrist, especially when gripping an object with your hand or bending (flexing) your wrist.
Occasional aching pain in your forearm between your elbow and wrist.
Stiffness in your fingers when you get up in the morning.
With moderate or severe carpal tunnel symptoms, you may have numbness or reduced strength and grip in your fingers, thumb, or hand. It may be difficult to:

Do simple hand movements, such as brushing your hair or holding a fork. You may accidentally drop objects.
Pinch an object between your thumb and first finger (loss of pinch strength).
Use your thumb while doing simple tasks such as opening a jar or using a screwdriver. With long-lasting carpal tunnel syndrome, the thumb muscles can get smaller and weaker (atrophy).
Not all pain in the wrist or hand is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. There are many other conditions with similar symptoms.

[felty]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am going to try warming up for a little longer before sessions and work on my grip.

[james05]

if i'm striking my hi hats, on the edge at 45 degree angle, for a long period (such as working on a beat repeatedly) my fingers feel a little numb from the vibration. It goes away when i stop or play up on top the hit hat more

[gonefishin]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am going to try warming up for a little longer before sessions and work on my grip.

Welcome to the board bro and try to relax while youre practicing too. Play more with the wrist and less with the elbow and let us know how things progress.

[Northern Redneck]

It happens after I play for over 20 mins straight

Relax your grip.

[MDK]

been having a similar issue except my hand completely seized up.. I had to literally grap my fingers with the other hand and open the fingers up.. scared me big time and it was in the middle of a song at the end of a set. I still feel it coming on sometimes but am doing a few things to hopefully prevent it from happening again like eating a banana and water before playing, trying to hit the top of my hi hat instead of on an angle, loosening grip (although I dont think that is the problem), trying to be more aware of my breathing, and I actually put a wrap of baseball bat grip tape at the bottom of each stick to help absorb vibration..so far so good but I still feel the meaty part of my thumb getting sore at times..especially when just starting to play..even after I have warmed up and stretched..

[redandwhitead]

Relax your grip.

Is correct.

As a rule of thumb, holding the sticks as if you were playing, someone should be able to come along and slide them out of your hand, with little resistance.

You don't grip the stick so much as let it sit in your hands.

[nio]

Drumming is a physically demanding activity. It is important that we manage our energy consumption so that we can play at our best. If you're like me, I get so worked up right before the gig, that the first few songs, I am just wasting all kinds of energy....by the time I get to the last two songs, my arms are ready to fall off and it starts to affect my playing. So, I've been working on pacing myself through-out the entire set. It is difficult, but its just part of the deal. Rock on !

[slinglander]

This used to happen to me a LOT when playing hats, cowbell(Yes, cowbell!) or ride. Warming up didn't help. Gloves didn't help. Tape didn't help. The vibrations set off the numbness-drums did not. As soon as I'd drop my right hand to my side I'd be good to go.
Pinched nerve/pinched blood supply, either way, the better I got, the more I loosened up my grip, improved my sitting position(didn't twist my shoulder so much) and finally, over time, the numbness from playing on the hats or ride went away.
Take the time to re-think your posture and try to keep your elbows and shoulders loose(don't use them to power-smack your metal surfaces!) and eventually, you'll be OK.

[itchie]

Drumming is a physically demanding activity. It is important that we manage our energy consumption so that we can play at our best. If you're like me, I get so worked up right before the gig, that the first few songs, I am just wasting all kinds of energy....by the time I get to the last two songs, my arms are ready to fall off and it starts to affect my playing. So, I've been working on pacing myself through-out the entire set. It is difficult, but its just part of the deal. Rock on !

believe it or not this works .....
eat an hour or two before the gig ......do a bunch of push ups before just before you play

..

[felty]

I have tried everything and I can't stop my hand from going to sleep. : [

[Drumbledore]

Take on board what we've mentioned, but also please do seek a doctor's advice. Sound's like your GP might have to refer you to a hand specialist.

[gonefishin]

Take on board what we've mentioned, but also please do seek a doctor's advice.

I agree, if things arent getting better then it might be time to see a dr for his advice.

You may need to take a break from drums or at least stop using the right hand for now and just play with the left.