Hi colleagues,

I´m just trying to find some fellow sufferes: does anybody have the same problem as me?
I´m an oboist from Germany and since March 2007 I´m no more able to play my instrument because of a neuropathical ache in my upper lip.
It began after having played to long and under stress. Normally this kind of illness disappears with a combination of medicine for epileptics and and antidepressants. But this does not help in my case.
I also tried several alternative therapies - with no effort...
Is here any oboist with similar symptoms who can help me or shares my pain?

Thank you for your help in advance!

It seems that the correct term is "neuropathic ache"... Sorry.
Nobody knows help?

Don't take this as a firm answer and understand I am NOT a medical doctor. That being said . . . .

STEP ONE
Question 1 - Do you have Diabetes?
Question 2 - Are you older than 60?
Question 3 - Have you taken a course of chemotherapy,radiation therapy etc, prior to this pain?
Question 4 - Alcohol and Drugs. Do you drink more than one drink every other day or use any recreational drugs, or unusual prescribed drugs?

STEP TWO
If the answer to all the above questions is no then find out who the best back/spine/neck surgeon is in your area. Call his or her office and find out who their most assertive and aggresive physical therapist referral is. Then go to your personal doctor and get a referral/prescription for physical therapy. When you see your physical therapist tell him/her what is happening and see if he or she has any ideas.

Many symptoms like what you described are misdiagnosed as a nerve problem or an unknown problem. Often over the years through bad habits and muscle atrophy we create compression on nerve centers or have smaller muscle groups trying to overcompensate for weak larger muscle groups. A good therapist can identify these things. And even if not identified they can give you specific exercises and treatment to recover the failing muscke groups to realign muscles, bones, nerve synapses,etc. When everything is in place, tension is released and pain goes away.

I recommend physical therapy over chiropractic therapy. You might also consider alternative therapies in conjunction with physical therapy, like accupuntuce, accupressure, or color wand therapy (in conjunction with not as a substitute).

If the answer to any of the above are yes, then we need to go another direction.

I can say "no" to the 4 above standing questions.

And I´ve already visited several physical therapists... and done such things like "cranio-sacral osteopathy".
With no helpful results - ...

But thank you anyway for your help!!

Yes, I saw 3 physical therapists and a cardiologist for an issue.
Then a different physical therapist identified my problem over the phone.

Very frustrating. Perhaps trying to work the muscle/nerve issues backwards might help.
Let me check my files. . . .

http://www.dornpub.com/SaxjPDF/BellsPalsyPart2.pdf

Go to this pdf link. This is a very good Sax player who suffered an episode of Bells Palsy. Not exactly what you have going on but perhaps similar in some ways. On page 4 and 5 he has some exercises that have proved sucessful for him and I have used them on a Bells sufferer.

Since the exercises center around the muscles at your embouchre and work backwards it may overcome something there. Give ti a shot. . . . what have you got to lose?

Best wishes,

Thank you for this interesing article!
I´ve heard about this phenomenon before!
In Germany it´s called "Ansatzdystonie", what might be translated as "embouchure dystonia".
At the beginning of my illness a neurologist diagnosted this - but some weeks later a good musician health professional found out that I´m not suffering of it...

Have you tried asking on the IDRS forum? Someone there might know. Here's the address: http://doublereed.org/IDRSBBS/index.php

thank you, this is a good idea!
it´s not easy to find those forums...