Playing the fiddle/violin with a PM

Hi

Just wondering if there are any experiences of others who play the violin. Most shoulder rests sit comfortably on top of the shoulder blade but are are fairly firm hard object and could damage PM or leads.

I am four months into implant of PM. Today I tried a pair of old woolen socks on the shoulder and left the rest off of the fiddle. It seemed to be ok with little pressure on the implant.

There are blow up and foam rests available also. Surely there are others out there who have had experiences with this problem. I'd be interested to hear from you.

16 Comments

Pacemaker damage?

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-03 01:01:46

If you put enough pressure on the pacemaker to damage it you would certainly be notified by the pain. Once settled in they can take a lot. I tripped and fell while taking photos in the desert with my large digital SLR camera. I landed with the camera between the pacemaker site and the ground. Aside from a slightly sore pacemaker site nothing bad happened.

Just use normal sense about it and you should be just fine.

frank

Oops ... mistake in original post.

by bigyabby - 2010-01-03 02:01:36

bigyabby said:

"I am four months into implant of PM..."

Sorry everyone I meant 4 weeks.

Apologies

playing the violin

by thomast - 2010-01-03 03:01:41

I am reminded of the guy that broke his fingers, he asked the surgeon that was repairing them if he would be able to tlay the piano after they healed. The surgeon said no problem. The guy said great, as he could not play the piano before. Sorry ,I just could not resist.

Thomas

OK

by pete - 2010-01-03 05:01:11

As someone who used to play the violin I do not think you have much to worry about if you rest the violin in the modern position. Some old fashioned violinists used to hold the instrument low in a position that would not be ok for pacemakers. I assume you dont do that. Cheers Peter

Good one

by ElectricFrank - 2010-01-03 11:01:42

LOL

frank

thanks anglelie

by bigyabby - 2010-01-04 01:01:01

Thanks for that. You didn't say whether you do or don't use a shoulder rest though.

Sorry

by bigyabby - 2010-01-04 01:01:12

Yes you did i'm sorry.

Still looking for others experiences.

by bigyabby - 2010-01-04 02:01:13

Thanks for the humourous replies folks I also love a laugh.

But for me it really is a serious question and I was wondering if there are any others in the same position as myself.

I have searched on the net but not found any hits on the subject.

When I had the PM implant the surgeon says that it could be implanted either side without too many complications, but I really didnt want to do be experimental and have enough worries with cardiac problems I do have so I stuck with convention.

Thanks again.

Hello there

by Angelie - 2010-01-04 11:01:39

I guess I'm the answer you've been searching for. I play the violin. After implant, my doctor wrote on my restriction list "No playing violin for 6 weeks."

I don't know if this helps you out or not? What does your doctor say about your violin when you ask him? I haven't played with a rest since my implant.

My implant is fairly high- higher than most. It rests just one inch under my collar bone, and is right next to my shoulder socket. One day I might have it moved, but playing the fiddle doesn't seem to bother me at all. If anything, the guitar bothers me more at times when I feel the string vibrations in my chest, but it's transient and not bothersome enough not to keep playing.

The softer rests would probably be more gentle on pacer wires and hardware than the hard ones. Give it a while though, and wait for your incision to heal completely and for your pacer to settle into it's pocket. After you've healed completely, look and see where your violin rests on your chest. If the hard rest doesn't come close to your incision or pacemaker, and isn't uncomfortable to you that I would say it's safe to keep using your hard rest. If it hurts than use a soft one.

Check with your doctor, allow yourself time to heal, and make whatever adjustments you need to that will allow you to play comfortably.

Stop fiddlin' around and get busy- (just kidding)

Angelie

Hey

by sally1014 - 2010-01-08 09:01:31

I've been playing the violin for about 5 years, since I was 10, and I had my pacemaker fitted two months ago. I've been so worried about playing as I'm in a string quartet and would hate to let everyone else down.

Playing for me is still quite painful - I'm not sure whether this is due to the position I have my violin in, but the shoulder rest seems to dig in a fair amount. I still play but concerts are difficult as the violin has to be held in position for a long time.

My playing standard hasn't been affected at all, I just find it uncomfortable. I'm hoping it will get easier as my body becomes accustomed to the pm.

Let me know how you get on and if you have any trouble when you continue playing.

Sally
x

Hey

by sally1014 - 2010-01-08 09:01:31

I've been playing the violin for about 5 years, since I was 10, and I had my pacemaker fitted two months ago. I've been so worried about playing as I'm in a string quartet and would hate to let everyone else down.

Playing for me is still quite painful - I'm not sure whether this is due to the position I have my violin in, but the shoulder rest seems to dig in a fair amount. I still play but concerts are difficult as the violin has to be held in position for a long time.

My playing standard hasn't been affected at all, I just find it uncomfortable. I'm hoping it will get easier as my body becomes accustomed to the pm.

Let me know how you get on and if you have any trouble when you continue playing.

Sally
x

Hey

by sally1014 - 2010-01-08 09:01:41

I've been playing the violin for about 5 years, since I was 10, and I had my pacemaker fitted two months ago. I've been so worried about playing as I'm in a string quartet and would hate to let everyone else down.

Playing for me is still quite painful - I'm not sure whether this is due to the position I have my violin in, but the shoulder rest seems to dig in a fair amount. I still play but concerts are difficult as the violin has to be held in position for a long time.

My playing standard hasn't been affected at all, I just find it uncomfortable. I'm hoping it will get easier as my body becomes accustomed to the pm.

Let me know how you get on and if you have any trouble when you continue playing.

Sally
x

hi sally

by bigyabby - 2010-01-09 12:01:20

thanks sally i have been hospitalised for a few days with my heart failure symptoms but back on deck now. I am coming off a two month break from playing after heart attack. Mainly a confidence thing and after PM fitted four weeks ago I am just now feeling like getting going again. Im mainly a social fiddler and dont have the same pressures of performance. expectations of doing it right and letting others down is real also. Hope you overcome that.

as i said earlier i found the pair of soft woolen socks sitting on the shoulder seems to work for me but still not able to let myself go with it yet. Have had a couple of goes and feel confidence is increasing.

if you look on the net there is also a plastic cushion like blow up shoulder rest available that may also be useful. otherwise the old way of a small soft velvetty cusion on the shoulder. Good luck.



and also

by bigyabby - 2010-01-09 12:01:45

Also i am not feeling a great deal of pain on the site and the PM i have implanted is a st jude smallish version and after discussing it with the surgeon he said he buried it a bit deeper behind collarbone. I think you will be OK but may take longer.

More violin/fiddle

by bobbifiddler - 2010-04-07 09:04:55

Thank God for you all. And Google for finding you for me.

I really thought I was the only pro fiddler in the world with a pacemaker.

Just got it this past St Pats day.( 3 weeks ago)..collapsed on stage....emergency surgery, so there was no discussion about placement.

Area's still a little sore ( just an inch or so below the left collarbone)...and I'm not allowed to play yet.

hang in bobbifiddler

by bigyabby - 2010-04-07 10:04:33

pacemaker wise i am going along ok. i have got used to using the standard johnson shoulder rest again but have also got a playonair blow up shoulder rest- just a blow up cushion- and it is great. a little low and maybe will need an extra cushion underneat. i am still working and modifying to get it right. hang in there bobbi and good luck. keep in touch maybe. regards

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