Medical Aspects and Risks of Playing the Trumpet
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Re: Medical Aspects and Risks of Playing the Trumpet
I'm 58, playing triple C's E's, anyway in April I looked in the mirror and I had busted an eye vessel in my left eye.
Is this common. How long until I can play without pain. When I play I feel the air vibration (sounds weird) going through my eye. Probably not normal, but I have 20 students, presently that I am teaching.I wonder if I am playing wrong to cause this to happen. Any suggestions. besides go to doctor.
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@ljeanmtz The main danger is retinal ablation which can lead to blindness. Apart from busting a blood vessel - which is a dangerous sign in itself! - retinal ablation is a condition where the seeing part of the eye - the retina - loses contact with the eye background, often rupturing inn the process. First warning signs are blurry vision in that eye and swarms of black dots. When the damage is already done, the eyeball usually slowly fills with blood, creating a sensation that your vision is through a red filter - until it goes black. It is a condition that needs immediate surgical help, or the eye will go black permanently.
I had "bloody vision" happen to me during an orchestra holiday in Sicily; I was diagnosed almost immediately in the local hospital and sent to Palermo for treatment - which I politely declined when I saw the nurses chasing a few street cats out of the operating theatre... I was medevacced to Munich and was operated upon within two days; but the damage was already done. Since then, I have only had the use of one eye.
So, don't hesitate to see a specialist NOW! -
I am a physician and see the "red eye" as a common presentation. The fact that you do not describe seeing "floaters" makes it less likely (but does not rule out) a retinal detachment or hemorrhage. The red eye is caused by many benign conditions, so yes it can be common. But it can also be a sign of conditions that need investigation if lingering more than a couple days.
I am concerned regarding sensation you feel with air vibration causing pain. Red eye and pain with pressures suggests glaucoma, and continued playing would not be recommended with glaucoma. This would be my most likely concern. So I would recommend scheduling a visit with an ophthalmologist to get at a minimum, ocular pressures measured, as well as a slit lamp exam.
I am also sharing a video that discusses trumpet playing with eye disease. Hope you find this information useful:
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Trumpet requires such high internal pressures, I'm surprised more people don't have medical issues. Do you think that playing a lower brass instrument could be a valid solution?
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@administrator Watch the video. There are studies that compare different wind instrument effects on ocular pressure.
