Lip Spasms

[LJLovegren]

At rehearsal last night, I played bass trombone for about an hour. My embouchure felt fine.

Today, I have minor spasms across the center inch of my lower lip. Spasms are 10 to 30 seconds apart for a few minutes, then stop for an hour or so.

I've never had this before and have never heard about it from others.

I'm sure that daily practice will be the best treatment.

Do any of our medical experts have any insight into this condition?

[Doug Elliott]

Might be nothing to be concerned about. Do you play bass trombone regularly, or just an occasional double? If it's not your regular thing you probably just overdid it.

Daily practice would be the preventative measure, not the treatment right now. Rest.

[MaryAnn]

If it gets WORSE with practice I'd suggest you go to the Musicians with focal dystonia page on facebook and start asking questions.

[Pat S]

actually, rest might be a better answer than more playing!

[LJLovegren]

The lip spasms lasted about 24 hours

I had basically stopped playing brass from 1968 to 2013 when I started playing bass trombone in a community band.

I've always hated practicing but I think my embouchure and musicianship will benefit if I play for a few minutes every day.

[Doug Elliott]

In case you don't read the Trombone Forum, look at some of my posts there. I'm not that far from you if you need help getting on the right track so you don't injure yourself again. "A few minutes every day" might be enough if you do the right stuff. But a single long hard rehearsal without enough preparation can tear anybody up.

[Greg Lecewicz]

You are extremely dehydrated. Drink water, bottle after bottle. Vitamin B ( not Bb) complex and 2 bananas every day should do the trick. If you put yourself in 2 hour a day practice regimen plus the hydration program you will never experience the symptoms unless it's a dystonia or a muscle tear due to trying to play too loud.

[DrDave]

Focal dystonia usually occurs only when you are playing the horn and not at rest. It sounds more like you are having muscle fasciculations, or transient twitching or flickering contractions of the muscles that last a short time. Is that the case?

[LJLovegren]

Focal dystonia usually occurs only when you are playing the horn and not at rest. It sounds more like you are having muscle fasciculations, or transient twitching or flickering contractions of the muscles that last a short time. Is that the case?

Thanks for the proper terminology, Dave.

Since I posted the question, I've had it for a few seconds at a time during rehearsals after I stop playing.
It has not happened at all following rehearsal.