To: "VOCALIST" <vocalist>
Subject: Re: Sprained cord???
Date sent: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 11:11:16 PST
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

On Thu, 2 Dec 1999 16:01:09 EST, Mithranda-at-aol.com wrote:

> Did lead & harmony for 2 songs on first day, and 3 on second. Voice was
feeling tired, but I stupidly continued because of money constraints.
During lead voc for 3rd song, I hit a high F (right on my "break", or where
my break used to be) and felt what I can only call a "popping" or "pulling"
sensation in my left cord. Finished the phrase, had a coughing fit, sang a
few
> harmonies very badly, and now wonder what I did. I haven't spoken or sung

> hardly for 3 days now, and everything feels sore & stiff.
>
> I wonder (1) what I did...

Sounds like you 'blew' a varix, which is a swollen or prominent blood vessel
on the edge of your vocal cord which causes a 'hematoma' to form under the
top layer of 'skin' of the lining of the vocal cord. This leads to swelling
which causes stiffness as well as hoarseness and pain. The vocal cords will
not close well because of the swelling and this causes hoarseness and
fatigue.

Another possibility is that you ruptured a polyp or cyst, which would
explain why you had voice problems to begin with. Cysts especially can give
you a reasonably good voice most of the time but easy fatigue and periods of
hoarseness after using your voice alot.

(2) why I keep having throat problems. Do bad
> allergies utterly preclude one from being a successful singer? (I know
antihistamines are bad for voice, so it's a no-win situation.)

Not true. Many singers have bad allergies but they are well managed by good
doctors! :-)

Do I need stronger technical instruction - maybe on my speaking voice?
Yes. Not paying attention to the speaking voice is how many singers get
into problems.

How long should I stay silent?
> Joanna

At least 7-10 days. You should really have someone look down there to see
what's going on.

John M. Schweinfurth, MD
Laryngology and Professional Voice Care
Assistant Professor
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
(615) 322-6180




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