Vocalist.org archive


From: john schweinfurth
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: vocal chord strained
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

On Thu, 16 Dec 1999 22:00:40 -0600, VOCALIST wrote:

> Can you please tell me what to do about my vocal chords? I was singing
with
> a cold & sore throat during a play; then got better & tonight practiced
some
> & hit a very high note. All at once I felt something like a lump in my
> throat. What have I done & what can I do to fix this?
> Lu
> lu2000-at-tnco.net

Lu,

We must have more information. Are you hoarse now in speaking/singing
voice? Do you have pain? Couch? Trouble swallowing? Ever happened before?
Did you forget to warm up? Have you been singing alot lately?

The higher the pitch, the farther your vocal cords are stretched out. You
can have a muscle pull, just like a hamstring, but it's more common to
injure the lining of the vocal cord - the mucosa - resulting in a 'bleed'
which is like a bruise on the vocal cord and will not get better until it
drains into the surrounding tissue. It's very important NOT to sing or talk
to prevent scarring.

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





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