sprocketflup Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Im not getting any younger, but just lately I can tell if Ive played my bass the previous day as I get pain in my right (plucking) wrist a couple of inches up from the 'crease' and my fretting hand just hurts all over. Its really started worrying me of late, it started in November and I thought id just overdone it a bit, but it hasnt gone away like i hoped it would. Ive tried varying my strap height but that doesnt seem to have made any difference. Any tips on how to deal with this? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Is your strap too high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 It's strange you mentioned that as I'm experiencing exactly the same thing, and my ailment started around the same time as yourself. Any hints anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggiesnr Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 GP as soon as you can get an appointment, might be nothing but only one way to find out and if it is something messing about with strap heights etc is just wasting time. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_lindsay Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 I've been playing gor over 35 years and this is the first time I've experienced anything like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocketflup Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Similair to KevinLindsay there ^^ I have visited the Gp recently who took some bloods to look for 'inflammatory markers' but that didnt turn up any results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) I remember, after a break where I played no bass for about a year, I started getting cramps in my hands. I put it down to lack of muscle strength due to inactivity. So I bought some hand grip muscle strengtheners and used those for a while. It seemed to help. Then about 10 years later I got carpal tunnel problems in my wrists. Which causes pins and needles, with numbness in the hands after playing bass for any period of time. Lengthening my strap helped, so that I keep my right wrist straight. Eventually I had to have an operation which solved the problem in my left hand. If the problem in my right hand gets any worse I'll have the operation on that one too. Edited January 2, 2014 by gjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 (edited) Hmmm, I've just started to feel pain in my fretting wrist, and this coinsides whith me raising my strap. Timely thread and food for thought. Edited January 2, 2014 by dave_bass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocketflup Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Im thinking that lighter guage strings might help, but as I like to use flatwounds Im not sure how light they go tbh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Strings probably won't make a difference unless your bass is set up really high. Still it won't benefit your plucking hand. Keep your wrists as straight as possible. Pay particular attention to flexing your wrist perpendicular to the joint (tilting your hand as if wiping something) - that leaves little room for your tendons to operate in your wrist and can cause inflammation. Also if you use a computer mouse at work, think about trying an alternative pointing device like a multi-touch pad. If I were you I would avoid playing until you've seen your GP. And be prepared to take a long time off playing to let your wrists recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPBass Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 In all honesty, ive found accupuncture the best treatment for any hand and arm problems. Ive had quite a few over the years and everytime it works. People are sceptical but I can only go from my experience, my GP used me as a guinea pig when he'd been on a course. Well worth a try. Anti inflammatories aint good for ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 all of the above - but warm up your joints as well before playing with exercises, heat pads or just holding them under a hand dryer. Don't take a single blood test as gospel either - you'll need a few over a few months to look for RA - it sometimes doesn't reflect in CRP or ESR results for a while (not that I'm saying that's what it is ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 I have similar issues - gets worse when it's cold and damp - surprised that nobody's advised on Cod Liver tablets/Condroitin/ etc....I noticed that I do need to use these for a long time before seeing any benefit though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubassman Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 (edited) It may be a medical issue or it may be a physical one related to playing posture. If its physical have you thought of going to an Alexander Technique practitioner - a lot of us in the DB world swear by AT and I have to say it works when you consider the high potential for causing stress the body with the Double bass ( they actually teach AT at the Royal Academy as part of the syllabus in all three years of the DB degree). This is a good book too by Randal Kertz written specifically for bassists http://www.drkertz.com/Dr._Randall_Kertz,_D.C./Home.html and also another good resource http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f5/health-related-issues-playing-594399/ Hope you find an answer! Edited January 3, 2014 by ubassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cupples Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Yeah, go to GP, and make sure that they do something like Tinel's or Phalen's tests ([url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ1GE4RiJLw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ1GE4RiJLw[/url]) which seem to be fairly sensitive for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, albeit not terribly specific. I would second ubassman's suggestion of Alexander Technique. I wouldn't be terribly worried about Rheumatoid Arthritis, unless you're getting some sort of morning stiffness (in the hands, the hands....) and joint swelling, but it can be a difficult one to pin down sometimes, as BobVBass says. But it sounds like something to do with your bass playing is giving you pain - this sounds like a technique or warm up issue, or possibly an injury, that may be causing an anatomical problem, rather than a condition of itself that is starting to cause you problems. Rest and avoidance of the thing that hurts is a good place to start, though it's hard advice to take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocketflup Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 Hello, thought Id revisit this thread to give an update. I started on the cod liver oil shortly after posting, and then switched over to Glucosamine Sulphate. I haveno idea if its doing me any good, but I have managed to get rid of the pain by doing some vigorous stretching exercises once a day for a couple of weeks. I mean really going to town on the hands and wrists. Result - pain gone and hasn't been back since. So far anyway. Unfortunately for me I wasn't able to continue with any stretches as I fell off a ladder and have messed up some bones in my hand, got some surgery coming up soon to hopefully fix that. Hasn't stopped me playing tho I hope the other posters in this thread have had some good results in sorting their problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltyG565 Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 [quote name='sprocketflup' timestamp='1388704497' post='2325220'] Im not getting any younger, but just lately I can tell if Ive played my bass the previous day as I get pain in my right (plucking) wrist a couple of inches up from the 'crease' and my fretting hand just hurts all over. Its really started worrying me of late, it started in November and I thought id just overdone it a bit, but it hasnt gone away like i hoped it would. Ive tried varying my strap height but that doesnt seem to have made any difference. Any tips on how to deal with this? cheers [/quote] Maybe take a break? It could be loads of things - muscle strain,trauma, tendon...thingy. Take a break and relax. Maybe convince somebody to massage your arm? if it doesn't get any better, to the doctor/physiotherapist with ye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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