Sore Fingers

[stewblack]

This is troubling. My fingers are really quite sore after last night's gig. I don't know if there's a connection but the third finger left hand acquired a nasty puncture wound the day prior to the gig and so I expected that to smart, the hole was precisely where I press onto the string. Do you think it's possible that I played at a slightly awkward angle trying to avoid using that finger or minimise contact to the affected area? If so could this be the cause of my pain today? Obviously I wouldn't know if I was as I don't look at my fingers or think what they're doing while I'm performing.

It's a little worrying as any other weekend I'd be out again today and I would really be struggling. Also I'm no beginner, I practise hours every day and never experience finger tip pain at rehearsals, at home or at gigs. I have a new set of forty songs to get down in about a fortnight and I don't want to exacerbate the problem. Are there any unguents or potions you would recommend to ease my predicament?

Strings were fairly new and I clean them regularly, it was crowded and I was sweating freely, but again that's hardly unusual. Only other factor I can think of is I've been playing flats at home but took basses strung with rounds last night.

[Reggaebass]

I’m not saying the rounds are the main reason but,  I can play quite comfortably for 3 hours on flats , but my p bass has rounds and after about 30 minutes my fingers feel slightly sore ,  maybe it’s because I’m not used to them. 

Try some sudocrem on them it’s good for minor skin complaints it’s a antiseptic healing cream 🙂

[stewblack]

9 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

I’m not saying the rounds are the main reason but,  I can play quite comfortably for 3 hours on flats , but my p bass has rounds and after about 30 minutes my fingers feel slightly sore ,  maybe it’s because I’m not used to them. 

Try some sudocrem on them it’s good for minor skin complaints it’s a antiseptic healing cream 🙂

Thanks I shall. There's no cuts or splits (apart from the wounded one) but man they hurt when I play.

[chris_b]

Take the action down a little, lighten up your grip and lighten up your right hand technique.

[gjones]

Ignore it and it will probably go away.

[Ricky 4000]

Age old trick before playing - Superglue on the finger pads.

You have to spread it with the thumb, mind, and if you take too long doing that, it sets, and you might become known as "OK Stew" for a while. 👌

[stewblack]

I did superglue the hole in my third finger, what concerns me is why suddenly out of the blue would I get so sore when I've been playing for so many years without any issues 

[Ricky 4000]

15 minutes ago, stewblack said:

I did superglue the hole in my third finger, what concerns me is why suddenly out of the blue would I get so sore when I've been playing for so many years without any issues 

Done more washing up lately than usual?

I once ran a cafe bar, and my washing up duties softened up my "usually rock hardness" no end... hence the Superglue before rehearsals 😬

Edited March 3, 2019 by Ricky 4000

[Skinnyman]

Super glue seems a bit high risk to me 😁

I think your original post said it. You've been favouring the wounded digit and that's caused excess/unusual pressure/posture on the rest.

Plus, as mentioned, you've been playing flats for a bit.

[chris_b]

Lighten up. . . . if you guys are hurting after playing then you're doing it wrong!!!!

[ubit]

Years ago, we were playing very regularly. My fingers started breaking out with dermatitis. In between my fingers became inflamed and sore and eventually, the skin would burst and I would bleed. I've actually played with blood running down my hands! I had to find out what was causing it. I tried at work to get tests done, but that never came to anything. Eventually, I worked out for myself that it was the nickel strings that I was allergic to. I changed to stainless steel strings and have had no problems ever since.

Edited March 3, 2019 by ubit

[stewblack]

51 minutes ago, chris_b said:

Lighten up. . . . if you guys are hurting after playing then you're doing it wrong!!!!

It's possible I was playing unusually hard that night but seems unlikely. I was very relaxed.