Finally starting to fall to pieces .... sort of

[HazBeen]

I have never had any of the issues most musicians have to deal with at some point, no tendon issues, pains or aches in the 30 years I have been playing.

Afraid age is catching up to me though.... been having back pains (halfway up the lower back) for a few weeks, so decided to visit the doctor.

Undressed as you do, he looked at my back and said. “Are you standing how you normally stand?” To which I responded yes..... 

Anyway, I am awaiting an appointment with a specialist as apparently my back is not straight (potentially scoliosis) through posture/age etc. He asked straight away, are you a musician (to which I jokingly replied, only the non paid part of what I do... lol).

I cannot wear my heavier basses for anything longer than 30 mins at the moment, not handy with several upcoming gigs.

Hope it can be sorted, and perhaps I need to start thinking about bass weight too....

Those that have met me know I am quite a big guy (broad shouldered and such) and although I am not as fit or strong as I once was, the thought of having to go lightweight is not very appealing.

Ah well, we all get older...

[wateroftyne]

I hear ya. At 40-something, I'm busier than I've ever been - which is a good thing - but it's taking its toll.

[Beedster]

Harry, take a look at Alexander Technique and even yoga. Posture and pain is a big problem for bass players, human bodies weren't designed to stand pretty still for hours on end with a boat anchor around our necks. One or other - and sometimes simple weight training (squats and deadlifts) - have done the trick for a few musos I know. Good luck mate. C

[Lfalex v1.1]

Just as well I don't gig... I'd have to sit down.

Mine's not my back, it's my right Achilles' tendon. I can barely walk at the moment, and running is out of the question.

Does this mean someone else would have to carry my gear? 🤣

Seriously, though, I hope your back improves, or at least that you find a work-around that lets you play comfortably.

[Teebs]

32 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Harry, take a look at Alexander Technique and even yoga. Posture and pain is a big problem for bass players, human bodies weren't designed to stand pretty still for hours on end with a boat anchor around our necks. One or other - and sometimes simple weight training (squats and deadlifts) - have done the trick for a few musos I know. Good luck mate. C

⏫ This - I know people who've had Alexander Technique lessons & found it to be very helpful.

I hope that your medical people can come up with useful solutions.

All the best 

[Beedster]

And you can always try one of these, unbelievably light

 

[HazBeen]

Thanks for the tips chaps! It is early days, but as a starting point I will get some physiotherapy and such and start building up my core strength.

I never realised how crooked my back was...  Now to try and sort it.

... and good to see there are lovely lightweights out there

[Bluewine]

2 hours ago, wateroftyne said:

I hear ya. At 40-something, I'm busier than I've ever been - which is a good thing - but it's taking its toll.

Strive to make it to the 65 plus group.

Blue

[Mudpup]

I'm 55 and there isn't a single bit of me that doesn't hurt after a gig. I'm ok thru the gig but it usually starts with my lower back during pack down and escalates from there. By the time i arrive home i have to chisel myself out of the car. My thighs, shoulders and more lately my hands will be killing me. And it takes 24hrs to recover. I'm just resigned to being old and broken but will keep at it as long as i can. Getting old is poopy.......

[Paul S]

I've just turned 62 and have done the best I can with lightweight gear so the load in/out is as easy as it can be.  Doesn't stop me helping the other guys in with their heavy stuff, mind.  Will I ever learn?   One of the things that isn't so easy any more is getting down on one knee and back up again - it's a long way up!

I always ache next day but the worst thing is entirely of my own making.  My neck is always really stiff - because I nod my head furiously when I play.  Not the cool, downwards, heavy rock style nod but a kind of weird looking upward flick of my head.  I can't help it, it just happens naturally.  I sometimes think I must look like I have suddenly been plugged into the mains the way my head moves about. 😅 

[musicbassman]

18 minutes ago, Paul S said:

  I can't help it, it just happens naturally.  I sometimes think I must look like I have suddenly been plugged into the mains the way my head moves about. 😅 

Are you going for the Joe Dart look?

Seriously, I wonder if that guy's going to suffer for his head-bobbing traits later in life.

[3below]

61 and now prefer my lightest bass for any long playing session. Also have to take care lifting heavy kit, seems very easy to get tendonitis / elbow damage. Still all too easy to forget and start shifting kit like I am still 20, I wish...

[4000]

I was always a pretty big strong guy, did loads of weights, could carry my old Trace 4x10 in one hand no problem. Then aged about 35 one of the discs in my neck went. Long story short, several more went in my spine over the years.  My last MRI showed scoliosis (which I may have had from birth and which had never been noted) and spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal, which can become very serious). In addition I have joint hyper mobility, which means my joints sublux (partially dislocate) all the time. Something as simple as rolling over in bed can mean my shoulders sublux, or kneeling down means a knee goes. Sometimes my wrists go when I’m playing, and occasionally even my fingers, mid-song.

The last two years I’ve been back in the gym because I could no longer stand what I’d become, but I have to be very careful what exercises I do. Someone above mentioned squats and deadlifts; I can no longer do either.

You probably wouldn’t know there was anything wrong with me by looking and I’m still reasonably muscular, but nothing really works properly anymore. I used to fight it and try and do the normal stuff I used to do, but over the years I’ve learnt the foolishness of that. I never play standing for more than a few minutes now (usually to pop out front at soundchecks); thankfully as an acoustic band it doesn’t really matter. I can certainly see a time when I have to go very light bass-wise and probably headless too, simply to make things easy to carry.

You may not really wish to go light, but if it becomes a necessity, I wouldn’t advise fighting it. Besides, there are great sounding lightweight basses out there.

BTW, I’m just short of 56.

Edited November 1, 2019 by 4000

[lurksalot]

My dodgy back was diagnosed by a seamstress/seamster/tailor/tailoress  

(gender related job descriptions confuse me nowadays)

basically, while altering my charity shop 6.00 purchase , she noticed one shoulder was lower than the other , causing the spine to be tilted.

I don’t get any issues , but it is a good observation and I am now more conscious of my posture , I do plenty of stretching before work already , and as long as I am moving all day I am fine , but standing still is what does me in 

[HazBeen]

Just back from a session, I alternated standing and sitting down. Wasn’t pretty but my back feels not too bad. I am only 45 so hopefully I can still put off going lightweight only for a few years.

1 hour swimming planned for the am.

[E sharp]

14 hours ago, Beedster said:

And you can always try one of these, unbelievably light

 

When I was sort of collecting different Fenders (years ago) , I couldn't find one of these for love nor money . This was pre internet mind

[casapete]

6 hours ago, HazBeen said:

Just back from a session, I alternated standing and sitting down. Wasn’t pretty but my back feels not too bad. I am only 45 so hopefully I can still put off going lightweight only for a few years.

1 hour swimming planned for the am.

Don’t worry about going down the lighter route, there’s no shame! 

Prior to having an accident which resulted in a shoulder injury, I still soon tired of my pre EB Stingray’s weight, making long gigs a chore. Then used my 63 Precision for years which was a blessing compared to the Ray. As I hit my mid 40s I got a Precision Lyte, and never looked back really. These days it’s still my main bass, and at 61 am still doing around 150 gigs a year, using that and a Dano Longhorn along with a Washburn EA20. I honestly don’t think I’d still be in reasonable shape if I’d persisted with the Ray. Same goes for amplification too - Barefaced came along just in time for me. Embrace it and play the long game I reckon!

[chris_b]

8 hours ago, lurksalot said:

My dodgy back was diagnosed by a seamstress/seamster/tailor/tailoress 

I had a suit made earlier this year and the waistcoat didn't sit properly at the front. I went for an adjustment fitting and the tailor spotted my uneven shoulders, left much higher than the right, thanks to years of holding up a bass.

[chris_b]

6 hours ago, HazBeen said:

Just back from a session, I alternated standing and sitting down. Wasn’t pretty but my back feels not too bad. I am only 45 so hopefully I can still put off going lightweight only for a few years.

1 hour swimming planned for the am.

"Putting off going lightweight" is a false economy, like not worrying about your back until to get pain or your hearing until you have tinnitus. It's like not worrying about your car insurance until you've had a crash!

Do start working out and boosting your general fitness when you still feel lively. It's tough to get back what you've lost and age and inactivity has taken from you.

[solo4652]

Time for the yearly airing of my DIY support strap. It started life as a padded tool belt. I velcro-ed on the end of a spare shoulder strap I had, which attaches to the bass with a strap pin in on one of the neck bolts. You can't see anything from the front, and the shoulder strap is there largely as a balance aid. The waist strap takes 80% of the weight. Supports your beer gut too. I'm no spring chicken - 62 years young.

 

[Trueno]

I played my last gig 12 years ago. I had my first rehearsal with a new band yesterday... standing with the bass for three hours and I feel a bit of a wreck this morning. I've been going to a gym for the last two years... I suppose it's just using different muscles (???)

I'm strictly short scale now and have a really good comfort strap (I think it's a cliq strap). I have absolutely no problem with keeping it all as lightweight as possible and I'd sit on a barstool if I had to.

As a bit of an aside, I feel the mental engagement makes up for some of the physical problems.

[dmccombe7]

14 hours ago, Mudpup said:

I'm 55 and there isn't a single bit of me that doesn't hurt after a gig. I'm ok thru the gig but it usually starts with my lower back during pack down and escalates from there. By the time i arrive home i have to chisel myself out of the car. My thighs, shoulders and more lately my hands will be killing me. And it takes 24hrs to recover. I'm just resigned to being old and broken but will keep at it as long as i can. Getting old is poopy.......

Maybe that's an adreneline rush thing if its affecting you in so many different areas of the body.

Do you tighten up with stress when playing ?

I'm 59 and being in a 70's Glam Rock covers band so platform boots etc but only pains i get are sore fingertips by playing too hard at times. Not every gig, just the ones i'm really getting into.

I have heavy amp and cab plus its usually me that helps the drummer with his flight-cased gear. I'm no fitness fanatic but i do walking every other day for 5miles or a little bit of cycling maybe. Someone on BC posted an exercise regime while back that was pretty simple to do and strengthened the core ie stomach and back areas.

Sure you might recognise him below but i found this quite helpful.

 

 

[HazBeen]

41 minutes ago, solo4652 said:

Time for the yearly airing of my DIY support strap. It started life as a padded tool belt. I velcro-ed on the end of a spare shoulder strap I had, which attaches to the bass with a strap pin in on one of the neck bolts. You can't see anything from the front, and the shoulder strap is there largely as a balance aid. The waist strap takes 80% of the weight. Supports your beer gut too. I'm no spring chicken - 62 years young.

 

This is excellent, yesterday I did a quick mock up of something similar. If you can let the bass rest on your hips that will reduce the strain on your back. Now I know the concept works! Cheers for sharing!

[HazBeen]

50 minutes ago, chris_b said:

"Putting off going lightweight" is a false economy, like not worrying about your back until to get pain or your hearing until you have tinnitus. It's like not worrying about your car insurance until you've had a crash!

Do start working out and boosting your general fitness when you still feel lively. It's tough to get back what you've lost and age and inactivity has taken from you.

Don’t get me wrong, health before anything.... but the options get smaller when weight becomes a factor is all.

[Mudpup]

37 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Maybe that's an adreneline rush thing if its affecting you in so many different areas of the body.

Do you tighten up with stress when playing ?

I'm 59 and being in a 70's Glam Rock covers band so platform boots etc but only pains i get are sore fingertips by playing too hard at times. Not every gig, just the ones i'm really getting into.

I have heavy amp and cab plus its usually me that helps the drummer with his flight-cased gear. I'm no fitness fanatic but i do walking every other day for 5miles or a little bit of cycling maybe. Someone on BC posted an exercise regime while back that was pretty simple to do and strengthened the core ie stomach and back areas.

Sure you might recognise him below but i found this quite helpful.

 

 

Cheers buddy - much appreciated! 
I never get stressed really in the band - we all know what we're doing from load in to load out and i don't tighten up when i'm playing. My gear isn't heavy either. I had a car crash about 12 years ago and the doc said i would suffer a bit when i'm older so i think its just that along with a job that requires me to be stuck in a car for the large part of a long day. 
I can just imagine telling the guys that they'll have to unload the van whilst i do my stretches for 30 mins :-) but i'll have a go and see what happens.