Anyone had De Quervain's tenosynovitis?

[leschirons]

Have an appointment tomorrow regarding the pain and movement problems in my left wrist but a friend, who also plays bass and is a G.P. whilst ethically not being able to commit to a diagnosis, has said he'd be surprised if it wasn't that. Unfortunately, I also have a gig tomorrow night.

I've borrowed a narrow necked 4 string for the gig and knocked off a couple numbers from the setlist that put a real strain on my fretting hand.

Anyone had any experience of this problem? Did it just go with rest? He's suggested surgery may be an option. Hoping it doesn't have to come to that though.

[Cuzzie]

If it is DeQuervains you can be managed/cured with steroid injections and decreasing the stimulus causing the pain.

Doesnt always need surgery

[miles'tone]

I had it. It took many months of resting it, wearing a splinted wrist support for the first few weeks. No surgery required thankfully but I couldn't play bass for ages though. 

[leschirons]

1 hour ago, miles'tone said:

I had it. It took many months of resting it, wearing a splinted wrist support for the first few weeks. No surgery required thankfully but I couldn't play bass for ages though. 

Thanks, what do you call ages? Months? A year?  I reckon if it's likely that I  couldn't play for say, 4-6 months, I think I'd ask the band to replace me.  Not fair to expect them to wait and deps here (for this band) will be hard to find.

[Cuzzie]

You may find that a neck profile change does what you need.

you may also be able to alter your technique to play with a thumb brace on, but it depends how much a thumb grip you use and how important it’s mute function etc. Is to your playing.

You May find you could simplify basslines, use an overhand neck grip, play seated etc that may allow rest and play

[leschirons]

11 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

You may find that a neck profile change does what you need.

you may also be able to alter your technique to play with a thumb brace on, but it depends how much a thumb grip you use and how important it’s mute function etc. Is to your playing.

You May find you could simplify basslines, use an overhand neck grip, play seated etc that may allow rest and play

I've now got a list of 9 numbers that I intend to play overhand tomorrow. The band are leaving the set list to me this time. Usually it's our vocalists job.

I've borrowed a 4 string for the gig as my 5 string basses feel too much of a stretch over the width. 

[miles'tone]

1 hour ago, leschirons said:

Thanks, what do you call ages? Months? A year?  I reckon if it's likely that I  couldn't play for say, 4-6 months, I think I'd ask the band to replace me.  Not fair to expect them to wait and deps here (for this band) will be hard to find.

By ages I meant about 6 months mate. Once I'd healed it was fine, like it never happened and I could play again. 

You really have to be very conscious not to use that hand though which is hard at first as you instinctively do. I put myself back to square one on one occasion by doing that. 

I wish you a speedy recovery, as in less haste more speed. 😉

[DanOwens]

Yeah, Assassin's Creed Odyssey gave me 'Gamer's Thumb' or 'De Quervain's tenosynovitis'. I experimented with controller position but ultimately I just stopped playing the game. Spending too long with my thumb in an extended state (as you do when running in that game) was causing inflammation. 

If you play consoles, that could be a source. Or perhaps some other unnatural movement beyond playing?

My teacher encouraged me to practice without using my thumb on my fretting hand. My action was reasonably low, so I followed his advice and learned that I was applying too much pressure with my grip. Adjusting your fretting technique could help!

Now I take Naproxen before I game.

Edited December 20, 2019 by DanOwens

[leschirons]

Not a gamer at all so not that however, I  do spend a lot of time with strimmers and chainsaws and apparently, vibrating tools can cause problems. Possibly bad playing technique too in my case.

Just back from doctors. Now have a bag full of opium/paracetamol painkillers, a course of anti inflammatory tablets, an X ray booked for early Jan and an appointment to see a specialist.  Doc not impressed that I'm playing tonight. Strict orders to not do so for a month to start with. I'll suggest to the band we play On the waterfront in E for 2 hours tonight 😆

Edited December 20, 2019 by leschirons

[Cuzzie]

Haha

 

but actually that’s a good point playing in E.

It May take alternate brain power, but can you set up a bass on non standard tuning which may make your fretting easier and less travel?

Just throwing an idea out

[Delberthot]

I have carpal tunnel and I have had to really consciously relax my fretting hand, well in fact both of them. I fitted Chrome covers to both Precision and Jazz so that I could just focus on one area and not drift so that I can get proper used to playing in the one position for extended periods.

One thing I also do is if I have the opportunity to play open strings for even a couple of seconds then I remove my left hand from the fretboard to relax it further

I fitted flats to both basses because I like them but also because with less friction on the string then it means that especially my right hand is doing less work

I also wear wrist splints in bed from time to time depending on how sore it gets

The lower the action you can get, the less pressure you need to put on your left hand

Edited December 20, 2019 by Delberthot

[mybass]

On 19/12/2019 at 12:58, leschirons said:

Have an appointment tomorrow regarding the pain and movement problems in my left wrist but a friend, who also plays bass and is a G.P. whilst ethically not being able to commit to a diagnosis, has said he'd be surprised if it wasn't that. Unfortunately, I also have a gig tomorrow night.

I've borrowed a narrow necked 4 string for the gig and knocked off a couple numbers from the setlist that put a real strain on my fretting hand.

Anyone had any experience of this problem? Did it just go with rest? He's suggested surgery may be an option. Hoping it doesn't have to come to that though.

The alternatives of finding a top osteopath may benefit before surgery as the last resort. My U.K. practitioner immediately asked me how I held the bass, height and angle. I see him once maybe twice a year and it is quite amazing how a problem in the wrist may be sourced from a shoulder or elbow misalignment. I’m not saying that’s what your problem is but, it may well be coming from another part of your body and not the actual wrist.

[leschirons]

3 hours ago, mybass said:

The alternatives of finding a top osteopath may benefit before surgery as the last resort. My U.K. practitioner immediately asked me how I held the bass, height and angle. I see him once maybe twice a year and it is quite amazing how a problem in the wrist may be sourced from a shoulder or elbow misalignment. I’m not saying that’s what your problem is but, it may well be coming from another part of your body and not the actual wrist.

You could be right about my technique. Trouble is, I've been playing like that for 30 years and it's hard to readjust things.  Just got back from the last gig of the year and you'd be surprised what a difference 50mgs of opium makes (prescribed by the doc this morning to get me through tonight) Drummer forgot all his cymbals and had to go back, I played like a 6 year old, over the top of the neck for half the set and the room was about 30 square metres but I  didn't give a sh*t😆

[mybass]

9 hours ago, leschirons said:

You could be right about my technique. Trouble is, I've been playing like that for 30 years and it's hard to readjust things.  Just got back from the last gig of the year and you'd be surprised what a difference 50mgs of opium makes (prescribed by the doc this morning to get me through tonight) Drummer forgot all his cymbals and had to go back, I played like a 6 year old, over the top of the neck for half the set and the room was about 30 square metres but I  didn't give a sh*t😆

And your doctors is ...? 😄 

Glad you got through the gig okay if not ‘over the top’ a bit. Maybe still have a good look at positioning etc in playing, I just hate hearing of an operation going to happen before a non invasive technique could suffice. A simple change of elbow position pointed out to me by my teacher when I was learning double bass stopped an ongoing wrist pain.

[Ajoten]

With regards to rest... I've just been diagnosed with De Quervain's in the (favoured) right hand and have been told "rest" means do not pick anything up for at least 6 weeks. Am braced up and been advised not to drive, ride bike, play bass etc, have to use left hand for shaving, toothbrushing, @rse wiping etc. Wear slip-on shoes... eat food with easy-to-open packaging. Really really frustrating. In fact the physio said, tell the band I'll be out for 3 months.

 

Fortunately it's not a money-making venture and the others sympathetic to a sabbatical, but I don't know at what stage it's unfair stopping the others pursuing their hobby.

[christhammer666]

yep.

had a few of the injections and then ended up seeing a specialist who said it does'nt seem that bad then i made it pop a few times and then he cringes

then he books me in for surgery lol

[Dan Dare]

I'd suggest seeking the advice of a physio or osteopath before resorting to more extreme measures such as surgery or heavy duty drugs. Many (admittedly not all, but it's worth trying less invasive options first) such issues can be helped by changing the way we play, alleviating strain, not putting joints at awkward angles and so on. Playing an instrument can put a lot of strain on hands, backs, etc, especially if people are self-taught and have picked up bad habits.

Edited September 28, 2021 by Dan Dare

[Ajoten]

5 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

I'd suggest seeking the advice of a physio or osteopath before resorting to more extreme measures such as surgery or heavy duty drugs. Many (admittedly not all, but it's worth trying less invasive options first) such issues can be helped by changing the way we play, alleviating strain, not putting joints at awkward angles and so on. Playing an instrument can put a lot of strain on hands, backs, etc, especially if people are self-taught and have picked up bad habits.

 

I imagine - no expert obviously - that these tactics might avoid injury but not treat them. My physio suggested that you need to reset with rest/whatever and get back to a pain-free situation before resuming things, otherwise any movement is going to prolong the inflammation. (Note that steroid injections can reduce your immunity, apparently, so a tad unwise currently.)

[Stub Mandrel]

On 20/12/2019 at 13:41, Delberthot said:

I have carpal tunnel and I have had to really consciously relax my fretting hand

 

I had a carpal tunnel diagnosis nearly 20 years ago. Loss of feeling, extreme coldness (like Reynaud's Syndrome).

 

Cured it using mouse mats with a gel lump - but it never really goes away.  I wear a wristband on my picking hand as anything rubbing against the inside of, my wrist brings on symptoms. I have to extend my arm and give it a good shake every half hour when driving too.

[Dan Dare]

3 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

I had a carpal tunnel diagnosis nearly 20 years ago. Loss of feeling, extreme coldness (like Reynaud's Syndrome).

 

Cured it using mouse mats with a gel lump - but it never really goes away.  I wear a wristband on my picking hand as anything rubbing against the inside of, my wrist brings on symptoms. I have to extend my arm and give it a good shake every half hour when driving too.

I had a similar experience. I had some tendinitis in my right/picking arm and hand. The job I did at the time involved my using Excel a lot and my poor old right hand was being over-worked - jumping from mouse to keyboard and back all the time. It used to ache at the end of a work day. I switched to using the mouse left-handed and added a mouse mat and keyboard rest with gel to spread the load more evenly and the issue went away.

[fretmeister]

Necrothread bump.

 

I've just been diagnosed with this - both sides. Also going for bloodtests to look for arthritis inflammation markers.

I have exercises to do.... and of course advised to lose weight.

[leschirons]

8 hours ago, fretmeister said:

Necrothread bump.

 

I've just been diagnosed with this - both sides. Also going for bloodtests to look for arthritis inflammation markers.

I have exercises to do.... and of course advised to lose weight.

Sorry to hear this. It's a real bummer. Hope yours gets sorted soon. I have arthritis in both thumb joints too as well as the tendonitis.