Elbow pain, nee advice!

[Iv@N]

Hello everyone,
i've been playing for almost 3 years and last week I started to feel pain in my left elbow.
It doesn't hurt when I play, however it does when I do everyday stuff, like carrying my books when moving from class to class at school,etc.

I don't wear my bass low and I've always played with "good" technique (no bent wrists).

I'm going to see a doctor soon, but any tips or comments would be more than welcome.

Thanks,
Iván.

[Kevinmach]

It doesn't hurt when I play, however it does when I do everyday stuff, like carrying my books when moving from class to class at school,etc.

Not a doctor, but I am a certified personal trainer and have been an semi pro hockey player and amateur athlete my entire life.

Typically, overuse injuries would indeed hurt while you play. *Sometimes* with injuries like tendinitis, depending on the nature of the injury, it would not be uncommon to feel pain before playing and some during the initial warm up have it go away after a few minutes of use, and feel stiff later when you're not playing.

I guess my question is what makes you think the elbow pain is from bass playing?

[Iv@N]

It might not be from bass playing, but I wanted to see what have other people, who also have had pain, done to heal.

[Kevinmach]

I understand, but without describing the nature of the pain, when it happens, the movements involved, or when it started, it's really going to be impossible for anyone to make meaningful suggestions.

If it *is* tendinitis from playing the bass (and is not uncommon, but more so in the fingers, forearm and wrist), it's a fairly painful "burning" sensation, which usually starts gradually and can increase to the point where it feels like a sprain- rest and ice (and maybe an NSAID like ibuprofen) are really the only things you can do.

Also, try to relax while you play. If your getting pain way up in the elbow, my immediately thought is you're way too stiff.

If you haven't suffered any serious trauma recently and the pain is mild, your doctor is likely to give you similar advice and not do that much, unfortunately.