finger pain this one's got me scared

dreadheadbass · #1 06-17-2008, 05:12 PM

ok recently i've been getting some pain in my index finger when playing
its a strange pain in that it seems to be hurting from the knuckle and nowhere else sometimes just the top knuckle sometimes the knuckle and the joint but it only hurts when i play my top 2 strings durin a run or a widdly bass fill

recently i have been upping my game on the bass and practicing till my forearms ache and i tend to power through the pain till it becomes a burning sensation and stops hurting (probably not recomended)

anyone ever had this? i dont wanna waste my doctors time over something or nothing it doesnt feel like a sprain or muscle pain i'm just wondering if its common (been playin 7 years with the same technique, setup and strings and never had it till now)

any ideas anyone?

swanny88 · #2 06-17-2008, 05:24 PM

Does it hurt more during bad weather?

Does Arthritis run in you family? If so, I would definitly see a doctor.

You may think I'm nuts but I was having some really bad shoulder pain eating pain pills like pez. I pulled out a copper bracelet that I bought years ago and started wearing it and the pain went away.

Marcus

__________________________________________________ __

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6WKhASyxhI

BoomSTICK · #3 06-17-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreadheadbass

ok recently i've been getting some pain in my index finger when playing
its a strange pain in that it seems to be hurting from the knuckle and nowhere else sometimes just the top knuckle sometimes the knuckle and the joint but it only hurts when i play my top 2 strings durin a run or a widdly bass fill

recently i have been upping my game on the bass and practicing till my forearms ache and i tend to power through the pain till it becomes a burning sensation and stops hurting (probably not recomended)

anyone ever had this? i dont wanna waste my doctors time over something or nothing it doesnt feel like a sprain or muscle pain i'm just wondering if its common (been playin 7 years with the same technique, setup and strings and never had it till now)

any ideas anyone?

Hmm.. I take a wild guess.

Seriously, consider playing lighter and relax. BTW, what is your "playing style" anyway?

And, i haven't had your knuckle thingy but, i've had the cramping of both my hands at times during a gig.
I found that when i eased up on playing hard i was able to regain use of both meh paws! or that i needed to drink more water instead of the free endless pitchers of PBR

pbd · #4 06-17-2008, 05:53 PM

I had a finger pain once a few years ago, it was out at the end of my index finger right at the first nuckle. I hurt for a couple of months and then I noticed that I when I dried my hands off after washing them I always tended to give that finger a little twist with the towel. Just a habbit. When I stopped doing that the pain went away.

My doctor had previously given me some meds for anti inflamitory and that didn't help either.

Any kind of repetitive motion can give you pain. Sometimes the pain will go away as you become stronger but other pains will only get worse because you are injuring your body (I deal with ergonomics at work at lot). Take a look at the things you are doing and see if there is something you do over and over that could be causing this but by all means go see your doctor, could be something serious.

Todd

dreadheadbass · #5 06-19-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swanny88

Does it hurt more during bad weather?

Does Arthritis run in you family? If so, I would definitly see a doctor.

You may think I'm nuts but I was having some really bad shoulder pain eating pain pills like pez. I pulled out a copper bracelet that I bought years ago and started wearing it and the pain went away.

Marcus

__________________________________________________ __

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6WKhASyxhI

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomSTICK

Hmm.. I take a wild guess.

Seriously, consider playing lighter and relax. BTW, what is your "playing style" anyway?

:

in answer to the 1st question my dad had arthritus in his shoulder but it doesnt seem to bother him now
i'm only 24 so i'm hoping this aint arthritus otherwise i'm up the creek as i work as a tattooist and airbrush artist

2nd question i play heavy and fast with heavyweight flats and have done for years i'll keep an eye on what i do with my fingers and see if there's anything i'm doing that might be repetative

thanks for the info guys its most apriciated

JimmyM · #6 06-20-2008, 01:32 AM

Dude, your forearms should never burn. You've got some serious technique issues that are going to cause you major problems down the road. I think the best thing you can do is seek out a teacher who can show you how to relax and play in a way that won't require surgery in a few years.

bottomend! · #7 06-20-2008, 01:48 AM

The pain you're feeling is an indicator that something is going WRONG. To keep playing past that point is to put yourself and any future plans of playing bass in jeopardy. "No pain, no gain"... is a shame!

ysand · #8 06-20-2008, 02:07 AM

Can u upload a video in youtube with you playing and post the link here so we can see what might be wrong?

Dave Muscato · #9 06-20-2008, 03:10 AM

I was going to respond to this here, but decided to start a new thread. Here's a link:

Arthritis starts in your teens & 20s! Info inside.

Simply put, don't play through the pain. The old joke about the guy going to the doctor and saying, "Doc, it hurts when I do [this]," and the doc saying, "Well, don't do that," is true. If it hurts, STOP. With proper technique and taking the appropriate amount of time to build up to it, playing bass should be effortless and painless. If it hurts, that is your body's way of telling you that you ought not to be doing what you're doing. Hope this helps.

SkinGallery · #10 02-17-2011, 08:59 PM

I too am a tattoo artist, airbrush artist. I belive the pain is from airbrushing. I just recently discovered this pain on my right index first knuckle, am right handed. after i jam for an hour or so on bass my left inside forearm burns, this i believe may be carpal tunnel or arthritis. My left hand is use to stretching skin all day and then the pressing of the strings to fret board is where this pain comes from...
but the knuckle pain is new, and i believe it is from the push down / pull from the airbrush.
if it doesnt go away im gonna have to have it checked out!!!!.

puddin tame · #11 02-17-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreadheadbass

ok recently i've been getting some pain in my index finger when playing
its a strange pain in that it seems to be hurting from the knuckle and nowhere else sometimes just the top knuckle sometimes the knuckle and the joint but it only hurts when i play my top 2 strings durin a run or a widdly bass fill

recently i have been upping my game on the bass and practicing till my forearms ache and i tend to power through the pain till it becomes a burning sensation and stops hurting (probably not recomended)

anyone ever had this? i dont wanna waste my doctors time over something or nothing it doesnt feel like a sprain or muscle pain i'm just wondering if its common (been playin 7 years with the same technique, setup and strings and never had it till now)

any ideas anyone?

'upping your game' shouldnt mean playing until it hurts. if you have proper technique you can play all day no problem, it's about efficient movement and relaxation. maybe slow down until your technique improves

JimmyM · #12 02-18-2011, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkinGallery

I too am a tattoo artist, airbrush artist. I belive the pain is from airbrushing. I just recently discovered this pain on my right index first knuckle, am right handed. after i jam for an hour or so on bass my left inside forearm burns, this i believe may be carpal tunnel or arthritis. My left hand is use to stretching skin all day and then the pressing of the strings to fret board is where this pain comes from...
but the knuckle pain is new, and i believe it is from the push down / pull from the airbrush.
if it doesnt go away im gonna have to have it checked out!!!!.

repetitive motion injuries are bad news. have it checked out immediately, and try to find out ergonomic new strategies for working the airbrush. i'm sure you're not the first tattoo artist to have this problem, so talk to your fellow artists.

Omnihility · #13 02-18-2011, 10:23 AM

I feel your pain. My ring finger on my fretting hand is sprained at the moment. I still have to commit to practice and shows, too. The only advice I can honestly give is that you splint the injured finger when you're not using it.

SurferJoe46 · #14 02-20-2011, 12:01 AM

I know when I use Vicadin or Tramadol for my spinal condition - I can do the Fiji fire-walk with no pain - so I would not recommend using any form of pain killers to play through the pain that you can't feel.

You may very well damage something that you cannot feel is in distress.

I ruptured my right bicep under the influence of Vicadin on the last day I worked for a living. I was forced to retire that very day - so I know pain killers can mask pain and you can do some severe damage to yourself.