Hand pain

[Rage1331]

I have recently developed pain shooting up one side of my hand, It feels like a tendon or muscle related to my thumb and forefinger. Even picking things up and typing this causes me pain. If I feel the side of my hand closest to my thumb (the flesh in between the thumb and forefinger), I can feel tension. Sorry I didnt look at all the other posts, Im at work. Which is a music store, so demoing guitars and such is my job. Any advice would be welcome.

[markkoelsch]

Here is what you need to do first thing- stop playing for a few days. Start iceing your hand for 20 minutes 4-5 times a day. Some might tell you to take ibuprofen, but I would suggest against that as it might mask the pain and make you thnk your hand is better before it is.

I would do that that for a few days, and try to play again. If the pain persists I would see a doctor.

You could be flirting with tendonitis or something else. Only a Doctor can really diagnose it.

Either way, you will need to look at a couple of things. First, your right hand technique. If you are having this issue you are probably tensing your hand too much when you play. This could be caused by playing too hard, or poor position . It could also be over use as in you are playing too much.

[FretlessMainly]

Please tell us which hand and whether you play lefty or righty. That may help in determining some sort of solution. But, more important than what we think is what a doctor who is trained in repetitive injury issues thinks. I was thinking more carpal tunnel than tendonitis, but in my experience, that is generally more wrist/back of the hand than between the thumb and index finger. But problems like these manifest themselves in very different ways from person to person.

Really, we can guess all we want. If music is important to you, see a doctor - an orthopedic hand specialist if possible.

[JoZac21]

How long have you been playing? How often do you play?

[JimmyM]

Best thing to do is get with a teacher who can correct your technique issues. I'm wondering if you're not using a death grip somewhere along the line.

[henry2513]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Best thing to do is get with a teacher who can correct your technique issues. I'm wondering if you're not using a death grip somewhere along the line.

+1

Check this out: ‪Gary Willis On Finger Pressure‬‏ - YouTube


GREAT video on finger pressure by Gary Willis. In case you're not familiar with him, his technique is flawless, almost inhuman and he's a big proponent of playing with a light touch.

[HaVIC5]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Please tell us which hand and whether you play lefty or righty. That may help in determining some sort of solution. But, more important than what we think is what a doctor who is trained in repetitive injury issues thinks. I was thinking more carpal tunnel than tendonitis, but in my experience, that is generally more wrist/back of the hand than between the thumb and index finger. But problems like these manifest themselves in very different ways from person to person.

Really, we can guess all we want. If music is important to you, see a doctor - an orthopedic hand specialist if possible.

Which hand is it? Plucking or fretting? Since you're in pain right now and there is an immediate medical problem I would highly advise NOT playing for a while (4-5 days plus ice as the other poster suggested), but it sounds very much like an issue of hand technique. Here are the two videos I did that cover very extensively concepts in safe right/left hand technique.

Left Hand Technique

Right Hand Technique

[Extrinsic]

don't mess around, my old teacher can hardly play anymore

[Fergie Fulton]

Not to rain on anyones parade but all the advice about technique is misleading and at best guess work. The fact you use your hand in many others aspects of life, maybe it is not even bass related, but just your playing showing the weakness?

Because you have a problem on the thumb side of your hand (radial side) this points to one area with two specific points, the nerve that transmits to that side, and the muscle group to that side. So an educated guess would put the thumb maybe having sustained an impact, it would not have to be much, or a strain/pull. So the ice is very much the way to go, as it is part of what we refer to as the R.I.C.E. protocol, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. This is the first type of treatment for a muscle injury, then you see a doctor. So go and see a doctor and get a profesional diagnosis for what can be a difficult injury. There are many other "refered" problems with radial side injuries, that means that the problem is nothing to do with that area, it is coming from a different area, but because you hands and fingers are loaded with nerve endings you will feel refered symtoms in them.....did i metion see a doctor or medical profesional?

[Rage1331]

I am a right handed player, I play about 2 hours on average a day. I have been playing bass for almost 7 years and guitar for 5. The pain is in my left hand (fret hand). I already have stopped playing alltogether for 2 days now, and the pain is subsiding a bit. Still have some minor tension, but nothing to really complain about.

Edit: I should note that on my left hand, both my middle finger and ring finger are basically the exact same length as my index finger due to my hand being slammed in a car door at a very young age (or so my mother believes). This results in me being double jointed pretty extensively in my midde finger and somewhat in my ring finger.

[Rage1331]

The Left Hand Technique video is great. I assesed my playing style and I found when I do two hand tapping, my thumb wants to move almost pinched against my middle finger, I can't really generate the force I like when it's not their. Poorly learned two handed tapping I guess. Could also be a result of my abnormally short fingers too.