Pain In My Plucking Hand

[Ianant]

I feel like I want to cry over this, not because of the pain which is very light. It's more of a sensation that is slightly north east of being directly in the center of my plucking hand.

I developed it after playing aggressively months ago. I would rest my thumb on the pickup, and I found I used to stretch the muscles or whatever it is on the inside of my hand when I was really really going at it hard.

I eased back on this aggressiveness and began using a guitar with lower action which helped. I stopped playing for two weeks as well, and the sensation went away, but now it is back even though I have modified my behavior totally.

I don't know that I can play in any more safe and natural a posture to avoid this sensation in the hand.

I am terrified of it becoming chronic and it is the thought of never being able to play which makes choked up.

[tplyons]

Stop playing immediately.

Read The Bassist's Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health by Dr. Randall Kertz.

Consider a setup, different equipment, or a different posture.

I found that an incredibly low action and effortless plucking, along with vitamin B12 helped my carpal tunnel syndrome a lot... just remember pain is the body's way of telling you to stop doing something.

[Thunderitter]

First rule: if your hand hurts; stop doing what is making it hurt!

Second rule: If you are worried about the pain go see a doctor.

In the meantime, and as a non-doctor, it sounds like an overuse problem, probably tendonitis. Best thing for that if you need relief in the short-term is something like Advil, which contains ibuprofen an anti-inflammatory.

I understand that the pain went away last time when you stopped, but it sounds like you didn't give your hand enough time to heal completely, hence the pain is back even though you've changed your technique.

[seacouch]

Agreed 100%. Be very careful not agravate it further, and do consider revamping your technique to use a lighter touch.

[Tampabass]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Stop playing immediately.

Read The Bassist's Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health by Dr. Randall Kertz.

Tplyons - I'm investigating some of these issues because of some left-hand problems (tingling and numbness in pinky and ring finger). I have just this week stopped playing entirely, and this Friday I'm visiting an ortho doctor, for second time. The prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs haven't worked for me.

Question: Did Dr. Kertz's book help you address and resolve particular issues?

[Ianant]

Off to the doc then. I've had tendonitis before but in my elbow, from bad posture working as a typesetter. I would rest my arm in a bad position, rest it against the desk instead of letting the arm be in contact with nothing. This constricted the amount of blood flowing to the area.

Coming to think of it I play sitting and I have a tendency to lock my arm against the side of my bass which must constrict blood flow going to the hand or tendons. The pain there is like a very slight burning sensation.

The last time, meaning for the elbow, the doc treated me with anti-inflammatory drugs and massages and it worked. Let's see what he says for the hand.

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by Tampabass

Tplyons - I'm investigating some of these issues because of some left-hand problems (tingling and numbness in pinky and ring finger). I have just this week stopped playing entirely, and this Friday I'm visiting an ortho doctor, for second time. The prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs haven't worked for me.

Question: Did Dr. Kertz's book help you address and resolve particular issues?

Yes... a lot of what Dr. Kertz addresses is specific to the bass. I tried having my bass up high to relieve my left hand, aggrivating my right hand. Then I lowered it to relieve my right hand and aggrivated my left. I found a middle ground which aggrivated neither.

After reading the book I began to a) eat healthier and b) pay more attention to my posture, warmups, and gear selection. Anti inflamatories when the pain got bad, but I could avoid it mostly by warming up.

And when the pain got bad, the hardest thing to do was hang up the bass for a bit. I'd rather lose the next two weeks of playing rather than the rest of my life in crippling pain.

[Barkless Dog]

Coming to think of it I play sitting and I have a tendency to lock my arm against the side of my bass which must constrict blood flow going to the hand or tendons. The pain there is like a very slight burning sensation.

Obviously see a Dr, but it sounds like Carpel Tunnel or Ulnar Nerve damage- Repitive stress injury. The Burning feeling can be a sign of nerve damage.

[Bassorama57]

I just want to plug Dr. Kertz's book - no, I don't know the gentleman nor does he compensate me. Aside from occasional mentions on TB, the only place I've read a review of it is in the UK's Bass magazine, which I occasionally get when I visit a local bookstore.
He is a chiropractor who plays bass. Can't imagine anyone better qualified; Victor Wooten wrote an endorsement for the back cover. Get the book. Read it learn it live it.
www.drkertz.com

[jwstoker]

thnx for the tip! I immediately purchased it. Since I live in the Netherlands, it's pretty cheap (1 euro = 1.46 dollar )
The past weeks I have a sore right wrist. Doctor said it is a tendinitis and I got Diclofenac and a thing to wrap around my wrist for extra support.
I also played a lot less than usual to avoid further stress.
It is getting better

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Ianant

Off to the doc then.

Good move You'll probably have to rest up for a while. When you get the OK from the doc to start playing again, check out the technique in the link below. Also, instead of a lot of aggressive plucking, hire up your amp and let it do the work.



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