Playing while injured

[SwamiRob]

A couple of days ago I did some damage to my nerves in my right arm, around the top right of my back and my legs feel a little weak too. Apparently this was to do with my muscles being pretty tense and something (probably a combination of me walking around for a couple of hours in my ill fitting rigid as hell work shoes and having to carry my acoustic bass home in it's hardcase) cause alot of tension and has made my nerves very tense and inflamed. Not a great ailment to be getting when your only 23.

So I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for playing when your feeling a bit fragile. Gonna have to sack off my hardcore band that I play guitar in till I'm better cos that involves alot of shredding, and obviously I'll try to avoid playing any instruments that are particularly heavy, but has anyone else got any advice?

[jmarnett]

get a lighter bass? or a better strap, one with padding. Get a soft case for your upright.

[SwamiRob]

Oh yeah I'm gonna be playing a nice light bass for the couple of gigs I have soon, thankfully were pretty quiet for the next month and a bit. The acoustic is an acoustic bass guitar but a softcase would probably be better anyway. A very nice cushy padded strap is very high on the agenda though.

[Fergie Fulton]

Let me rest your mind, you will find it hard to damage any nerves if what you have described is correct.
Describe the exact area if you could?
If by top right you mean your shoulder then say so.
If you mean between your shoulder and your neck then say so.
If you mean the right hand side of your neck then say so.
What is the exact problem you are having( sore hands. sore fingers, tingling, fatigue etc.
The thing with nerve interuption is it is very seldom felt at the real source of the problem, but is refered away to somewhere else, this is called a refered symptom.
Also check the health problems link for information that might be of help to eithe solve this, help describe this, or convince you it is serious enough to see a doctor, which i am assuming you have not done yet?

[SwamiRob]

I'm much better now, but I did see a doctor at the time and it was over tension of my back that caused the whole thing so your right about it not being to do with the area that felt as painful. Cheers for the help though, I'll be looking after myself a little better in future, the main cause of the problem were those awful shoes I think, which I'm not gonna be wearing if I have to walk over half a mile or so.

[Fergie Fulton]

Good health, no probs. Do some searches on stretching and warming up, it all pays off in the long run and is 5 minutes of your time before and after playing.

[Dave44]

Played at my guitar players wedding with a broken thumb on my fretting hand. I was part of the weddin' party and was driving a vintage Impala with armstrong steering and got my thumb caught when I let the steering wheel scoot back after a corner. Unbelievable pain but I trooped on through for the night. Still have the bone jutting out of my lower knuckle from that night. Great party though.