Severe pain in thumb...

Buzzo · #1 11-24-2009, 08:16 PM

Recently (past week, since last wednesday, I've had it off, most of my friends are out of town) I've been practicing more intesely each day, usually I do about 1-2 hours total (sometimes more, depending on free time I have) a day, I've been doing about 6-10+ hours total each day, aside from sore arms (I can easily deal with those) and the fingers all cut/sore, my thumb (left/neck navigator) has been having severe pain in the second joint (closest to tip) on the bottom side (if I was holding neck). This is all in the left hand, right had has no pain/fatigue whatsoever.

I'm guessing this is because thats the part of my thumb that touches the neck the most, now, whenever I move it on the neck it feels like something pops/moves under the skin and its just really painful...

I'm doing something wrong, arent I?

N.F.A. · #2 11-24-2009, 08:23 PM

Massage the muscles of your wrist, the webbing between your thumb, do some finger/thumb stretches, ice it down if it's swollen. (One of my careers is an L.M.T.)

Fergie Fulton · #3 11-25-2009, 03:24 AM

Yes you are over playing. Cut down the sessions in to smaller ones with good rest times in between if you must play for such long times. drink plenty of fluieds and remember to eat healthy, bannanas, pasta based foods, oat meal etc are all good foods for slow release of energy. Over-use and mis-use are the two biggest causes of injury...you are doing both.

JOE_MARSH · #4 11-25-2009, 06:30 AM

ICE IT MAN...I would maybe slow down on your practice level until it heals..infact..I like to take a day or two off whenever my hands start to hurt..I have a full time desk job and I type literally for 8 hours every day...that really helps my endurance with playing the bass..but i get "Click" Finger...on my right hand pointer finger..so...usaully I have to ice it for 20 minutes...stretch it...and then relax for a day before I can really get back into playing...

To me..it sounds like your just overworking it...take a break

TripleDouble · #5 11-25-2009, 06:37 AM

Focus in on what could be putting pressure on or be bad alignment that that joint (and the rest of em too), stretch gently, play as lightly as you can (Maybe watch the Gary Willis Youtube vid on this topic) and take a break for a bit and study or listen to music while you heal. Don't be stubborn and hurt yourself. If your technique and posture are good, and you are relaxed, you can pretty much play till you pass out from exhaustion. Good luck, mend well...

dmusic148 · #6 11-25-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzo

...it feels like something pops/moves under the skin and its just really painful...

Sounds like a tendon to me. Tendinitis? Better quit for a couple of weeks, and ice it now. Take anti inflammatory drugs.
I think you are simply doing too much per day.

Buzzo · #7 11-25-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmusic148

I think you are simply doing too much per day.

Its not tendonitis, I've had/have this in both achillies tendons, and I can't run long (time) at all because of it.

I guess so, I'll take a break today, I'm always a bit agressive when I play because I have no patience with myself, which I know, is really not a good thing.