I play an average amount, and I've been experiencing a sudden shooting pain in my left hand from my ring and pinky fingers to my wrist. After just a couple of seconds I can resume with caution, but it keeps me from building up speed and independence of those two fingers. My hands are small, but I experience nothing like this in any other activity, i.e. playing piano or typing. Am I squeezing too tightly, or is it my playing position? Anybody know what I'm talking about?
I asked my doctor about some of the wrist pains I was having and he recomended some remedies and showed me several stretches. That seemed to do the trick. Do not ignore the pain, if it persists, see a doctor.
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I get the same thing. I am 90% sure it's from having small hands. Because I do, and when I play the violin and guitar it's fine.. but the bass is a pain sometimes. I will sound likea hypocrit but I agree with everybody else when they say go to the doctor. Even though I play through the pain, it does kinda hurt. Mine goes along the side of my left hand. right down next to the pinky to the wrist.
THe bass strings are harder to press down then violin or guitar, and with small hands it's even that much harder for us.
But I was playing 4 nights a week for a while, and had the same kind of thing - small hands too - but standing for 4 hours a night with a 9 pound bass sitting on your shoulder isn't good for anything in your left arm. A too thin strap could be sitting on a nerve, which just happens to end up in your ring finger.
Thicker strap? Padding? Shoulder cramping? Don't just limit the examination to your fingers/hand/wrist.
I dont think it's because of small hands, if so your hands must be so small that you have to stretch your fingers even when your playing 1-finger per...
You absolutely need to get an experienced BASS teacher that can analyze and correct your technique. If you try to play through this kind of pain, you could do permanent damage before too long.
Also, as advised, seeing a dr., learning some stretches, etc. should help.
The most important thing, though, is don't just mask the pain with antiinflammatories. That is a short term solution. You need to correct your technique or you will hurt yourself badly enough that you will not be able to play bass anymore (and possibly worse).
After just a couple of seconds I can resume with caution, but it keeps me from building up speed and independence of those two fingers. My hands are small, but I experience nothing like this in any other activity, i.e. playing piano or typing. Am I squeezing too tightly, or is it my playing position? Anybody know what I'm talking about? 
