Tendon Issue/Horrible hand cramp

ErebusBass · #1 03-24-2008, 05:02 PM

These past few days we've been breaking in a new drummer so i've had some 6-8 hour practices a couple nights in a row. The other day towards the end of our practice i noticed that my fretting hand didn't quite feel right. It's kind of hard to describe, it feels like the tendons that move my fingers are popping in and out of place in my palm. The next few days i had to work (moving heavy stuff all day) and it got worse. Yesterday i could barely move my fingers without feeling a popping sensation in my palm. This is really quite painful and bothersome, and i haven't picked up my bass in several days because of it. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Does anyone have any suggestions for solving this problem other than taking some time off (which i'm doing)?

crazyguy832 · #2 03-24-2008, 07:22 PM

How high is your bass? If it's too high or low, you may have bad wrist positioning.

I'd reccomend stretching and warming up before hand and several times throughout.

It sounds like you just overstressed your tendons and they're yelling at you for it. I would reccomend seeing your doctor about it, especially since it hasn't gone away. A visit to the chiropractor may also help immeasurably, as a quick adjustment can relieve virtually all of the stress on your tendons and allow them to recuperate.

Marcury · #3 03-24-2008, 08:06 PM

Are you talking about in the large pad attached to your thumb, I occasionally have the same problem if that's it. it usually flares up when I play to hand and don't watch my hand position and really dig in with my thumb resting on the strings. i find that using floating thumb helps me avoid it, but sometimes I get too excited forget to stop anchoring my thumb. Try different positions of your thumb relative to the other fingers.

Once it's happening, rest and really paying attention if I have to play are all that help.

Frost.Blast · #4 03-24-2008, 09:14 PM

Sounds like a job for the superheroes of human health : Medecine Doctors.

They're pretty easy to find, they usually work in large places smelling of harsh cleasing products that have walls painted in a very discussable palette of colours, have a lot of moaning people around them and hide behind a door that says Ph. D. on it.