Forearm Pain

[jmez]

I'm a new bassist (little less than a year), self-taught - which is more than likely what got me into this.

Right now, I've got sort of a dull ache in a strip along the pinky-side of my forearm, and minor but noticeable discomfort on the back of my palm towards the bases of my fingers. All this is on my fretting arm.

Having a friend who had to quit playing guitar due to tendonitis, I ran to the doctor, but didn't get a definitive answer - no noticeable inflammation, all motor functions working. So doctor's orders are the ol' "wait and see" treatment right now. I haven't played my bass since the pain started, but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this kind of thing and has has any ideas as far as:

- what could cause it
- what it is
- what I need to do to get rid of it

I'm sure that at least one source of the discomfort was my strap which was set too low, forcing me to angle my wrist too much to fret.

[RareBear]

This might seem dumb but besides shortening the strap consider all of your activities to be certain there isn't anything else that could be contributing to it. Things like if you have to hold a phone for a long time or if you rest on your arm while watching TV or even how you sleep. I have a tendency to sleep on my arm for instance and it bothers my elbow and forearm. I also swim and sometimes that causes the pinky and forearm to conspire a weird pain against me. Use heating pads, muscle rub and motrin when it's bad.

[bullshark]

Maybe, like I was doing, you are pressing too hard on the frets? It requires very little pressure to fret a note, once I realised that and made a conscious effort to control the pressure to a minimum, my pain went away and I made a lot of progress in the speed of my playing.

Playing position, like you mentioned, is also a big factor; I never understood how those metal players were able to play at all with the bass down to their knee. Looks so painfull to me.

[BAZZMAN800]

HI JMEZ...JUST A FEW THINGS..FIRST...EXAMINE YOUR PLAYING STYLE..IF THERE'S A QUALITY INSTRUCTOR AVAILABLE, INVEST IN A FEW LESSONS...SECONDLY..YOU'RE RIGHT TO TAKE STEPS TO RELEIVE THE PAIN...I IGNORED EARLY WARNING SIGNS AND FINALLY WENT TO A DR.WHO TOLD ME IT CARPEL TUNNEL...FORTUNATELY FOR ME ..A GUITAR PLAYER RECOMMENDED AN EXCELLENT CHIROPRACTOR WHO ALSO DID ACUPUNCTURE...IT TOOK ME ABOUT A YEAR TO REGAIN THE USE OF MY LEFT PINKY AND THE RING FINGER NEXT TO IT..I STILL GO EVERY MONTH..SO TO MAKE A SHORT STORY LONG..TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF..THERE'S NO REASON NOT TO ENJOY PLAYING BASS FOR MANY YEARS!!GOOD LUCK..BOB

[jmez]

Thanks for your replies, guys.

Thanks especially for the tips regarding other sources - I have a tendency to sleep on my arm, too (my left arm - the one that's hurting more), and my jobs entail a fair amount of typing, etc.

I also noticed that I'm too tense when I'm playing - pushing too hard on the frets.

And I'm definitely looking into a bass teacher in the near future - make sure I learn that stuff that absolutely has to be learned in person, make sure I don't get stuck in bad habits that'll lead me to CTS or something.

[MichaelScott]

Originally Posted by jmez

Thanks especially for the tips regarding other sources - I have a tendency to sleep on my arm, too (my left arm - the one that's hurting more), and my jobs entail a fair amount of typing, etc.

I'd recommend you switch hands everyonce in a while. Not only does it feel like someone else is doing it- but you'll build muscles on both arms instead of just one.

[nudge]

Hey hi how is everyone and so on and so forth. I have a similar problem: I find it difficult to play standing up as I find It's quite heavy (pathetic i know). I'm ok sat down, but if i'm stood my left arm/shoulder goes red and vainy and feels as though it's about to drop off. I've only had my bass just over a week, so i understand i have give myself time to get used to it, but i was wondering if there's anything I can do to speed along the process, how long it will it take etc. I really want to improve, I practise about an hour a day which is as much as i can manage after college and a job and other other commitments . . . is it just a case of the longer you go for the sooner you get used to it or am i pushing too hard? I also find it hard to play as i have fairly small hands and i'm used to guitar frets which are much smaller, so i have to play faster in order to stay in time as my hands won't stretch.
any help would be greatly appreciated,thanx.

[Correlli]

Originally Posted by jmez

- what I need to do to get rid of it

take a break for 2-3 weeks

[HaVIC5]

Ideally, your fretting hand's wrist should not be bent at all, or at least very little. Bending the wrist while playing accelerates the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. That likely will affect your pain.

[tranehead]

try this stretch. I got it from an acupuncturist I see occasionally. Stertch you arms straight up towards the ceiling. Bend your wrists towards one another hopefully keeping them near 90 degrees. point the balls of the hands outwards and slowly, VERY slowly bring your arms down with the palms facing away from your body. the movement downward should take about 30 seconds from vertical to horizontal. Hold the arms out once you reach horizontal and gently rotate your hands forward and backwards rotating the wrist. 10 to 15 seconds forward and the same back. see how that helps.

[JRR]

that stretch is great; thanks tranehead