INJURY-- banned from the bass! (Maybe)

drurb · #1 10-15-2009, 12:53 PM

Well, it happened. For the first time ever, I suffered a bass-related injury. During the last tune of the last set at a gig last night, I felt the lowest joint go on my right middle finger. It seems that I tore the sagittal bands that hold the tendon in place right over the knuckle. Surgery is likely but, in any case, I cannot play for months. Anybody else ever suffer this particular injury?

I guess I'll be living vicariously for a while as far as the bass goes.

Play on folks!

Edit: Maybe I got a shot after all. See post #9

Eric Hochberg · #2 10-15-2009, 01:04 PM

Damn, man, sorry to hear that. I've been through layoffs, it'll go quickly. Keep the faith!

Marc Piane · #3 10-15-2009, 01:18 PM

Sorry to hear that Les. I too have been through some layoffs due to medical reasons (though not bass related) and I spent my time being musical in other ways. Get well soon.

cgnortheast · #4 10-15-2009, 01:25 PM

I cut my left middle finger very very badly on Monday. Luckily I did not damage the tendon too badly and it won't require surgery, so I dodged a real bullet, but the severity still dictates I don't play for a few weeks....
I'm not trying to minimze your trouble...but I feel for you man. stay positive.

hdiddy · #5 10-15-2009, 01:25 PM

Ouch. What about arco?

Hey at least you can still work on your pull-off/hammer-ons!

bassist14 · #6 10-15-2009, 01:27 PM

ok, you are the doc, but: can´t you play with your index-finger?

Sharko · #7 10-15-2009, 01:29 PM

I'll commiserate with you, I've been out of action for a week with a fractured wrist. Not as bad as what you've got, but if you're anything like me you just look longingly at your equipment all day

Uncletoad · #8 10-15-2009, 01:44 PM

Damn. What are you going to do in traffic when people piss you off?

drurb · #9 10-15-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist14

ok, you are the doc, but: can´t you play with your index-finger?

Aha! Just got home and figured-- what the heck? I tried playing with the splinted joint and yes, because my index finger is free, it's still reasonable. As long as the doc gives me clearance and the bad joint stays immobilized, maybe I have a shot.

drurb · #10 10-15-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

Damn. What are you going to do in traffic when people piss you off?

LOL! That's the easy part! My middle finger is splinted straight from the base. All I gotta do is extend the rest!

Greg Clinkingbeard · #11 10-15-2009, 02:21 PM

Bummer Les. Maybe you could see this as an opportunity to do the NHOP thing. Use only your ring and pinky fingers for a few weeks?

For those who remember Bob Branstetter, he's had knee replacement, surgery on his back, hand and shoulders. This is all in the last few years. He hasn't touched his bass in a year now and is taking it in stride, so it could be worse.

Take it easy. There has to be a silver lining around here someplace.

drurb · #12 10-15-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

Bummer Les. Maybe you could see this as an opportunity to do the NHOP thing. Use only your ring and pinky fingers for a few weeks?

For those who remember Bob Branstetter, he's had knee replacement, surgery on his back, hand and shoulders. This is all in the last few years. He hasn't touched his bass in a year now and is taking it in stride, so it could be worse.

Take it easy. There has to be a silver lining around here someplace.

Thanks! I'll look for the silver lining. Let's see, I've had back surgery, shoulder surgery, and now possibly hand surgery. I could do worse than to emulate Bob.

I'd like to keep my knees for a good while, though.

HogieWan · #13 10-15-2009, 02:27 PM

Time for a lot of listening

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #14 10-15-2009, 03:03 PM

Sorry to hear that, Les. I haven't had that particular injury, but I have dislocated the extensor tendon on the middle finger my left hand and had to play around it while it was splinted. It was a drag, but I tried to use that time to get in touch with my inner Charlie Haden and make less notes count. It turned out to heal itself after 4-6 weeks.

I also recently had what I at first thought was a bad case of arthritis in my right index finger and had to play around that when it was too painful. The suggestion about trying the NHØP thing actually isn't a bad one - I went with a 2-3 approach to two fingered playing during this time, and it worked out OK. in the end, it turned out not to be arthritis, but rather a sprain incurred by tearing out a bunch of framing in my basement with an 18 lb. sledgehammer.

Thankfully, that also healed itself. But the time working around the finger wasn't nearly as bad as i thought.

Good luck.

drurb · #15 10-15-2009, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Sorry to hear that, Les. I haven't had that particular injury, but I have dislocated the extensor tendon on the middle finger my left hand and had to play around it while it was splinted. It was a drag, but I tried to use that time to get in touch with my inner Charlie Haden and make less notes count. It turned out to heal itself after 4-6 weeks.

I also recently had what I at first thought was a bad case of arthritis in my right index finger and had to play around that when it was too painful. The suggestion about trying the NHØP thing actually isn't a bad one - I went with a 2-3 approach to two fingered playing during this time, and it worked out OK. in the end, it turned out not to be arthritis, but rather a sprain incurred by tearing out a bunch of framing in my basement with an 18 lb. sledgehammer.

Thankfully, that also healed itself. But the time working around the finger wasn't nearly as bad as i thought.

Good luck.

Chris--

Thanks for the info and support! In my case, the extensor tendon is, apparently, dislocating because the bands are torn. The MRI I had today will tell.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #16 10-15-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Chris--

Thanks for the info and support! In my case, the extensor tendon is, apparently, dislocating because the bands are torn. The MRI I had today will tell.

Which knuckle is dislocating? Upper, where it connects to the hand, middle, or down by the fingertip? I couldn't tell what you meant by "lowest" in your initial description.

Paul Warburton · #17 10-15-2009, 05:02 PM

Bummer.
This, hopefully, won't affect your station of A.O.R.H. Oracle will it? I mean you can still do your thing with the deities and all that?

Heal quickly.

drurb · #18 10-15-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

Which knuckle is dislocating? Upper, where it connects to the hand, middle, or down by the fingertip? I couldn't tell what you meant by "lowest" in your initial description.

Sorry, I mean the knuckle at the base of my hand. When I would bend the finger, the tendon that normally rides over that knuckle, would dislocate to the side. It felt like a rubber band painfully holding my finger bent. HURT LIKE HELL! Only way to restore it was to bend it up with my other hand. Classic ruptured sagittal bands, unfortunately.

drurb · #19 10-15-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Bummer.
This, hopefully, won't affect your station of A.O.R.H. Oracle will it? I mean you can still do your thing with the deities and all that?

Heal quickly.

Thanks, PW. Yup, I can still tend to the oracle duties.

Mark Perna · #20 10-15-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Well, it happened. For the first time ever, I suffered a bass-related injury. During the last tune of the last set at a gig last night, I felt the lowest joint go on my right middle finger. It seems that I tore the sagittal bands that hold the tendon in place right over the knuckle. Surgery is likely but, in any case, I cannot play for months. Anybody else ever suffer this particular injury?

I guess I'll be living vicariously for a while as far as the bass goes.

Play on folks!

Edit: Maybe I got a shot after all. See post #9

I suffered precisely the same injury to my left pinky when I was in my mid-20's which was about 20 years ago. I never knew what it was until you just described it though; I never went to the doctor. I discovered I could manipulate the tendon back into place and if I was careful I could play without any pain. It would occasionally slip and I'd have to manipulate it back. It was incredibly painful when it did slip. It eventually healed but it took a LONG time. Several months for the initial injury to go away and several years before it completely stopped slipping.

mark