hernia surgery and bass playing

[Chowowbus]

OK I had an open inguenal hernia surgery last tuesday...worst damn freakin pain for a week solid after..but now I am coming up on two weeks and i am going nuts..I wonder if its ok to sit down and play it..my bass is a G&L L2000 so its on the heavy side..I can only lift 10 pounds for 6 weeks..Has anyone dealt with this before? How long did it take for you to play again?

[mongo2]

I waited a little more than two weeks but I had my son bring me my bass and played seated.

BTW, I had a gig two nights before the surgery, I played seated and had help with the loading but was still in agony though much of it.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Had one as well- a big tear with mine. I didn't pick up a bass for 3-4 weeks just because of the sudden shocking pains I'd occasionally get from certain movements or lifting similarly weighted things incorrectly in that time period.

[Chowowbus]

I just got done playing..my girfriend put it in my lap and hooked up everything....I played for about 30 minuets until I could not take it...yah those sharp pains Brian..I think I know what you are talking about..ohhh but playing my bass felt soooo gooooood!!!

[voodoobassist]

No hernia surgery here, but I did have open heart surgery just over a year ago. Double bypass guy with a hella sexy scar to show for it!

I was jonesing to play after the surgery too. Had a 10 lb weight restriction, had lost a little over 30 lbs before the surgery due to the meds they had me on. But I was determined to get back on the horse and play. After 4 weeks, I did my first gig! Or at least I intended to do it. I had a sub lined up and had asked him to come to the gig, would give him half my pay even if he didn't play a note. Figured it wouldn't hurt to have a backup, just in case.

Well, I didn't even make it through the first set. Sat on a stool to play, which unfortunately was right under the heating vent. Between the heat and the strain of playing, I wound up calling up my buddy and had him finish the night for me a little over halfway thru the first set.

Bottom line, DON'T RUSH IT! The damage you can do is definitely not worth it. Once you have truly healed, you'll be able to play to your hearts content. Tear something loose by trying to rush things along, and then you're back to having an even longer recuperation time before you can play. Rest up, heal up, get whole again. It's worth the wait!

[Chowowbus]

Thanks voodoo. I am glad you got back on your feet. Stay healthy dude!

[TOOL460002]

ive had a herniated disc, but that ended in a ruptured disc, followed by surgery... and then a second surgery...

i waited about 4 weeks after the first surgery, and i started out laying on my back playing. then about a week later i auditioned for a band and started gigging 2-5 or so times a month about 3 weeks after that (oh, and i had to drive over 2hrs to get to where our singer lived and we mostly played).

i play a stingray 4, which isnt the heaviest bass out there, but its also not the lightest. i like my strap, which has some stretchy material where it rests on your shoulder.

DO NOT carry your gear. i hate asking for help, but you really need your band mates to carry EVERYTHING for you until youre maybe 6-8 weeks in. even then, try to just carry the lighter stuff (drum stands and whatnot... backpacks... etc).

take lots of anti inflammatory medication, ice your back regularly, and i would also recommend getting the best physiatrist you can and asking about lyrica (it reduces nerve pain). if you have muscle spasms at all, muscle relaxers would also be something to ask about, as would pain medication, if needed.

for me, i needed all new gear. i have more, lighter things to carry instead of a couple really heavy ones. also my 4u rack head rolls on wheels and has a handle like a flight case. my cabs have that option as well. next time im around the factory im getting that mod for sure... would be perfect...

be humble. you have the right to find a comfy chair and watch tv for the next month at least. oh, and once youve seen your physiatrist, he should refer you to a physical therapy place. go every single time and take it to heart. this will be one of the most important parts of your long term recovery.

if i havent covered anything in that ramble, feel free to hit me up via pm. i have plenty more to ramble about.

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Thankfully for the OP, an inguinal hernia is common and not nearly as complex or hard to heal as that. It sure is scary though when you first feel your intestines hanging down in your scrotum though...

[Rune Bivrin]

I had an inguinal hernia fixed 10 years ago. My doctor simply told me "If it hurts, stop doing it".

Thankfully I didn't really have any pain worth mentioning, although I still feel it when I work my stomach muscles too hard. This winter has seen a lot of snow shoveling, and at times I've been reminded of the hernia. I know that I was equiped with a reinforcing mesh, and the doctor told me this could happen, but it shouldn't be anything to worry about.

[Richland123]

I went through a bad hernia surgery with 14 staples in my gut in 2003 with the 10 pound limit for 6 weeks. My Steinberger bass weighs 9 pounds and I played 10 days later but I could not move, lift anything, and it was even hard to sing for quite a while. I was in pain for many months. Definitely abide by the doctor's orders and DO NOT LIFT ANYTHING HEAVY to tear your surgery.

[TOOL460002]

Originally Posted by Bryan R. Tyler

Thankfully for the OP, an inguinal hernia is common and not nearly as complex or hard to heal as that. It sure is scary though when you first feel your intestines hanging down in your scrotum though...

oops... sorry... ive heard of hernias before, but am obviously more familiar with it being a disc. my bad.

wow... just looked up "inguinal hernia" on wikipedia, and there is a picture that i dont think i needed to see to get the concept.

heres hoping for your quick recovery, and, again, i shall echo the sentiment: take it easy! youve had surgery; you have a hall pass for any level of manual labor. use it man!