Shoulder Surgery and bass playing

[Ernieballer]

I just recently found out I have to have aurthroscopic(spelling) surgery on my left shoulder (right handed bass player) and im not too excited about it. I think i have a tear in one of my ligaments or something of that nature. They said I'll be in a sling for 4-6 weeks. Has anyone ever had something like this done and how long did it take you to start playing bass again? Did it affect you permanently?

[bassgruvn]

My left shoulder was completly blow out by a bad motorcycle accident. PLate holding my clavical togather.
It took a while but I am 95%. low F or C on SOME basses is a little hard but other than that I am good.
I think you will be fine

[Ernieballer]

Yeah I was preety depressed when I first found out. I heard someone say they were playing guitar 2 weeks later but I dont know about that. My band said they would stick by me but we'll see, bass players are always hard to find.

[jdlwareagle]

A few years ago I had rotator cuff surgery on my left shoulder and tried to gig 5 days later . It was very painful and too early to try a comeback . Listen to your body and your doc . When you do feel like your ready , try sitting and positioning your bass so you don't have to reach out away from your body very far .

[Human Bass]

Now you have a good excuse to buy a new light bass

[mark beem]

Originally Posted by Human Bass

Now you have a good excuse to buy a new light bass

I like the way this man thinks!!

[Ian Perge]

I had a Neurofibroma (non-cancerous tumor) taken out of and removing large amounts of T7-9, and while it took a while to heal, between aggressive physical therapy as well as switching all my instruments since to some type of Neoprene Strap (Comfort Strapp and the like) to disperse the weight, I haven't had much trouble since.

...in fact, the first bass I bought after the surgery (literally a few weeks after) that my folks helped me out with as help from post-surgery depression was a fairly heavy six-string.

[Bill G.]

If it was me, I'd just bring a comfortable stool to gigs so I could sit down & play.

[Richard Lindsey]

I had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder, and I could play again within 2 weeks or so. (My surgery wasn't really extensive, however; people who need more extensive repairs might have a harder time.)

I think it would have been harder if the surgery had been done on my left shoulder. As it was, I benefited from being able to rest my right forearm on the bass, as that relieved me from having to hold up the arm. With the left arm, you have to kind of hang it out there without as much support, so it might be more painful and tiring trying to play.

But everybody's body is different, and not everyone reacts the same way. Ask your doctor.