Bass Playing Injury?

[TroyK]

I’m wondering if anyone else has had this problem or if it's a known overuse injury. First of all, let me say that I have a doctor, we've run a bunch of tests and I'm under medical care for another condition. This symptom is somewhat minor right now, but we took it seriously thinking that it might be related to my other condition. It's looking so far like it may not be.

Basically, my left shoulder blade went to sleep a week ago. I noticed this small spot of numbness and tingling. It didn't get better in a few days so I called my doctor and for the reasons mentioned above, he ordered a battery of tests including several MRIs. I don't have all the results yet, but the thoracic MRI showed some bulging discs. Didn't sound too serious, but that was all that showed up and it does pretty much correspond to the location of the weirdness. It doesn’t generally hurt, but it can at certain times during the day and I can kind of see it getting worse.

I played gigs Friday and Saturday and that spot is very relevant to playing the bass. If he sends me off to a different type of doctor, should I tell him that this is bass related? Has anyone heard of this before?

Troy

[Jason Hollar]

Hey bud.

I experience some numbness and tingling in my arms and neck from time to time.

I got a Nerve Conduction test that ruled out carpal tunnel...thank goodness.

I found a great chiropractor who told me that from my bass playing posture -- leaning/looking down, reading music, slinging heavy electric basses over my shoulder, too much typing on Talk Bass etc. -- I was irritating the muscle and surrounding tissue around some of the nerves in my upper spine.

He suggested a few routine adjustments but highly recommended continued theraputic massage.

I try to get a neck and shoulder massage about once a month. I've got a great local practitioner that charges $40 per hour -- and it's definitely worth it.

[MohawkHarry]

My left arm gets the sleeping numbness and tingling "pins and needles" after playing for only a few minutes. Then I have to take a break while the blood flows back into my arm.