Dealing with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[EdMerc]

I've felt it coming on for some time, but with my joining a band and ramping up my playing time it's gotten pretty bad. My practice sessions end when I can no longer hold the bass or fret a note, whichever comes first (and they both always come).

I haven't gone to see my doctor yet. I'm not looking forward to another of her, "you are too young for (insert malady here)" talks.

Is anybody else dealing with this too? What are you doing about it?

Thanks,
Ed

[Philbiker]

Go to a doctor. Make sure it's not tendinitis.

Tips:

* Do not carry your bass in a case - the large amount of weight focused on that tiny handle is BAD BAD BAD for your wrists. Get a gig bag and throw it over your shoulder.
* If you use a pick, start using your fingers and vise versa. Picking and finger techniques use different muscle / tendon groups. Best thing you can do is switch off between both during the course of a night or practice. Plus it's very good musically to be able to play both ways.

[EdMerc]

No, it's not tendinitis. It's carpal tunnel for sure. But you are right. I need to get to my doctor.

I have the majority, if not all, of the listed symptoms and fall into two of the groups known for developing carpal tunnel (musicians and typers).

I play with my fingers, but that's not the problem since it's my left hand, my fretting hand, that is affected the most. I don't carry my gear nearly enough to make a difference.

Anyway, I can't be the only one dealing with this as it's supposed to be common in musicians.

[Skitch it!]

Are you putting too much pressure on your fretting fingers, it's easy to forget how little pressure is needed to fret, not grip.

Keeping your thumb at the centre of the back of the neck to nicely arch your fingers at the front?

This sounds more down to something in your technique and the angles of your left hand, unless your spanning the first 5 fret's 99% of the time?

I've only had something like this in Uni from over-practising an assessment tune years back, really best to lay off it for a while, if you have to play, go down a string gauge and drop the action as low/clean as you can go and get your fretting lighter, what height have you got your bass set at by the way?

[EdMerc]

It's not brought on by pressure, per say, although I'm probably guilty of that too. It's the repetitive motion that does it. I get it when I play my Ashbory too and that thing requires almost no pressure to play. That's why typing aggravates it too, although not as quickly as playing. Keeping my thumb centered does help a bit, but eventually it catches up to me and takes me out.

Guys, I really appreciate the feedback, but I get the impression that some of you think that carpal tunnel is brought on by bad technique. It's not. It's all about repetitive use of your fingers. That's why it affects people who routinely either move their fingers (typing, playing) or keep their hands in a fist (tennis, cyclists).

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the sort of thing that just goes away. Especially if it's brought on by something you are not going to stop doing. I'm not going to quite my profession or music.

I just thought that maybe someone else had stories related to this.

Thanks for the feedback. It's been all really good advice.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by EdMerc

No, it's not tendinitis. It's carpal tunnel for sure.

Have you done the quick tests?

Relatively few people actually have CTS compared to those with other RSIs that seem like CTS.

[tplyons]

I've suffered with CTS for years and sometimes the best thing is not playing... after a bad flareup, I'll often spend two weeks in a splint. Find the other things in your life that add to the flare up (for me, it's trackpads on laptops and poor posture) and avoid them or find workarounds. I now use wireless mouses with laptops and have worked to improve my posture.

I've got a lot more time between flareups now.

But long story short, go see your doctor.

[Ziltoid]

Funny, because I've seen my doc today for CTS (actually an hour ago) and I've been appointed for some sort of shock test to check that.

[EdMerc]

@bongolation - I don't know how to administer the Tinel test and I wonder if it's something one could accurately self administer anyway. But the Phalen causes a strong reaction.

@tplyons - Yup. I have to get to my doctor. I may also have to get HR involved in addressing my work area. I have a cheap chair that slowly sinks throughout the day wreaking havoc on my posture.

In the meantime, I'll start wearing a splint to bed. My wife just happened to have one. The thing that hurts the most is knowing that I have to stop playing until this pain subsides.

[machine gewehr]

Not carpal tunnel but I have a ganglion in my wrist joint for 6+ years.

At its worst it gets my hand un-usable like yours.

Few tips:Warm up before playing-typing (I almost don't do it,it's bad.)

If it hurts a lot it's the way your body speaks to you:There's something wrong here,give it a break.

While playing with the band:Instead of going up and down all around the neck play only the root notes.Lock in with the kick drum.I used to use my thumb a lot.

I was playing heavy metal with the band and I was playing groovy-ish with my thumb when it hurt a lot.Lot better than playing dumb 8th-16th root notes.Sounds cool,does not get boring.

Having some kind of a support -like a splint- while playing/typing/sleeping is good too. I don't rememer how many times I woke up with a terrible pain in my wrist as I was sleeping on it.

[wdinc01]

I had a similar problem once. The doctor said it was tendonitis, or "tennis elbow" (not sure if that's the same thing but whatever). I think a lot of it had to do with my computer use and lack of wrist support.

I realize that you're talking about bass playing, but you're telling us through a computer. Make sure you have proper wrist support for that. After I got some for myself I haven't had a problem since.

On a side note, there's also a device that you can look into called the Gyroflex. Its more for exercise, I suppose, but when I did research on here a lot of people recommended it.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by EdMerc

No, it's not tendinitis. It's carpal tunnel for sure. But you are right. I need to get to my doctor.

May want to get to the doctor before you diagnose yourself.

Originally Posted by EdMerc

I have the majority, if not all, of the listed symptoms and fall into two of the groups known for developing carpal tunnel (musicians and typers).

I play with my fingers, but that's not the problem since it's my left hand, my fretting hand, that is affected the most. I don't carry my gear nearly enough to make a difference.

Anyway, I can't be the only one dealing with this as it's supposed to be common in musicians.

Right. I've had CTS and Tendonitis and have chronic tendonitis. I've consulted with a doctor who one of the leading musical medicine specialists in the USA at the time (He's written articles for "Guitar player" as well as medical publications, teaches, was the doctor for the NSO, etc.).

Go see a doctor. If you can, I highly recommend seeing a musical and/or sports injury specialist. A really good specialist will want you to bring your bass, and they'll give you advice as to how to play and/or carry the bass (such as the great advice I got to not use a case).

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by EdMerc

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like the sort of thing that just goes away. Especially if it's brought on by something you are not going to stop doing. I'm not going to quite my profession or music.

RSIs never go away. They can be managed however. Learning to manage your joints so as to ease stress is all that we can do.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by wdinc01

On a side note, there's also a device that you can look into called the Gyroflex. Its more for exercise, I suppose, but when I did research on here a lot of people recommended it.

Personally, on the advice of my doctor, I run away from all devices such as the Gyroflex like they are the plague. Unless small muscle strength is a diagnosed problem (and it won't be for most bass players), adding more repetitve motion is not a way to alleviate repetitve stress injuries. Completely the opposite. I would recommend no-one use a device like that unless specifically prescribed by a doctor.

[Evil Undead]

Nightmare. I have Guyon's Canal Syndrome (same as carpal tunnel, but for the ulnar nerve) in my plucking hand which is definitely not as bad as in the fretting hand that's for sure. But I will need surgery to correct it.
Mine's not through repetitive use but from several cysts in my wrist joint.

Keep us posted buddy, let us know how it goes

[ccbass71]

Believe it or not, a chiropractor can help. Surgery should be a LAST resort.