56 years later, carpal tunnel strikes.

[KohanMike]

I'm 76, started playing bass in mid 2014, and have been totally immersed as a Macintosh computer user since 1986. Just made an appointment for right hand carpel tunnel surgery on Wed. March 18. Doctor says if I waited too long, it would become permanent damage. and that it should only be a few days to take it easy.

My left hand is fine, I believe because I'm very careful to keep my thumb on the back of the neck, which keeps my wrist bent in a natural position. Wrapping the thumb onto the fretboard angles the wrist in an unnatural position.

 

[PolkaHero]

My most recent EMG called it "mild" carpal and cubital tunnel. I've been dealing with it for almost 30 years now.

 

[dbflats]

Had my left done oh man, around 26 years ago. Can't remember the recovery time but it doesn't strike me as having been bad.

Just by coincidence, I'm feeling the slightest twinges in my right hand now that signals I may have the issue there too although it might be the elbow thing there, as that bit of my anatomy definitely has something wrong with it, lol.

 

[Carl Hillman]

I totally agree now with a character in a novel I read who stated that nerve damage pain is "pure". It can be and often is all types of pain at once, but even at best it's a combo.

A case of shingles six years ago left me with pain on the left side of my face, and yes, damaged nerves generate what I like to call the "pain rainbow".

Dull, aching....who stuck that ice pick into me?...blowtorch time...220V electric shocks...fire ants stinging...etc. It's mix & match, and totally unpredictable.



I'm sorry you're going through this.

 

[Freight Train]

A case of shingles six years ago left me with pain on the left side of my face, and yes, damaged nerves generate what I like to call the "pain rainbow".

Dull, aching....who stuck that ice pick into me?...blowtorch time...220V electric shocks...fire ants stinging...etc. It's mix & match, and totally unpredictable.



I'm sorry you're going through this.

You nailed it. I never imagined such a thing. Yes, a carousel ride thru the pain rainbow.

 

[Freight Train]

As I just wrote in a thread about light or heavy bows, I have arthritis and tendonitis in both hands and wrists (which I know is different from Carpal Tunnel, but I have gone through many of the same test; my surgery involved replace 5 vertebrae in my neck with a ladder of titanium pins 10+ years ago; it was 6 months for me before I could touch a bass)... Anyway...

I have an unsupported, unscientific theory about strings (esp for left hand; I play arco/classical, so right hand pizz wasn't the issue) that "low tension" strings actually cause more problems than they solve: Corellis, Spiro Solos etc-- the actual thinness of the metal wire against the fingertips (at least in my case) aggravated the nerve up to my neck etc; Fatter synthetic (or in my case, gut) strings - which are obviously low tension as well - have more of a cushion effect against the nerve. Like I said, totally unscientific, but works for me. Good luck!

That's interesting about the fingertips because another early sign I had was an odd electric tingly sensation right along where fingertip meets fingernail. It would feel like I had cut the nail too short and irritated the nail bed or something, but that was never the case.

 

[Freight Train]

I'm 76, started playing bass in mid 2014, and have been totally immersed as a Macintosh computer user since 1986. Just made an appointment for right hand carpel tunnel surgery on Wed. March 18. Doctor says if I waited too long, it would become permanent damage. and that it should only be a few days to take it easy.

My left hand is fine, I believe because I'm very careful to keep my thumb on the back of the neck, which keeps my wrist bent in a natural position. Wrapping the thumb onto the fretboard angles the wrist in an unnatural position.

What sort of annoys me is when I first started I learned about the proper thumb position and have stuck with it all these years. As you see here, exhibit A.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Mine raised its ugly head in the middle of a festival gig. Both hands numb and tingling like mad. I thought I was having a heart attack.
Then.....the night pains. Jeez Louise.
Doc sent me to a neurologist who sent electronic signals down my arms to my fingers to see how much voltage it took to move my fingers involuntarily.
Diagnosis...severe. 40 years of playing 4 nights a week and turning wrenches 5 days a week.
I hope your insurance fast tracks the surgery for you without the "try everything else first"
B.S. Wearing splints, Physical therapy, yada yada.
Mine did.

I had a serious bout of carpal tunnel syndrome several decades ago, and my doctor had me change all kinds of things before considering surgery. In my case, the changes worked well, making surgery unnecessary. IMO and IME, avoiding surgery while trying other approaches can work well.

 

[Freight Train]

I had a serious bout of carpal tunnel syndrome several decades ago, and my doctor had me change all kinds of things before considering surgery. In my case, the changes worked well, making surgery unnecessary. IMO and IME, avoiding surgery while trying other approaches can work well.

I wish. If I would’ve had the sense to get this checked when it was just my hand going numb a year ago no doubt I could’ve done the same. Problem now is I’m in constant pain, plus if I can’t be back in the saddle within a few weeks I’ll potentially lose my gig. Everything the doc did suggest like braces for instance made it worse.

 

[TomB]

I wish. If I would’ve had the sense to get this checked when it was just my hand going numb a year ago no doubt I could’ve done the same. Problem now is I’m in constant pain, plus if I can’t be back in the saddle within a few weeks I’ll potentially lose my gig. Everything the doc did suggest like braces for instance made it worse.

The surgery itself is very routine and minor these days and there’s little to fear in it. I just hope it provides the relief you need, as your issue does sound severe!

 

[Freight Train]

The surgery itself is very routine and minor these days and there’s little to fear in it. I just hope it provides the relief you need, as your issue does sound severe!

Oh yeah I’ve got no dread of the procedure. Can’t wait for it in fact!

 

[Callused Finger]

I’m glad to hear there is a procedure that more than likely takes care of it.
For me it’s trigger finger. Quite painful when it flares up. Fortunately there is surgery to get rid of it. Next finger will be my 4th.

 

[Runnerman]

I feel myself heading down the path with all the symptoms very familiar. In addition to the first two or 3 occurrences of trigger finger in the same hand. I'm toughing it out for another month. I go on medicare in April and will head to a specialist then. I have terrible insurance at the moment so I just can't afford to have it looked at yet. Good luck with the surgery.

 

[Freight Train]

Holy mother of pearl! I said I would post updates, and my first one is insane! One of the craziest times of my music career.
Friday I FINALLY got my surgery scheduled for this coming Thursday. As I said I've been bummed because I had to bail on our gig at a local festival today (Sunday), and that is maybe the first time I've ever canceled on a gig.
So last night (Saturday) after dinner I started in on mezcal, as truth be told liquor is the only thing that reliably eases the pain in my hand, but I've been very good at not abusing that. But this is a free Saturday night so full speed ahead! Anywho I was on at least my 4th double mezcal and we were kicked back on the couch all smokey watching old b&w Popeye cartoons when at 9:57pm my phone blows up. It's the BL and she's in full panic mode screaming "Y'all... we are booked at the Balcony Club RIGHT NOW!!!! Downbeat 10pm!!!!". !!!! Don't know if she f'd up the booking or they did, but either way, the club is calling and it's packed and they're getting testy wanting to know where the f are we?. A little perspective - the Balcony Club is a great gig. It's our headquarters where we play every 5 or 6 weeks. It's where people pay a $30 cover charge to see us and the place gets packed. It's not a gig we can afford to lose.
I live 15 minutes from the club. BL had texted me at 9:57 as I'm drinky on the couch in my pajamas, and at 10:35 I was onstage with my bass and by 10:40 we were playing. And I had even changed out of my pajamas!
God is good. So many unlikely things had to align for us to pull this off:
-- Incredibly our guitarist was available. He's an A-lister and it's super rare that he isn't gigging on a Saturday night, or most any night.
-- Incredibly one of our drummers was available, also an A-lister and seldom home on a Saturday night.
-- I had just picked up my Jack Casady Epiphone strung with low tension flats that afternoon and with its smaller neck with the low tension strings my hand could somewhat tolerate it, which I don't think I would have made it through with one of the Teles.
-- My faro had decided to go light on the drinking that night so she'd only had a couple of Campari and sodas and was able to get me there, as I'm visually impaired and can't drive. (She didn't have time to get dressed so she slept out in the car the whole time.)
-- The club has house drums and bass rig so that was all set up ready to go. I don't like their amp and never use it but man was I happy to have it last night! (This is the gig where load-in is up outside stairs, and it was raining. I carry my stuff up and down the stairs anyway, even my tube rigs, not liking said house amp, but last night was not the time to be picky.)
My hand was hurting but with all the Mezcal, and getting a Jack brought up to me half way I was able to power thru the first set, which the BL extended to an hour 15 minutes to make up for time we'd lost (!!!!).
I guess it was adrenaline but I have no idea how I was clear-headed enough to play after all the mezcal, Jack and sundries, all the way to 1am with only 1 break. Afterwards our guitarist complimented me on how well I played, which he rarely says anything. The whole thing was a blur so I'll take his word for it; if he didn't think it he just wouldn't have said anything.
Anyway, did it, loaded up, stopped by the local market for a cheeseburger on the way home (I don't do that any longer post-gig, but this one I earned) and was in the sack by 2:30am. I'm paying for it today hand-wise, and hate to say I'm eyeing the mezcal.
Overall I totally loved it! What a rock and roll circus and what a memory, especially since we pulled it off and made the crowd happy, which the place was as full as I've ever seen it.
I think I may post this separately as this is a classic gig story.
And kids, don't drink and play.

 

[Freight Train]

Just realized I can’t even count. This is 60 years later. I started in 1966, that would be 6 decades ago. Doubt anyone will see this as I think the women that moderate here have shadow banned this after my last post. ANYway…

 

[Freight Train]

I did this in a separate thread but some said they wanted the updates so here's the first.

I had previously posted about severe carpal tunnel syndrome hitting me about 5 weeks ago, and I finally had surgery 3 days ago. Today is the day the wrapping comes off and the doc says it's OK to plonk around on the bass a little, and playing it easily every day would be good physical therapy. Not wanting to be too graphic with the pic but I think some facing this would like to see the incision, and as you see it's small, a couple stitches and the procedure was easy.
All previous research I did reading online and hearing from bassists that have had the procedure here and on other forums shows this carpal tunnel release procedure is very successful. A few players report being able to play within a week, a good number within 3 weeks, some taking 4 - 6 weeks and I only heard from one that it was a couple of months before they could play a gig. Didn't talk to anyone that it failed on, but maybe that's because they don't play anymore and don't hang in bass forums.
The doctor told me plainly that this may not work out well for me. Not to brag, but he said in his 30 years as a specialist my case is easily in the top 5 worst he's seen. (I told him thanks, I always strive to do my best.) But in my case easing the pain from the nerves is one thing, but my hand and fingers have been damaged due to the severity. Fact is, due to the severity the numbness may never leave my first two fingers, and there is no way to know how much it will ease if it does and over how long of a period. I could also be fine in a couple weeks. The debilitating pain should be gone though and even if I can't play any longer, that had to happen. I couldn't sleep most nights. We have a gig coming up in 2 weeks and I fully intend to make it. I had my Jack Casady Epiphone with its thin narrow neck strung with low tension flats for this. I tried messing with it a minute ago, and it seemed not too bad, then quickly found any time I fret with the ring finger it was immediate 220v shock up the hand and fingers. But this is day 1 and I'm not taking that to mean anything. It's full speed ahead, y'all ain't getting rid of me that easy.
Interesting info I found from my doctor that I'd suggest discussing with yours if you're facing this. Previously I said that the procedure used to involve a good sized incision, very invasive, and that now it can be done in an endoscopic procedure with local anesthetic in an office visit. What I didn't know is there is also a new standard procedure that involves general anesthetic but results in the same small incision and shorter recovery time like the endoscopic procedure. Talk to your doctor about this, but mine said there is a higher risk of mistakes with the endoscopic procedure, especially in severe cases. He said absolutely no way should I risk the endoscopic procedure. YMMV, talk to your doc.
I'll let you know how things go. Onward, thru the fog!