Stating the obvious here, but you might want to also take a long hard look at your technique to keep it from getting worse.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Carpel tunnel (CTS)
- Thread starter Drop1
- Start date
Agree. Plus perhaps also rethink the amount of time spent practicing. Ten hours a day seems a lot (too much) in my opinion. According to Carol Kaye, any more than two hours at a time is counter productive. Regularity is better.
I had Bi-lateral carpal tunnel surgery. See a doctor for sure to correctly diagnose. If they think it's CTS you may be in for a shock. Literally.......My neurologist would put probes on my arm and send torture levels of volts/amps and give a little smile after each jolt. Sick man. Actually hurt more than the surgery.
Out of curiosity, what did the sleep braces do? I've been finding myself waking up once in awhile and my hands have 'fallen asleep' / gone numb. I have CTS so I don't know if that's related or whether I'm just clenching my fists too hard in my sleep.
Not seeking medical advice, only personal experience.
When I began playing bass in my teens, my left hand would "fall asleep" with some frequency when I was playing. I just assumed that came with the territory and lived with it for my entire professional career. No way was I going to let anyone cut on my hands. Toward the end of my career, any extended use of things like hammers or screwdrivers could have me waking up in the middle of the night as though my hands were on fire. Fast forward to my 50's and I needed shoulder surgery. Shoulder surgeon tested my grip and sent me for an EMG. The doc who "inflicted" the EMG is a very brilliant individual and told me after testing that I needed CT release surgery ASAP to avoid damaging the nerves any further. The hand doc suggested that I had been "under reporting" on my symptoms. I don't know that nerve damage is always an issue in avoiding the surgery, but it might be something to consider. I ended up getting CT release on each side before each shoulder surgery. Now I'm considering asking my doc about an EMG to see if I may have a similar situation regarding cubital tunnel syndrome. I'm not thrilled about the idea relocating a nerve in my arm though and I'm never going to be thrilled about an EMG. Also, I used EMG's in my bass for most of my career. Clearly that can't be a coincidence. 
I believe it's more that the braces keep one's wrists straight.
Also agree. 10 hours? Really? You have the time for that much practice? And why? Not trying to be a pest but, this is way too much. Other problems will creep up too. Imagine a professional athlete trying to workout this long. Without constant coaching, rests and a perfect diet, if there is one. This is an example of quantity vs. quality. Are you gearing up for a contest? Have you got that much studio work every day? Just curious. After 45 years of playing I’ve found the best playing is done with people, like 2 hours (unless it’s your day job) and practice is focused on a few, high quality exercises like sight reading, metronome/ rhythm practice. Just my old ass 2 cents….
At one point during my first EMG, after what seemed like at least 30 minutes of extremely annoying shocks, the doc looked at me and said something along the lines of: "OK, I'm not going to lie to you. This is really going to hurt." Then he inserted a needle (which was an electrical probe) into the meaty part of the base of my thumb and ran it to the point where it was at the center of my wrist. I really had to fight the urge to grab his hand and yank it out. I was so happy when he didn't need to do that when a couple years later, I went back for my second wrist.
Last edited:
I don't have carpal tunnel but years ago I did have radial tunnel on my plucking wrist. The radial is a different nerve, but same deal. The way this manifested for me was: one day I woke up, and if I did perfectly nothing with that hand, I felt fine, but if I put even the slightest amount of weight on it, the pain was sharp and intense.
If I were you, I would err on the side of taking more time off. It really sucks to destroy your body for this kind of thing. If you want to try to help this not happen again, I would recommend some kind of wrist compression or stablization glove. I have a few different gloves, straps, etc that I use, that basically just limit the range of movement of the wrist to lessen the chance of injury/aggravation. They've helped a lot with my general comfort, especially since I work with computers a lot in my day job, and they seem to help when playing too. Though, I sometimes will take it off if I feel it's getting in my way.
I got carpel tunnel on both hands, occupational therapy was helpful a little but it did not fix the problem. You should see a doctor and they'll tell you how bad it is after a test. They'll give you small electric shocks. I highly recommend you sleeping with wrist bands, they helped me regarding the pain/numbness that happens in the mornings.
While asleep, my hands would fold over, increasing pressure in the carpal tunnel area, causing them to tingle and wake me up. Apparently this is a normal thing and not a problem for people without CTS. The tingling destroyed my sleep patterns. The braces, which kind of resemble something a bowler might use on the ball hand, kept my wrists straighter while sleeping.
The actual term for the surgery was Carpal Tunnel Relief, as the Dr. creates additional clearance for the nerves relieving the pressure. I also had the electro-shock tests described above. The surgery corrected my issues 100%, with nearly instant relief for sleeping, typing, etc... but it took a few years for all of the nerves to fully return to normal playing bass. The issue was described to me as degenerative, and the earlier it's corrected, teh faster full facilities might return.
"Trigger Finger"... I've had it on four of my fingers (two on each hand) and four trigger release surgeries between 2016 and 2018.
The earlier you have it treated, the better the chance of full recovery. If you let it progress, it will get to the point where your finger gets stuck in a bent position and it will be painful to straighten it. Get it checked out ASAP!
The earlier you have it treated, the better the chance of full recovery. If you let it progress, it will get to the point where your finger gets stuck in a bent position and it will be painful to straighten it. Get it checked out ASAP!
I'm not a doctor, but I play bass in a rock band.
Listen to Dr T here, he gives you the correct diagnosis in my opinion as a bass player in a rock band.
Get thine self to a medical professional, eventually best a hand specialist. I have trigger finger, and what you describe is it.
Things that have helped me are rest, making sure not to overexert the finger in other facets of life like heavy lifting (this has been a huge thing), buddy taping overnight, anti-inflammatories, giving up bowling (sniff)
Not sure it is C.T. maybe a tendonitis or tendonopathy or just sore from playing. Arthritis. Change diet, less carbs, more fruits, herbs, veggies, milk, fish, magnesium glycinate.
I have CT in my left pinky from a car accident. I rotated and pinched my elbow nerve and it affects my pinky. It has been five years and it is still numb. It requires years of healing or surgery.
I have CT in my left pinky from a car accident. I rotated and pinched my elbow nerve and it affects my pinky. It has been five years and it is still numb. It requires years of healing or surgery.
Last edited:
The Dr has referred to is as both tendinitis and trigger finger.
His description is a nodule forming on the tendon causing friction in the tendons sleeve. That's all I know. I'm the mornings when I first bend it, I can feel the bump on the tendon "stick" in the sleeve, then pop loose. Once it's loose, it stays loose till the next morning.
Sounds about right. tendons are rubbing, worn, degenerated and cause pain. CT is from pinched nerves from what i understand. My dads a doc and thats what he said at least. I imagine if you take a couple weeks off, and regenerate with sun and diet, it will feel better, but with tendonopathy, steady diet is crucial, but still the tendons are already compromised. As soon as you start playing again, it may reoccur. Might recommend playing a style or genre that does not aggravate it. Thats why I play punk with a pick. Its just changes with two fretting fingers and using a pick. Surgery may be an option.
Last edited:
^^This^^^
The symptoms you describe are not the symptoms of Carpel Tunnel. You need to see a doctor and find out what is going on. If it is something like trigger finger, usually a steroid injection should relieve it. I had Carpel tunnel surgery and after recovery I got trigger finger. I had a couple steroid shots and haven't had any issues for over 10 years. See a doctor.
I have seen a Dr multiple times. A few dr's in fact. That's how i know the recommended solution is always "take 6 weeks off". None have given me a shot though.
That is a standard answer. Unfortunately, not an option for everyone. Have you actually seen a specialist? The other option is to ask if an injection could also work.
