End of the Line

[Milo Spleen]

I can be playing along and have fingers "freeze up", and it seems to be while playing down in the first or second fret typically. Between songs I stretch my fingers back and carry on. Maybe it's two songs in a row with pounding eights. Maybe it's just 66 year old hands.

 

[Door County Bass]

I have hit my end point.

Tendon issues in my fretting hand have sidelined me again, and this time for good. It has been a issue for the last few years. If I backed off on playing, I could get it to be kind of OK. But, it never would go away.

I recently starting rehearsing with a new band and it did not take long for things to go bad again. I cannot see the pain / rewards ratio of gigging justifying the pain element any longer. The excitement of being asked to join a promising band was soon replaced with the reality that my body no longer has the capability.

I accept that.

I had a lot of fun. Met some amazing people. Got to do many things beyond my dreams. I also somehow managed to end it all on a good note, and am very grateful for that.


Jim

Jim;
As a brother Wisconsinite and bass player (I’m a crappy one, at that) I strongly recommend the hand surgery doctors in Appleton (1 1/2 hrs away from you). They are miracle workers and I can attest to that!
I’m sure you’ve checked out all possibilities, but I thought I’d throw in my two cents. Keep up the positive attitude and PM me if you are ever up in the Door County area. Good luck.

 

[Lava]

That's too bad man, but it's nice to hear that you're at peace with your decision and are enlightened enough to be grateful and aware of the great things that being a gigging musician brought to your life and the folks you were able to do it with. I hope I can be this cool with it when it's time for me to stop playing and/or gigging.

 

[lat]

Very sorry to hear this. Hoping that you can continue playing on some other instrument or capacity.

 

[Pino-no-no]

I know I'm new here and you guys may not get my sense of humor, but......
When are you selling your gear?

In all seriousness; I'm sad to hear of anyone giving up on any passions

 

[bobalu]

Sorry to hear this. Will you still be able to just noodle around on your own or will that be painful as well?

 

[Booty Shaman]

What a bummer. So sorry to hear you have to give up bass playing. For what is worth, I started eating the Keto diet about 9 months ago - very low carb, no sugar, and my arthritis and other inflammatory conditions have disappeared. The first couple of weeks was hard but once I got used to the new way of eating, I could see and feel the good results. Extra bonus - lost over 20 lbs and blood pressure went way down. Anyway, it is worth a try whether or not you continue to play because no sugar means less inflammation & pain.

 

[Interceptor]

I will still be able to do some lighter duty playing, but that is going to be a while after I heal.

I appreciate all the response. Amazing.

As a long time poster here, I felt a sense of closure was needed to my gigging days. That has been accomplished.

Thank you!

 

[jnewmark]

MRI? I fought what I though was tendonosis in my left wrist (piano playing). I'd stop for a few months. RICE it to death, stretch and rehab it. Then I would restart WAY back in my books while always working on being relaxed and not playing anything to fast, repetitively or for too long. An MRI revealed two deep cysts that were impinging the tendons. I didn't enjoy the surgery but it made me able to practice again.

Is it in the hands or wrist? Did you see a hand specialist? There are otho's who specialize in musicians injuries. it's all too easy for someone who doesn't understand a lifetime devoted to music to say, "Play less".

This. Not telling you what to do, but, if you still have the desire to play, why not get a second opinion, or get a referral to a specialist ? If there are other factors going on in your decision to end it, I understand. Been on that ledge myself a few times. At 71, after trigger finger surgery, and other ailments, I'm still able to crank a few gigs out a month. But I see the end of the road coming up sooner rather than later, also. Good luck to you whatever you decide.

 

[DoctorZee]

I also somehow managed to end it all on a good note, and am very grateful for that.

It makes me think of CC Sabathia, the pitcher for the NY Yankees. He was planning to retire at the end of the season, and ended up blowing out his shoulder during the playoffs. Later, he said it was the best way for it to end. If he had simply walked away, he would have always wondered if he left too soon, or if he could come back. Instead, he knows that he did the thing he loved for as long as his body would allow him to, and he gave it everything he had to give.

Best wishes for your next chapter!

 

[skidmarkbass]

Just throwing this out there... After several shots in my left thumb and right index finger, I decided to change my diet. After 3 months of NO meat or dairy my hands are pain free. Maybe start by ditching dairy for a few months and see what happens.

 

[waveman]

I had to quit early in my life due to psoriatic arthritis that came on strong and fast when I turned 20. I finally had to quit completely by 22-23. I was very close to being disabled at 26. Fast forward 10 years and Enbrel became a test drug and I was permitted by the insurance company to get on it, and I was jamming pretty good a couple years later and gigging by 39-40.

Good luck with finding a way around it, but if you don't, good luck finding that next thing!

 

[HeadWind]

Since I have only had small issues with tendonitis, I can somewhat relate. I am sure you did all the things we all do. Narrower neck, lower action, shorter scale and on and on. I am one of the biggest supporters of the "Never Give up" people, but even in my case, I know my issues are only going to get worse. It really sucks and I am sorry this has gotten all the way to this point for you.

Jim:

Really sorry to hear this. Scary.

Not to take away from your story, but I have started to have tendon problems and am at a loss what to do. Fretting index finger started hurting over the summer. Probably pressed too hard. Had a big bicycle trip (so no playing) scheduled in early Sept. which I saw as a way to give it break. Of course all my bands had me practicing and gigging a lot when I got back but it seemed better. Then one day I was using two hands to nail a nail. No, I didn't hit my hand. But I had a sudden pain and lump in that index finger:

Yes, it hurt. Laid off for a week and a half. The one gig I played I immobilized it and played (poorly) with the other three. It got better, but the pain still comes and goes. Saw my regular doctor but he recommended against seeing a hand specialist since he says they always go straight to surgery.

Folks who know some about this say it probably is the tendon sheath that ruptured or leaked, not the tendon itself, but who knows. I now play with it taped up to limit lateral movement of the tendon and limit how much flex it has. I am hoping this doesn't end up killing my playing career, and reading these posts gets me nervous.

I quoted iriegnome because I actually found something that helped, and it was a wider rather than a narrower neck. I've always been a J-bass player, and my P-bass had a J-neck. I just bought this P-neck here on talkbass and have found it helps. Basically I don't bend the knuckle so much as my fingers reach across the neck rather than pushing down on the neck. Two few data points to know if this is real or not.

But enough about me. Hang in there Jim. Things always get better.

 

[Holdsg]

really sorry to hear this.

and for those of you who think keys bass is an option, it is, but just be wary, because as a lifelong keys player (and more recent bass player) I have tendon issues in my LH and it sometimes seizes on me during a keys gig. fortunately, mostly I'm a RH keys player (because I'm not an idiot and we have a bass player). it's all in what your body can and can't do, and I join the chorus of folks hoping that there is still light at the end of the tunnel for you and your ability to play bass again some day / some way.

 

[Hues]

I have hit my end point.

Tendon issues in my fretting hand have sidelined me again, and this time for good. It has been a issue for the last few years. If I backed off on playing, I could get it to be kind of OK. But, it never would go away.

I recently starting rehearsing with a new band and it did not take long for things to go bad again. I cannot see the pain / rewards ratio of gigging justifying the pain element any longer. The excitement of being asked to join a promising band was soon replaced with the reality that my body no longer has the capability.

I accept that.

I had a lot of fun. Met some amazing people. Got to do many things beyond my dreams. I also somehow managed to end it all on a good note, and am very grateful for that.


Jim

I've read a number of posts by members here who are in your same situation.They stopped playing and thought they were done.Some sold all their gear....Then they tried a shorter scale bass for the first time and are now playing as much as ever.

Maybe this will work for you,as well.

 

[BwanaDust]

I have hit my end point.

Tendon issues in my fretting hand have sidelined me again, and this time for good. It has been a issue for the last few years. If I backed off on playing, I could get it to be kind of OK. But, it never would go away.

I recently starting rehearsing with a new band and it did not take long for things to go bad again. I cannot see the pain / rewards ratio of gigging justifying the pain element any longer. The excitement of being asked to join a promising band was soon replaced with the reality that my body no longer has the capability.

I accept that.

I had a lot of fun. Met some amazing people. Got to do many things beyond my dreams. I also somehow managed to end it all on a good note, and am very grateful for that.


Jim

Have you tried sports medicine? I go to a chiropractor/sports medicine place and they've taken care of everything from tendon problems in my fretting hand to tendinitis in my right elbow from strumming too strenuously to a shoulder problem from my bass. Even had me bring in the bass so they could isolate the problem and design exercises to combat it.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

That’s a shame, but ending things on a high note is a nice thing that not everybody has the good sense and grace to pull off. Well done.

 

[Mike Whitfield]

I have hit my end point.

Tendon issues in my fretting hand have sidelined me again, and this time for good. It has been a issue for the last few years. If I backed off on playing, I could get it to be kind of OK. But, it never would go away.

I recently starting rehearsing with a new band and it did not take long for things to go bad again. I cannot see the pain / rewards ratio of gigging justifying the pain element any longer. The excitement of being asked to join a promising band was soon replaced with the reality that my body no longer has the capability.

I accept that.

I had a lot of fun. Met some amazing people. Got to do many things beyond my dreams. I also somehow managed to end it all on a good note, and am very grateful for that.


Jim

My condolences for your loss, and my respect for your grace. At 59 I have a lot of arthritis in my hands and some days can't play at all, but as an occasional player, it's not at all the same loss. I did experience the same thing with very bad tendonitis when I was working 20+ hour stretches on the computer, to the point that I'd wrap bags of ice in hand towels and rubber band them onto my wrists, so I'm quite familiar with the pain.

Next step - buying a lefty bass and starting over!

 

[Mike Whitfield]

Sucks when health issues take us away from what we love to do.

I have osteo-arthritis in both hands and play with a brace on my fretting hand at gigs. I left a band with a drummer and our 3 pc now has guitar/bass/cajon, much easier to just play and not "hammer" on the bass for definition and sound.

And an upcoming cervical stenosis/spinal surgery coming up has sidelined me for a while now, not sure how I'll handle it if I can't come back from that. The prognosis is good but in my mind I'll believe that when I see it.

Best of luck to you in playing in some form going forward.

Best of luck with that as well. Spinal surgery is always scary.

 

[DirtDog]

It’s going to happen to all of us sooner or later. Some sooner, some later. I’m in the sooner camp - between hearing loss/tinnitus, a chronic Achilles’ tendon injury and vocal cord injury, I hit my wall a couple of years ago and decided it was more important to try and get healed instead of getting up on stage every week. I’ve managed to find lots of other musical pursuits in the meantime and none of them involve gigging with a band more than once or twice a year.

Funny enough, my most impactful injury - severed nerve and tendon in my left index finger...and major surgery to repair - sidelined my playing for about a year in 2013 but was not a factor in my retirement from gigging in 2017!!!

@Interceptor - looking at your situation from the other side....it’s not *really* the end of the line, it’s more just a fork in the road.