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Falling asleep........wth?

1SHOT1HIT

1SHOT1HIT

Guest
Feb 17, 2012
1,865
244
USA
#1
I've noticed this since March, when I first started learning to play this bass. I literally start falling asleep almost Every time I play my bass.

It makes no difference if I stand or sit, and this doesn't happen when I play my guitar at all.
It is the weirdest thing. I will be playing something I've recently learned and half way through it and my eyes will start rolling into the back of my head and I'll slip further and further away.

This is not from a lack of sleep, it is not from being exhausted or any of the normal things that would cause it. I'm not at all tired before I play and to wake up all I have to do is put the bass down and do something else and I'm immediately wide awake. There has been a handful of times where my family has come up to me and shaken my shoulder and said I was playing with my eyes closed or they could see the whites of my eyes from them rolling backwards. This is also not like a slow thing either it comes out if nowhere and hits me like a ton of bricks really suddenly.

I drink Red Bull throughout the day and even lately have been taking caffein pills to see if it would make any difference and it doesn't. Before I play I'm bouncing off the walls and then ten minutes or so sometimes sooner I'm playing and on the verge of complete sleep.
It's not every single time it's only like 2 out of every three times maybe. There are times where I get into it and play really well and am wide awake the entire time. There have been plenty of times where I've played all through the day and night w/o ever getting at all tired. I've been wanting to ask you guys this for a while but really didn't know how to explain it.

Also I wrecked my bike (2001 GSXR 1000) in 2002 pretty bad going about 50 mph. I took an "S" type turn too wide and braked instead of giving it more gas and it caused the bike to straighten up and go into the ditch bouncing myself and the bike about 25 feet into the air.
Mid air I was able to kick the bike out from under me and back into the area of the ditch but doing so caused my momentum to spin me upside down saving the bike and landing me head & shoulder first into the middle of the road almost completely upside down split my helmet in two and hurt my shoulder pretty bad.
I vaguely remember the bulk of the accident but fortunately had a car full of buddies in front of me I was following that saw the whole thing and filled in the blanks at the house when we got back. No hospital until the next day. I rode the bike home with no shifter peddle or half of the clutch handle. Mostly cosmetic damage on the bike.

Point is that I've also noticed lately since playing bass I lose feeling in my index finger and middle finger almost daily also my forearm. Kinda that pins and needles feeling of having a limb lose circulation for a while and "fall asleep" I'm curious if the strap is causing all of this and maybe I'm putting pressure on something that is also leading to my falling asleep when it's on me.

I know this is a long shot but has anyone else experienced ANYTHING similar at all and is there anything I can do to alleviate these issues??????

Sorry so long winded. And as always this was typed on my phone so forgive the punctuation and typos. Please.
 
#3
Spinal Tapper said:
Ah, yeah, I've heard of this.

I recommend no more bass for you, sir. You're probably going to have to get rid of that 62 Jazz...I'll take good care of it for you...

:D:D:D
Click to expand...

I'll keep you in mind should I not be able to fight through this. You have my word.
Strangely I asked my g/f how my playing was when she said I was literally playing in my sleep and she said that it hadn't changed I just kept playing the same 4 beat pattern over and over and that's how she noticed.

Maybe once I get really good I'll have some sub conscience type inner music start to flow out of me when this happens. I may have to start recording when this stuff is going on. Lol
 
#4
FWIW, I have the hand numbness thing. In my ring and pinky fingers. Apparently, its REALLY common. It started in about November, and I've tried acupuncture...didn't do much. I've talked to a few doctors, who said surgery is the only "answer" but might not even help and maybe even make it worse.

That being said, I doubt it's related to your sleep thingy, which kind of sounds like Narcolepsy. But I'm no doctor...
 
#5
Spinal Tapper said:
FWIW, I have the hand numbness thing. In my ring and pinky fingers. Apparently, its REALLY common. It started in about November, and I've tried acupuncture...didn't do much. I've talked to a few doctors, who said surgery is the only "answer" but might not even help and maybe even make it worse.

That being said, I doubt it's related to your sleep thingy, which kind of sounds like Narcolepsy. But I'm no doctor...
Click to expand...

Yeah I considered narcolepsy and your right it seems exactly like it but bass onset narcolepsy?????
I mean that would be a possibility if maybe it happened during other activities but no, never.

Hell when I go to sleep at night I'm the type of person that lays and tosses and turns for 30 plus minutes before I can fall asleep.
I've never experienced anything like this before.
Idk maybe I need to really talk to my Dr about this. I really hope this doesn't lead to surgery.
 
#7
To One Shot-You may be just experiencing the cronic problem of our day of burning the candle at both ends-when you pick up your bass you can finally relax at the end of a long day. I know its hard to fit into a busy schedule, but try playing at a time of the day when you feel more awake-even just as an exparament.
Another thing that can keep you going on bass is fear-yes fear. Try going to the local jams and getting involved. It is my fear of screwing up at the jam that keeps me practicing.
As for your hand-go to the doctor!
 
#8
blendermassacre said:
Ring and pinky finger numbness is attributed to a nerve that runs down your arm. I mashed my elbow in a car wreck and have the same issue in my left hand sometimes.

Have you thought of sleep apnea?
Click to expand...

Yeah a pinched nerve is what I'm leaning towards, I honestly can't think of any other logical explanation.
And I say index and middle fingers because it's most common but it also alternates at times to include all fingers and my hand between my wrist and pinky on the side.

In the mean time I think I'm gonna try and find a wider strap too. Maybe one of those comfort straps with the padding.
 
#9
I wish that was the case but this happens at times where I am very awake and full of energy. It's very strange, the pins & needles I really believe are a nerve issue I'm sure.
But could a nerve cause sleep out of the blue due to constant pressure?
I really have had this happen all different times even shortly after a decent nights sleep.
 
#10
1SHOT1HIT said:
Yeah a pinched nerve is what I'm leaning towards, I honestly can't think of any other logical explanation.
And I say index and middle fingers because it's most common but it also alternates at times to include all fingers and my hand between my wrist and pinky on the side.

In the mean time I think I'm gonna try and find a wider strap too. Maybe one of those comfort straps with the padding.
Click to expand...

I'd try a tennis elbow wrap. I'd bet that's where it's from. I chipped a bone in my elbow in a car wreck, and they thought that they were going to have to operate on me, moving the nerve from the angry part of my elbow to somewhere else.

the nerve that i'm talking about regulates the pinky, ring and half of your middle finger.
 
#11
It's worth a try and honestly I would NEVER of thought about that as an idea.
Your talking about one of the Ace bandages right? The kind you just slip over your arm they sell at stores correct?

Or am I totally off here?
 
#15
bigalbass said:
To One Shot-You may be just experiencing the cronic problem of our day of burning the candle at both ends-when you pick up your bass you can finally relax at the end of a long day. I know its hard to fit into a busy schedule, but try playing at a time of the day when you feel more awake-even just as an exparament.
Another thing that can keep you going on bass is fear-yes fear. Try going to the local jams and getting involved. It is my fear of screwing up at the jam that keeps me practicing.
As for your hand-go to the doctor!
Click to expand...

This is good. I say see doctors on both accounts. I have sleep issues and see 2 sleep doctors. One of the first (and best) things they did was first eliminate sleeping medications AND CAFFEINE. There are a lot more interactions with caffeine going on in the body than what most people know. Caffeine can interfere with the body's natural way of producing energy - the Krebs cycle.

The bass and sleep may be a simple psychological association
you've made over time. This can happen slowly without noticing. I would

1. take break from the bass for several days.

2. Keep a DETAILED journal throughout the day for a week to gather data on feelings of fatigue and sleepiness.

3. Then gradually introduce bass playing in a slightly different environment such as a different room, different lighting, different time of day.

Regardless, there are medical professionals that CAN help with both the sleep and finger issues. Seek them out!
 
#18
as far as quitting the caffeine and energy drinks, it's in the plans and I'm currently working towards it.
I'm slowly cutting back to avoid the headaches and irritability.

The caffeine pills were never a regular thing, just something I tried recently to see if I'd still have the issues still.
 

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