fingertips gone.. white?

[mmmelatonin]

Not sure if this is the right forum, but...
This morning it was -4 degrees celsius when I was playing at church, and along with my plucking being quite aggressive (i play flats so i like to really dig in), it seems it was too much for my fingers. I felt a tingling pain (which I've felt before) which faded into a numbness which I still feel at 5pm. I also noticed that there were white spots on my fingertips, with the one on my index having a little dark spot in the middle of it (pictured), which I've never had before. Wondering if this is something I should go to a doctor about or if it'll just go away.

 

[JimmyM]

Your fingers will have to come off.



But no, that just looks you have a couple of mild blisters. Nothing a little time shouldn't fix.

 

[fearceol]

along with my plucking being quite aggressive (i play flats so i like to really dig in),

View attachment 7251884

You could either hire up the amp and play with a lighter touch, or change from the flats. Either way a lighter touch is the way to go, in my opinion.

 

[mmmelatonin]

Your fingers will have to come off.



But no, that just looks you have a couple of mild blisters. Nothing a little time shouldn't fix.

cool, thanks!

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Those look like calluses. If you play fingerstyle, they're, um, necessary.

 

[Geepers]

Calluses are one thing, numbness in the fingers that persists is a whole ‘nother thing. Lighten up your attack (turn up your amp) before you cause nerve damage. And perhaps more importantly, check your wrist angle (it’s best to keep it relatively flat). Sounds like a bit of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome going on there to me.

 

[mikecd1]

This too shall pass. Cmon up to room temp snd hydrate.

 

[onda'bass]

Looks like blisters, play lighter and turn the amp up. No good reason to play hard. It does not groove better, make you play faster it just makes you tired and open to injury down the road.

 

[Eidolon0274]

I would not be playing outside under 32 degrees Fahrenheit. You're touching metal with your bare hands in a way that won't warm the metal up fast enough to make you comfortable, and in this case may cause damage.

I wouldn't even have an instrument outside in that weather. Thats a 40 degree difference between most spaces indoors and im guessing you didn't leave your instrument in the case in the colder environment long enough for it to slowly adjust. Taking an instrument out suddenly in that temperature can potentially cause finish issues and send your truss rod out of alignment really quickly.

 

[brianrost]

Tingling followed by numbness is not good. Your nerves are trying to tell you something.

You must be really pummeling your strings. I’ve never even gotten that playing my upright.

 

[HardNHeavy]

got one of those too..a blood blister usually follows the white callous. Tho i havent played out in the cold lately. but have been gigging regularly which generated blister/callous. I let my fingernail on my index finger grow out a bit as it reduces the pain a bit and recently bought this product, tho haven't used it yet. Will use it for this weekends gig for first time.

 

[Engle]

Not sure if this is the right forum, but...
This morning it was -4 degrees celsius when I was playing at church, and along with my plucking being quite aggressive (i play flats so i like to really dig in), it seems it was too much for my fingers. I felt a tingling pain (which I've felt before) which faded into a numbness which I still feel at 5pm. I also noticed that there were white spots on my fingertips, with the one on my index having a little dark spot in the middle of it (pictured), which I've never had before. Wondering if this is something I should go to a doctor about or if it'll just go away.

View attachment 7251884

Were you playing outdoors at -4 celsius?

 

[JamesGrant]

Them’s blisters.
How cold was it when you were playing? I once played on a (low budget!) carnival float at Christmas time (a local town Christmas carnival). After that and doing a few years of carols, I don’t think I’ll ever do it again. Playing outdoors (unheated) in sub +5degC is horrible (even if dressed as an elf). Hands start off cold, and only get colder from there.
You may wish to think about raising the height of your pick ups slightly and turning your amp up and playing with a much lighter touch, you might find that you get a sweeter tone like that from the flats - and your sound engineer will likely thank you (of course, you might have the best tone in the world already - impossible for me to know! )

 

[Jason Sypher]

I haven’t seen fingers like that since nice I started playing the bass! So pure. You must be a new player. Those white patches are the tea leaves of your future. If you read them carefully they are telling you to play your bass everyday for at least an hour. This will pass.

 

[2strings2frets]

Frostbite?

 

[mmmelatonin]

Those look like calluses. If you play fingerstyle, they're, um, necessary.

theyre usually not painful tho

 

[mmmelatonin]

Looks like blisters, play lighter and turn the amp up. No good reason to play hard. It does not groove better, make you play faster it just makes you tired and open to injury down the road.

it gives a different sound to playing lightly

 

[mmmelatonin]

I would not be playing outside under 32 degrees Fahrenheit. You're touching metal with your bare hands in a way that won't warm the metal up fast enough to make you comfortable, and in this case may cause damage.

I wouldn't even have an instrument outside in that weather. Thats a 40 degree difference between most spaces indoors and im guessing you didn't leave your instrument in the case in the colder environment long enough for it to slowly adjust. Taking an instrument out suddenly in that temperature can potentially cause finish issues and send your truss rod out of alignment really quickly.

we were inside but the heating takes a while to kick in and even then it's still pretty cold. i doubt it was -4 the whole time but it was at first, shouldve clarified

 

[mmmelatonin]

Tingling followed by numbness is not good. Your nerves are trying to tell you something.

You must be really pummeling your strings. I’ve never even gotten that playing my upright.

yeah idk what it is theyre trying to say though lol

 

[mmmelatonin]

Were you playing outdoors at -4 celsius?

it was inside a hall which i don't think has insulation and the heating takes a while to actually make a difference to the temperature