Frustrated with my health!

At a mere 52, I've got some of the same troubles...now playing a lighter short-scale bass and I've a little GK MB112 combo on it's way.
Not quite ready to go gently into that good night just yet...

 

Find some ways of alleviating your discomfort. Instead of standing get yourself a stool with a back so you don't have to stand. There's no way around herniated disk pain shy of having a neuro surgeon at the ready. A good combo "tilt back"amp with wheels. I had an accident in 1998 and herniated from L-2 L3 down to L-4 L-5 S1 and still live with the disc pain and sciatica. I was playing with a praise and worship band and got a stool with a back so I could play comfortably without standing and my 4x10 rig was moved into my basement and I got an SWR 2x10 combo with wheels and tilt back option. I have nothing for your shoulder problem. Maybe there's a strap that can help with that. take it easy.

 

Can you sit and play comfortably (relatively speaking) for 4 sets? I've been this route with our guitarist (now 66 and with multiple back issues) and it was no great hardship for the bandmates. He consolidated / down-sized his gear to best accommodate his limitations. We hauled in his combo amp, pedal board, & guitar...this guy wailed all night so it was a fair trade-off.

I've had cardiac stents, 3 hernia repairs, and brain surgery. Music is the best therapy & motivator I can think of. I turn 60 in July and frequently stiff all over...I figured it was an over-reaching Cialis dosage.

Riis

 

Two heart attacks, but still percolating at 64! Not in a gigging band anymore, but still enjoy jams with friends. There are plenty of wineries and micro-breweries around that have small groups for three hour afternoon or 6-9 type gigs. Using a musician's stool is not a crime, as I can't stand the whole time.

 

There are bass stands that will hold your bass in playing position. Don't know if there's one for sitting down.

Something you can invent for all us old guys.

There's a TBr around here somewhere that has tons of short scale basses, even made out of guitars!

If you really want to play out, "whatever works" is a good strategy.

Good luck!

 

chronic back and shoulder, bad knee: i sit on a stool at gigs (mostly). i go much slower than i did at 60 (now 68). but: i'm gigging, carrying my own light-weight instruments/rigs. and i even do PA/sound gigs with 2 hour setups and tear-outs. but as i said...i go much slower! i'm sure i'll have to give up the PA stuff first, but i'm assuming that when i can no longer play = that will be the beginning of the end. who knows?

i don't think i'm in bad health, particularly, i've just been 'rode hard' and after this many years it's bound to show a little/lot.

 

After my 3rd repair...they actually cut me, not a laparoscopic...I was sitting home, grabbed my bass, and plopped it on my lap (Vicodin makes you stupid). It was a new adventure in pain and, IIRC, my **** fell off.

Riis

 

When my disc situation was more acute I used a hot water bottle or a heat blanket and always attempted to sit as upright as possible. The heat worked better than all the opioids the medical professionals prescribed and maintaining good posture even while sitting aided me while standing. Try to keep your discs in alignment, good posture as much as possible. Don't strain yourself. If you go to a market don't be proud and use the scooter if available. Your body will try to heal itself but you assist it by not putting too much of a load on it.

Oh, I forgot to mention when I was injured it was 1998, I was only 48 years. Been dealing with it a considerable amount of time

 

Yup, same issues and only in my 50s. Plus tendonitis and carpal tunnel. Oh well. Best advice for your back and shoulders - use a stool and get a stand that allows you to attach your bass to the stand so it is not hanging off your shoulders at all. I'm sorry I'm blanking on the name of the stand, since I own it and have sung its praises here before. But it works great, costs maybe $50, you screw it on top of a mic stand, and off you go. It's very liberating, and you may find you're not standing that much because you're dancing around your bass. Good luck, DM

 

That's the biggest negative of the stand - you can lose some of the intimate connection you get with the instrument against your body. That, and it's not very common (though getting more so), so it might seem odd or, dare I say, not very manly to others?