Hand Injuries... and other occupational hazards

[michael_t]

Hi Leland,

First off, thanks for your regular participation in this forum!

I'm a former singer/guitarist (think James Taylor ) in my younger days (age 16-32), who discovered the joy of bass at the age of 52 after a 20-yr musical hiatus. Just turned 60!

My question has to do with the challenge of keeping myself healthy, specifically concerning avoiding, or at least minimizing, "repetitive stress injuries" to my hands as I've been battling cases of the Trigger Finger during the last year or so, with my first "trigger release" surgery last June (left middle finger), then one last month (right-middle) and another one scheduled in three months (left-ring).

So, I'd like to ask you...
During your long and prolific career, have you ever been in situations where you had to be sidelined from playing due to health issues in general and hand injuries in particular?

How do you keep yourself healthy at your (tender young) age? How have you managed to keep going and stay as busy as you have all these years like the Energizer Bunny? Any specific measures you take to avoid/minimize injuries to your hands? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Leland Sklar]

Hi Leland,

First off, thanks for your regular participation in this forum!

I'm a former singer/guitarist (think James Taylor ) in my younger days (age 16-32), who discovered the joy of bass at the age of 52 after a 20-yr musical hiatus. Just turned 60!

My question has to do with the challenge of keeping myself healthy, specifically concerning avoiding, or at least minimizing, "repetitive stress injuries" to my hands as I've been battling cases of the Trigger Finger during the last year or so, with my first "trigger release" surgery last June (left middle finger), then one last month (right-middle) and another one scheduled in three months (left-ring).

So, I'd like to ask you...
During your long and prolific career, have you ever been in situations where you had to be sidelined from playing due to health issues in general and hand injuries in particular?

How do you keep yourself healthy at your (tender young) age? How have you managed to keep going and stay as busy as you have all these years like the Energizer Bunny? Any specific measures you take to avoid/minimize injuries to your hands? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Funny that the only injuries I have really ever had are to my hands. I did machine work, welded and landscaping and always seemed top draw blood. Lots of stitches. But, I have never missed a gig for that reason. I have performed very ill, with stitches, etc. As far as healthy, I just try to walk as much as possible, use stairs, stopped eating meat several years ago and just try to stay as healthy as this life can keep you. I do better at home for a got a Vita Mix and start every day with a serious power smoothie. Hard to do it out here on the road. Just getting the ingredients can be hard and only have a blender. But, just try to do the best I can. I have never smoked, drank or done drugs so my system is fairly intact.

 

[michael_t]

Funny that the only injuries I have really ever had are to my hands. I did machine work, welded and landscaping and always seemed top draw blood. Lots of stitches. But, I have never missed a gig for that reason. I have performed very ill, with stitches, etc.

It's kind of interesting your hand injuries are "outsourced", meaning they're not directly related to bass playing like the Trigger Finger and the Carpel Tunnel Syndrome that some of us have to deal with.

As far as healthy, I just try to walk as much as possible, use stairs, stopped eating meat several years ago and just try to stay as healthy as this life can keep you. I do better at home for a got a Vita Mix and start every day with a serious power smoothie. Hard to do it out here on the road. Just getting the ingredients can be hard and only have a blender.

Sounds like you're currently on the road. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Meanwhile, maybe I should try one of those "power smoothies".

But, just try to do the best I can. I have never smoked, drank or done drugs so my system is fairly intact.

Sounds to me like a very sensible, common-sense approach to health and longevity. I consider myself fortunate to have stayed away from all that "stuff" in my younger days as well.

Hard to believe, though, that you managed to keep yourself clean from all that junk, considering you were right smack in the center of the LA music scene during the 70's. I guess that's what being a consummate pro is all about.

 

[Leland Sklar]

It's kind of interesting your hand injuries are "outsourced", meaning they're not directly related to bass playing like the Trigger Finger and the Carpel Tunnel Syndrome that some of us have to deal with.



Sounds like you're currently on the road. Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Meanwhile, maybe I should try one of those "power smoothies".



Sounds to me like a very sensible, common-sense approach to health and longevity. I consider myself fortunate to have stayed away from all that "stuff" in my younger days as well.

No issues with carpal tunnel or arthritis or any other ailments. Just stupid injuries. The smoothies are great way to start the day. A Vita Mix is great for it really pulverizes perfectly. I use Protein powder, Kale, carrots, prunes, bananas, blueberries, yogurt, Honey, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and a few other things and always use up left over stuff that may not look good for serving but when pulverized, who cares. I keep some of the things like blueberries in the freezer so they make the smoothie cold. I make enough for 1-2 large glasses in the morning and enough to fill a thermos for an afternoon or evening bump.

Hard to believe, though, that you managed to keep yourself clean from all that junk, considering you were right smack in the center of the LA music scene during the 70's. I guess that's what being a consummate pro is all about.

A bit of a type A person. Do not like being out of control and in the early days I saw a lot of terrible things happen to people and knew it was not for me. I have been the designated driver since I was 16.

 

[michael_t]

Funny that the only injuries I have really ever had are to my hands. I did machine work, welded and landscaping and always seemed top draw blood. Lots of stitches. But, I have never missed a gig for that reason. I have performed very ill, with stitches, etc.

Lee, thanks for sharing your professional perspective on this.
I don't mean to get too personal, but would you happen to have any stories you're willing to share with us about a few of the most notable gigs/tours where you had to perform with pain/illness and how you managed to survive through them?

 

[aigman]

I have never smoked, drank or done drugs so my system is fairly intact.

That is surprisingly refreshing due to the characters one would encounter in the music business... I have never played a gig without someone shoving a controlled substance in my face and expecting me to partake!

 

[KlyffBur10]

I can relate a bit michael_t. Surgeries suuuck!
Not an injury, but I was born with a birth defect...crooked fingers is my birth defect. Both hands. I can only open my hand just a little bit more (right hand is better as I had more therapy).
You can see the cuts they did when I was child, on the inside of the knuckles. (On my actual knuckles they cut across the knuckles from one knuckle to the fourth)
I've been playing bass since '91. Played like Jeff Healey at the start (after a year of piano and discovering that wasn't for me), then switched to holding my bass like an actual guitar and played through the blood, blisters and hand cramps.
Am now 42 and only a few times have I stopped pushing forward with music due to depressions (band breakups). There's a mindset you have to have, and it's so easy to lose focus these days.

Gotta know when to keep your mind active...and you gotta know when to clear it.
Tough...I have more trouble in the mind with depressions than I do with my hands.
But the dream has never died...that's what keeps me pushing.
If I may post a song...here's something I wrote. (I play bass and sing in this one)
Catch The Sun

Kudos for not missing a gig due to injuries Leland. And I hope they unblock you from facebook soon.

 

[michael_t]

Gotta know when to keep your mind active...and you gotta know when to clear it.
Tough...I have more trouble in the mind with depressions than I do with my hands.
But the dream has never died...that's what keeps me pushing.
If I may post a song...here's something I wrote. (I play bass and sing in this one)
Catch The Sun

@KlyffBur10, thanks for your inspiring words.

For some reason, Sound Cloud is telling me "this track was not found".

 

[KlyffBur10]

@KlyffBur10, thanks for your inspiring words.

For some reason, Sound Cloud is telling me "this track was not found".

My sincere apologies, that one was set to private...
But this one shouldn't be
Catch the Sun....take 2

 

[michael_t]

My sincere apologies, that one was set to private...
But this one shouldn't be
Catch the Sun....take 2

This one works fine. Great song, thanks for sharing!

Now I don't feel so bad about my fourth trigger release surgery coming up on Oct 26. Just a couple of weeks off my bass, I'll be taking in a heavy dose of Leland Sklar while I recuperate.

 

[KlyffBur10]

This one works fine. Great song, thanks for sharing!

Now I don't feel so bad about my fourth trigger release surgery coming up on Oct 26. Just a couple of weeks off my bass, I'll be taking in a heavy dose of Leland Sklar while I recuperate.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT! haha
And thanx for the kind words buddy. Best of luck with your surgery and may your recovery be speedy