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Hand locking up and tingling while playing help!

S

slapdaaria

Jan 9, 2010
25
0
Canada
#1
This did not do this like 2 weeks ago but its getting worse. When i use my index finger and my ring finger back and forth it makes the palm of my hand tingle like its asleep and it locks up, I also play drums in a thrash band so that might be a factor cause my hands are used to going certain ways i dont know please help! :confused:
 
#4
You have the beginning stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. You may want to take some time to really look at your right hand playing position. Are you bending at the wrist the whole time? That could put unwanted stress on your hand. Try to make some adjustments in bass height and angle to make it easier on your hand. This can be really frustrating and painful if it gets worse and you may want to see an orthopedic specialist if it continues.
 
#5
corinpills said:
You have the beginning stages of carpal tunnel syndrome. You may want to take some time to really look at your right hand playing position. Are you bending at the wrist the whole time? That could put unwanted stress on your hand. Try to make some adjustments in bass height and angle to make it easier on your hand. This can be really frustrating and painful if it gets worse and you may want to see an orthopedic specialist if it continues.
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+100
Take the advice of someone who has CTS and get to a Dr. tomorrow and have it checked out. The faster you get treatment, the faster you will be able to return to playing. Forgo treatment, and you may soon be unable to play at all.
 
#9
See a doc that specializes in wrists. Bring your bass. Demonstrate. He'll figure it out.

The longer you wait, the worse it gets, the longer it takes to cure. Stuff goes through narrow passages in your wrist. You irritate them because of your technique. They're rubbing against something. They get irritated, the swell, and now the space that was too tight before is even tighter. Its a vicious cycle, and feeds on itself. Technical term is impingement.

After you play, ice down the wrist. Take motrin or other nsaid to help the swelling.

Also, should cut down on your playing to give it a chance to heal. May have to cut out completely for a while depending on how bad it is. You need to gradually build up to playing a lot.

Concentrate on playing with a light touch also. Get lessons to make sure you are doing it right. Just a couple to make sure your hand positions are good.

And if it only happens when you sit down, STOP SITTING DOWN. Play standing up. Sitting is putting the bass in a different orientation that's causing extra strain. Stop irritating it or it'll never get better.

Randy
 
#10
Could be wrist, elbow or neck. Posture changes drastically between playing seated or standing. If I'm trying out basses in a shop where I need to do it seated, I lose sensation in my hands.
Standing is fine unless I hunch over for some reason.
If it's just the right hand, it's most likely in your wrist or elbow. Pay attention to the angle of you arm and see how you change it between sitting and standing. It only takes a little bit of tension to irritate nerves.
You body is telling you you're doing something wrong.
Botton line is you need to correct your technique and should find a doctor who specializes in sports injury and rehab and really explain the issue well.
 
#13
slapdaaria said:
This did not do this like 2 weeks ago but its getting worse. When i use my index finger and my ring finger back and forth it makes the palm of my hand tingle like its asleep and it locks up, I also play drums in a thrash band so that might be a factor cause my hands are used to going certain ways i dont know please help! :confused:
Click to expand...

This has happenned to me a few times as well. What I was told is it's a potasium deficency that causes your muscle to lock up. Eat a bannana around gig time and make sure you stay hydrated. I don't like banannas but I drink a lot of water on gigs. Hope this helps.
 
#14
I'm not a doctor but what you described is what I had and eventually it gets worse. I had the moderate stage of carpel tunnel. I had surgerly last year and honestly haven't had any problems since. Don't take my word though go see a doctor they will do a test to see how far along you are.
 
#15
i have been roofing over the last 8 months and i had to quit due to a mild case of CTS developing in my hands. it got to the point where the tingling kept me awake most nights. from what i learned about CTS, i had a mild case of it and would progress the longer i kept aggravating my arms. in some advanced cases the damage to the nerves in your hands can be irreversible and that was a huge wake up call to me.
now that after about a month and a half of resting those senstions are gone, and fortunately for me, it isn't reaggravated by playing my bass.
i would say that there must be a flaw in your technique somewhere and you need to find it.
 
#17
slapdaaria said:
Alright i think ill go to the doctor and see whats up, And i got a bass lesson tonight so i think ill tell my teacher whats going on.
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Good idea.

It's probably a product of bad posture and (as others have said) not stretching. Playing an instrument like the bass or even guitar puts a lot of stress on the hands and arms and if you don't prepare them before playing by stretching and warming up or protect them while playing by maintaining good playing posture you open the door for all sorts of maladies, mainly carpel-tunnel disorder and tendinitis. Neither of these are very much fun from what I gather and both can actually force you to stop playing permanently.
 
#18
slapdaaria said:
This did not do this like 2 weeks ago but its getting worse. When i use my index finger and my ring finger back and forth it makes the palm of my hand tingle like its asleep and it locks up, I also play drums in a thrash band so that might be a factor cause my hands are used to going certain ways i dont know please help! :confused:
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The thing to do 1st is drink more water. Cramps are often related to dehydration.

You can worry about carpel tunnel problems in a few days, For now drink a reasonable amount of water & see if that helps. 8-)
 
#19
Since there are many reasons why this could be happening, you need to see a doctor to find out the real reason. Since you hands will, and in particular your fingertips, reflect any sort of nerve interference from your neck through to those fingertips, it need to be investigated, diagnosed and treatment put in place if needed. All you will find on here is well meaning advice and some very bad suggestions, so see a doctor and find out what needs to be done.:)

p.s.
did i mention about seeing a doctor?
 

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