I found out it was a trapped nerve near my elbow. No pain around the neck area. Just fell asleep on the arm. Normally it sorts itself out after a few minutes, but the fact it was prolonged was worrying. Seems to be getting better now which is good
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Health Related Issues To Playing
- Thread starter Fergie Fulton
- Start date
I found out it was a trapped nerve near my elbow. No pain around the neck area. Just fell asleep on the arm. Normally it sorts itself out after a few minutes, but the fact it was prolonged was worrying. Seems to be getting better now which is good
No probs, it will take any things from a few minutes to a few days depending on the impingement.
In your elbow you will feel it in your little finger/ring finger via the Ulnar nerve, so here is so cool info,
I will in the next up-date of the Health links provide more info on, Nerve Flossing and Nerve Glides...Google the links if you have an Interest, like i said your issue is Ulnar Nerve based.
Glad you are finding improvement.
F.
8
Thank you! Much appreciated. I will keep this information in mind. Seems like some great stuff to know
No probs, it pays to know the basics of your techniques anatomy, in this way you will learn to understand how to get the best from your body, how to "fuel" it, and of course when you feel pain... is it related to your playing or related to your life.
Good luck with it all, please feel free to up-date this thread with how you got on, if the stretches worked etc...as their will be others in the future suffering the same issues. Knowing that others have suffered the same and got over it is a big boost to suffers.
F.
So, this happened.
Link Removed
Boxer's fracture and wrist sprain. One of those mechanical things that happen when you work in a shipyard. Couldn't fret my bass right for weeks, and now I don't have the strength I used to in that hand, particularly in my ring and little fingers. String tension never bothered me before, but it does now. I'm using a gripper and doing stretching exercises trying to rebuild strength and flexibility, but if anyone has any good ideas on rehabbing from such an injury, I'm all ears.
Link Removed
Boxer's fracture and wrist sprain. One of those mechanical things that happen when you work in a shipyard. Couldn't fret my bass right for weeks, and now I don't have the strength I used to in that hand, particularly in my ring and little fingers. String tension never bothered me before, but it does now. I'm using a gripper and doing stretching exercises trying to rebuild strength and flexibility, but if anyone has any good ideas on rehabbing from such an injury, I'm all ears.
I've been having terrible wrist pain and the feeling of my hand locking up almost like I'm having a cramp accompanied by the feeling of pins and needles in the middle of my hand and my fingers start bending themselves inward toward my palm every time I have band practice about twenty minutes in, I've been doing my stretches routinely before each song and it still won't help I have a appointment to get it checked out as I have a bunch of gigs coming up and I can't be having that in the middle of the set, I seriously hope it isn't carpal tunnel.
I'm having a very similar issue. I will practice for long periods of time, and after a while I start to cramp in my wrists and fingers. I do stretch. One thing I know I must do is drink more water.
As far as CT syndrome is concerned, I think one of the signs is that your thumbs will feel as though they are freezing cold. I'm not a doctor; however I am extremely good looking, and charismatic. In any case, good luck.
As far as CT syndrome is concerned, I think one of the signs is that your thumbs will feel as though they are freezing cold. I'm not a doctor; however I am extremely good looking, and charismatic. In any case, good luck.
I do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which plays hell with my fingers, not to mention the fact that I am being investigated for Rheumatoid Arthritis. This means that my fingers hurt constantly.
At 42 I have develop arthritis in my right hand, wrist and elbow. Its absolute hell. I also decided now was the time to switch to a 6 string. Makes sense.
Healthy Hands - Harvard Health
This is a paid report from Harvard University Medical. I've ordered other reports. They're really good.
Welcome25 is a June coupon for 25% off.
"Here is just a sampling of what’s covered:
Osteoarthritis * Rheumatoid arthritis * De Quervain’s tendinitis * Trigger finger * Tennis elbow * Dupuytren’s disease * Ganglion cysts * Carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome * Other pinched nerve problems * Repetitive strain injury * Traumatic hand and wrist injuries * Wrist sprains * Finger sprains, jams, and dislocations * Tendon injuries * Fractures * Finger amputations * Psoriatic arthritis * Raynaud’s syndrome.
In this Special Health Report, Harvard Medical School experts reveal:
YMMV.
FYI: No financial ties or commission earned.
Yeah, it's a Zombie but a goodie.
This is a paid report from Harvard University Medical. I've ordered other reports. They're really good.
Welcome25 is a June coupon for 25% off.
"Here is just a sampling of what’s covered:
Osteoarthritis * Rheumatoid arthritis * De Quervain’s tendinitis * Trigger finger * Tennis elbow * Dupuytren’s disease * Ganglion cysts * Carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome * Other pinched nerve problems * Repetitive strain injury * Traumatic hand and wrist injuries * Wrist sprains * Finger sprains, jams, and dislocations * Tendon injuries * Fractures * Finger amputations * Psoriatic arthritis * Raynaud’s syndrome.
In this Special Health Report, Harvard Medical School experts reveal:
- How yoga may help ease the symptoms of hand arthritis
- The habit that can cause your hands to swell and reduce grip strength
- 11 ways to prevent hand problems that come from using a computer
- The problem with steroid injections – they may bring relief, but can also destroy bone and cartilage
- What to do if you have a ganglion cyst
- Newer surgical technique for carpal tunnel surgery that minimizes complications -- and three ways to treat the problem without surgery!
- How to tell if your hand pain is minor or if you need to see a doctor"
YMMV.
FYI: No financial ties or commission earned.
Yeah, it's a Zombie but a goodie.
Ha ha. As I read through all these conditions my paranoid brain tells me that I have about 2/3rds of them!
Hello to all
I'm wondering if anyone has had issues caused by severe thumb arthritis?
I'm age 71 been a bassist since 1969 and now my thumb arthritis has gotten to the point where playing is almost impossible for any length of time. Since thumb arthritis is always bilateral, both hands are affected, with the left (i'm a southpaw but play right) being the worst. The bone on bone contact is causing me very severe pain, loss of hand strength, and loss of grip strength. You don't realize exactly how important your thumb is until you can't use it.
My ortho doctor had advised that I need to have a Trapezium Resection Arthroplasty performed due to the fact that cortisone injections, PT, and meloxicam is no longer effective for me. I will add that I had some prior issues with trigger thumb. Now looking back that was probably an early indication of a worsening arthritic condition for me.
TBH the thought of having a bone removed from my thumb scares the hell out of me seeing as the thumb is very important part of playing bass. I don't slappa da bass mon, but have always played with my left thumb resting on the back of the neck. And The thumb of my right hand anchored on top of the pickup on my P bass. I asked the doctor if I was going to lose any use of my thumb explaining to him that I played bass and guitar. He says it "probably" won't affect my ability to play. Also noting that playing "might" be good post-op PT for recovery.
Anyone had this procedure done? If so was it successful? I can't really play very much right now so I've decided that if it ends up that my skills are diminished post-op, then, so be it. I will have the knowledge that I was able to make beautiful music for over 50 years and that's something to be proud of.
I'm wondering if anyone has had issues caused by severe thumb arthritis?
I'm age 71 been a bassist since 1969 and now my thumb arthritis has gotten to the point where playing is almost impossible for any length of time. Since thumb arthritis is always bilateral, both hands are affected, with the left (i'm a southpaw but play right) being the worst. The bone on bone contact is causing me very severe pain, loss of hand strength, and loss of grip strength. You don't realize exactly how important your thumb is until you can't use it.
My ortho doctor had advised that I need to have a Trapezium Resection Arthroplasty performed due to the fact that cortisone injections, PT, and meloxicam is no longer effective for me. I will add that I had some prior issues with trigger thumb. Now looking back that was probably an early indication of a worsening arthritic condition for me.
TBH the thought of having a bone removed from my thumb scares the hell out of me seeing as the thumb is very important part of playing bass. I don't slappa da bass mon, but have always played with my left thumb resting on the back of the neck. And The thumb of my right hand anchored on top of the pickup on my P bass. I asked the doctor if I was going to lose any use of my thumb explaining to him that I played bass and guitar. He says it "probably" won't affect my ability to play. Also noting that playing "might" be good post-op PT for recovery.
Anyone had this procedure done? If so was it successful? I can't really play very much right now so I've decided that if it ends up that my skills are diminished post-op, then, so be it. I will have the knowledge that I was able to make beautiful music for over 50 years and that's something to be proud of.
I've had trouble with both osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis for some time. At times the thumb joints would flare up pretty badly.
Haven't had surgery on the thumbs (both shoulders have been replaced), but since my doctor prescribed hydroxychloroquine for the RA my thumbs have been pretty good.
Haven't had surgery on the thumbs (both shoulders have been replaced), but since my doctor prescribed hydroxychloroquine for the RA my thumbs have been pretty good.
Has anyone here tried switching to tapping/touch style playing due to their tendonitis? Does the lesser motion and slightly flatter finger position allow you to play when standard fretting/picking won't? I'd like to try it (dabbled minimally with it years ago) but have to let my hands heal up via rest for a few weeks more... thanks for any feedback.
I've read that a calcium/magnesium supplement in a 2:1 ratio can help tendinitis. Solaray has a product with that. Or you could take separate calcium and magnesium supplements in that proportion.
My orthopedist diagnosed rotator cuff tendinitis, so I tried that. Seemed to help.
#### FIRST - MODS YOU MAY REMOVE THIS IF YOU FEEL IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE THANKS ####
To start, my surgeon couldn't say for sure if my years of bass playing contributed to or caused my thumb arthritis. However, he didn't rule it out either. He did say that the more joints get used over the years the more wear and tear can lead to these types of problems. On a more positive side he said that "IF" I could still play afterwards, it would possibly be good recovery therapy for me. Also, be advised that there are many different procedures for this and whatever is proposed to you may be different than what I had done. If so, you should discuss that with your surgeon.
For anyone suffering from Basal joint arthritis and is either considering or putting off surgery, I thought I'd post my journey here for anyone who wants to know about what's involved. I had my left thumb done on 06/13/2023. At age 71 I've played bass/guitar since 1969. Thumb arthritis in both hands, but worse in the left which because I'm a southpaw is my dominant hand. However, I play righty. Because thumb arthritis is always bilateral, I'll be facing another procedure for my right hand down the road. I got to the point where steroid injections. pills, and braces finally stopped providing relief so surgery was/is my only option left.
My surgeon used the Hammock ligamentoplasty procedure. The Trapezium bone is removed along with any bone chips or bone spurs and a "hammock" is built from surrounding tendons to support the rest of the thumb. From what I understand about that procedure, the recovery time is quicker than other methods and requires less harvesting of tendons. I was out during the procedure. I believe they used propofol for that. They also did a nerve block on my arm. I was given a choice of a full arm block from the shoulder down, or just the arm only. I went with arm only which was just above my elbow to the ends of my fingers. IOW ya can't feel nothing. That alone is strange. The surgery took roughly 90 minutes and was performed as an outpatient in a surgery center
After surgery a temporary cast is placed over the forearm, wrist, and hand leaving the fingers and just the tip of the thumb exposed. A big foam block is added to help in keeping the arm/hand elevated and also as a little bit of cushioning so that I don't bash it against things. Because of the nerve block your arm is pretty much it's going to be flopping around and you don't have any feeling in it so you could hurt yourself. At roughly 4 days post-op, I could remove the foam block and use a sling for limited periods of time. As you can imagine, being one handed is a big PITA. Also, it's not the easiest thing to deal with that big piece of foam around your forearm. Sleeping was difficult due to the size of the block. I think the block was made out of Barney recycled or a failed attempt by Minecraft Steve to develop a new arm type. The cast they put on after surgery will come off on around 7 days post-op. Apparently they will replace it with some type of removable splint that I can take off if I need to shower or whatever and I cannot wait for that. You can't get the temporary cast wet at all, so no showers.
*** Trust me when I say you WILL need help doing even the simplest things post-op. Full time help from Family or friends IS ESSENTIAL possibly for two or more weeks depending on your speed of recovery. If you are considering this type of surgery I highly suggest you spend a few days prior to making a decision by taking your dominant hand and putting it in a temporary sling and see how you do one-handed with almost every single everyday task. Even the most simple ones (like me typing this) will become difficult and show you why you'll need post-op help ***
Since you can't shower, I was able to find some very good no water shower wipes that worked great while I couldn't shower with water.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KQTTP7W?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Or, you could use these cast covers and shower with them on. They also work real good. I used them after my cast was removed and they worked perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078Q7WJSG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Be advised that these are not affiliate links, I make zero by suggesting these. Just trying to help others.
I Had my daughter use her spray dry shampoo on my long old hippie hair. She has to brush that mess out and get my hair tie on till I can use my hand again.
6 days post-op Hard cast removed, X-rays to check that everything is in the proper position. A SPICA splint was placed which I can remove to shower. YAY! Still have pain but can move my fingers into a fist fairly easily but not without pain and stiffness. Doctor says that's awesome for only 6 days post-op, but don't move the thumb too much as it needs to stabilize. FWIW, I started gently moving my fingers right after coming home from surgery. A little bit at a time, baby steps so to speak. I have some swelling around the incision area that's tender and painful. Which is to be expected after having a bone and bone chips removed and tendons moved and adjusted. I'm Restricted from grabbing motions or otherwise using that thumb or hand till the Doc clears it. No set time yet. Typing one handed sucks LOL I find myself Using my hand without thinking about it. You can't go decades of using your hand and then all of a sudden just stop without having a slip-up here and there.
**** disclaimer - some people, especially those with weak stomachs, might find these pictures difficult to view. But rest assured any horror movie or TV show is far worse than these pictures, but I feel the need to warn anyways. ****
Here's journey in pictures. I wanted to post them so if anyone needs to know what's involved, they can see.
The following are 6 days post-op. I bruise easily so it looks far worse than it is.
I'll keep everyone posted on my recovery. If you have questions feel free to PM me.
Thanks
60bass
To start, my surgeon couldn't say for sure if my years of bass playing contributed to or caused my thumb arthritis. However, he didn't rule it out either. He did say that the more joints get used over the years the more wear and tear can lead to these types of problems. On a more positive side he said that "IF" I could still play afterwards, it would possibly be good recovery therapy for me. Also, be advised that there are many different procedures for this and whatever is proposed to you may be different than what I had done. If so, you should discuss that with your surgeon.
For anyone suffering from Basal joint arthritis and is either considering or putting off surgery, I thought I'd post my journey here for anyone who wants to know about what's involved. I had my left thumb done on 06/13/2023. At age 71 I've played bass/guitar since 1969. Thumb arthritis in both hands, but worse in the left which because I'm a southpaw is my dominant hand. However, I play righty. Because thumb arthritis is always bilateral, I'll be facing another procedure for my right hand down the road. I got to the point where steroid injections. pills, and braces finally stopped providing relief so surgery was/is my only option left.
My surgeon used the Hammock ligamentoplasty procedure. The Trapezium bone is removed along with any bone chips or bone spurs and a "hammock" is built from surrounding tendons to support the rest of the thumb. From what I understand about that procedure, the recovery time is quicker than other methods and requires less harvesting of tendons. I was out during the procedure. I believe they used propofol for that. They also did a nerve block on my arm. I was given a choice of a full arm block from the shoulder down, or just the arm only. I went with arm only which was just above my elbow to the ends of my fingers. IOW ya can't feel nothing. That alone is strange. The surgery took roughly 90 minutes and was performed as an outpatient in a surgery center
After surgery a temporary cast is placed over the forearm, wrist, and hand leaving the fingers and just the tip of the thumb exposed. A big foam block is added to help in keeping the arm/hand elevated and also as a little bit of cushioning so that I don't bash it against things. Because of the nerve block your arm is pretty much it's going to be flopping around and you don't have any feeling in it so you could hurt yourself. At roughly 4 days post-op, I could remove the foam block and use a sling for limited periods of time. As you can imagine, being one handed is a big PITA. Also, it's not the easiest thing to deal with that big piece of foam around your forearm. Sleeping was difficult due to the size of the block. I think the block was made out of Barney recycled or a failed attempt by Minecraft Steve to develop a new arm type. The cast they put on after surgery will come off on around 7 days post-op. Apparently they will replace it with some type of removable splint that I can take off if I need to shower or whatever and I cannot wait for that. You can't get the temporary cast wet at all, so no showers.
*** Trust me when I say you WILL need help doing even the simplest things post-op. Full time help from Family or friends IS ESSENTIAL possibly for two or more weeks depending on your speed of recovery. If you are considering this type of surgery I highly suggest you spend a few days prior to making a decision by taking your dominant hand and putting it in a temporary sling and see how you do one-handed with almost every single everyday task. Even the most simple ones (like me typing this) will become difficult and show you why you'll need post-op help ***
Since you can't shower, I was able to find some very good no water shower wipes that worked great while I couldn't shower with water.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KQTTP7W?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Or, you could use these cast covers and shower with them on. They also work real good. I used them after my cast was removed and they worked perfectly.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078Q7WJSG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Be advised that these are not affiliate links, I make zero by suggesting these. Just trying to help others.
I Had my daughter use her spray dry shampoo on my long old hippie hair. She has to brush that mess out and get my hair tie on till I can use my hand again.
6 days post-op Hard cast removed, X-rays to check that everything is in the proper position. A SPICA splint was placed which I can remove to shower. YAY! Still have pain but can move my fingers into a fist fairly easily but not without pain and stiffness. Doctor says that's awesome for only 6 days post-op, but don't move the thumb too much as it needs to stabilize. FWIW, I started gently moving my fingers right after coming home from surgery. A little bit at a time, baby steps so to speak. I have some swelling around the incision area that's tender and painful. Which is to be expected after having a bone and bone chips removed and tendons moved and adjusted. I'm Restricted from grabbing motions or otherwise using that thumb or hand till the Doc clears it. No set time yet. Typing one handed sucks LOL I find myself Using my hand without thinking about it. You can't go decades of using your hand and then all of a sudden just stop without having a slip-up here and there.
**** disclaimer - some people, especially those with weak stomachs, might find these pictures difficult to view. But rest assured any horror movie or TV show is far worse than these pictures, but I feel the need to warn anyways. ****
Here's journey in pictures. I wanted to post them so if anyone needs to know what's involved, they can see.
The following are 6 days post-op. I bruise easily so it looks far worse than it is.
I'll keep everyone posted on my recovery. If you have questions feel free to PM me.
Thanks
60bass
Last edited:
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Came on this thread to extol the virtues of Meloxicam. I’m 64. Hurt errywhere! Recently got another cortisone shot, and my orthopedist prescribed Meloxicam. I was of the school of thought that ANSIDs just make your ears ring, and am completely averse to opiates. Son of a bitch if that Meloxicam dint work! The very next day after the first dose, I could actually walk down steps without doing the crab walk. I’d been prescribed it before, but thought that only opiates could relieve my pain. I refuse to take any more opiates. I was miserable. I’m here to tell anyone here that hurts and refuses to mess with pills that this one works. Hope I could help someone.
