Left Forearm/hand issues

[asahisuperdry]

Hello all,

Long story short, I picked up my bass again after about a four year lay off about two weeks ago. I am pleased that I remember quite a bit but I have an issue. My left forearm is sore and the pain radiates into the top of the wrist and back of my hand. I am pretty sure it's not cts as ice helps and I've hurt myself enough from sports to know about inflammation. The pain in the back of the hand is almost arthritic; there is amfamily history of that unfortunate condition. My wrist is pretty straight and I am making a point not to stretch out my fingers much.

I think maybe it's because I have a tendency to get lost and play too long in one shot. Also, I am guilty of sitting on my bed sometimes when lazy. I notice a tendency to squeeze the strings especially with metal and rock songs. Trying to stop that...oddly reggae, blues and more relaxed music doesn't seem to cause me to dig in as much.

Also, I'm noticing a certain discomfort playing above the 7th fret or so. Especially on the E string I notice that problem. Looking at my bass' neck, the action seems to raise up the further up it goes.

Anyway, with apologies for the rambling nature of this, do you think getting set up and light gauge (40 thru 95) strings would be helpful along with playing whilst standing and not digging in like I know I shouldn't?

For reference, my bass is a Yamaha RBX270 and the strings are 45 thru 105, I believe. It hasn't been set up in 4+ years.

 

[pcake]

you might consider a few days off, lighter strings and a nice low setup. light strings helped me a lot. not digging in will help... but it's hard to remember. but lower action often makes me work a lot less hard, so less digging in. of course, that means a new nut, but it's worth it.

funny thing, but if you start lifting weights after years off, you aren't going to be able to do the same number of reps with the same weight, yet musicians always jump right back in (i'm guilty of this, too), using hand and arm muscles in ways they haven't been used in years without slowly easing into it. it's a great way to cause yourself pain and even injury. after a few weeks of shorter play, i jumped right back in, and that hasn't worked out too well.

if the issues continue or come back, a trip to a doctor is probably in order.

 

[JimmyM]

Death grip, bent wrist, and improper thumb positioning are the main culprits of left hand/arm pain. Would have to actually see you play to be specific about what you're doing wrong, but you should be able to play all day without a moment of pain. If you're getting pain, you're doing something wrong. I might suggest a teacher who knows good techniques for pain-free playing.

 

[asahisuperdry]

Death grip, bent wrist, and improper thumb positioning are the main culprits of left hand/arm pain. Would have to actually see you play to be specific about what you're doing wrong, but you should be able to play all day without a moment of pain. If you're getting pain, you're doing something wrong. I might suggest a teacher who knows good techniques for pain-free playing.

I have been attempting to use the 'hitchhiker thumb' from the Developing Safe Left hand technique youtube video I found linked here. I used to line my thumb up with my index finger but now I'm putting it just outside. I'm guessing it's death grip that did it, possibly coinciding with higher action on a bass that has not been set up in years.

 

[JimmyM]

I have been attempting to use the 'hitchhiker thumb' from the Developing Safe Left hand technique youtube video I found linked here. I used to line my thumb up with my index finger but now I'm putting it just outside. I'm guessing it's death grip that did it, possibly coinciding with higher action on a bass that has not been set up in years.

By all means, re-setup your bass! I have my action as low as I can stand it, and it does help.

 

[asahisuperdry]

By all means, re-setup your bass! I have my action as low as I can stand it, and it does help.

Yeah, I'm gonna do that. I was doodling with a bass in a shop with probably a recent setup in the past 6 months and no pain at all in the hands then.

On another note, apparently I have no idea how tube amps work, but that's a different story.