Double Bass Pain in left arm when pressing down with pinky...

[DinnerWithAGypsy]

First time visiting the DB forums!

I'm starting this thread to get some opinions!
I just returned to school for my final year of undergrad. study. I will admit didn't play any upright bass over the summer; my bass belongs to the school as I haven't personally bought my own yet.

Basically, I've somehow developed this pain in my left arm, the forearm area, that I noticed yesterday. I only feel pain when I hold down a string to the fingerboard with my left pinky. When I use my left index or middle finger all is well, no pain.

What could the problem be? My classical teacher simply told me to rest it. Is it just a matter of jumping too hastily back into practicing after not having done so for about three months? I don't want to develop a long-term problem. I've been playing upright for three years now and have never before experienced anything like this.

 

[Sunshine34]

IMHO your completely right.

you havent used your pinky in that way in a long time...
3 months is along time for muscles to lose strength they once had. Keep playing and im sure youll go back to normal have you taken a break like this before? after having much use of your pinky?

 

[DinnerWithAGypsy]

IMHO your completely right.

you havent used your pinky in that way in a long time...
3 months is along time for muscles to lose strength they once had. Keep playing and im sure youll go back to normal have you taken a break like this before? after having much use of your pinky?

No, I've never taken a break like this before.
My freshman year of college, I didn't even play upright. My sophomore year, I only played with a bow. Last year I finally really dove into upright and was playing both with a bow and pizzicato in a jazz context. So the summer between my sophomore and junior years I didn't practice either, but the contrast wasn't as extreme as this summer.

 

[Sunshine34]

ok makes sense. just give it a bit of time to really get your fourth finger back in shape. but just dont over work it. been ther done that. haha if you can try to take down time to play. i actually suggest trying to perform left hand pizz that will strnghten that pinky. if you work it itll come back.

 

[BassinCT]

This happened to me and two of my bass playing friends in college. I was finishing up a grueling performance schedule- 18 gigs within 22 days, and eating poorly. The two-a-day thing put me over the edge. My tendons hurt, I couldn't make a fist (in either hand) and my fingertips became tingly. I had a the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome + tendonitis.

Reduce inflammation:
1. Take it easy on the practice for a couple days, if possible. If you are heading into placement auditions, listen to and study your excerpts as much as possible without your instrument. do not play through pain.
2. Ice it- 20 minutes when you experience discomfort, and after practice
3. on a full stomach, take 600mg Ibuprofen. 400mg will kill the pain, but 600 will get the inflammation down. If the pain is severe, you may have to keep a steady dose going to get this under control.

Next, get a referral to a physical therapist to learn a proper stretching regimen, stick with it and make it part of your practice routine- don't even consider a surgeon unless a PT tells you that is your only option.

Lastly- and please accept my apologies if you already know this or if I sound like a preachy dad... Avoid foods that will raise your blood glucose levels- Anything with refined sugars: sweets, sodas; white bread (yes, pizza), high fructose corn syrup and alcohol. There is a very strong relationship between high blood glucose levels and inflammation- not to mention diabetes.

I'm hoping this goes away quickly! I had to stop playing for two weeks, but I got it under control. peace,
Rodger

 

[DinnerWithAGypsy]

This happened to me and two of my bass playing friends in college. I was finishing up a grueling performance schedule- 18 gigs within 22 days, and eating poorly. The two-a-day thing put me over the edge. My tendons hurt, I couldn't make a fist (in either hand) and my fingertips became tingly. I had a the beginnings of carpal tunnel syndrome + tendonitis.

Reduce inflammation:
1. Take it easy on the practice for a couple days, if possible. If you are heading into placement auditions, listen to and study your excerpts as much as possible without your instrument. do not play through pain.
2. Ice it- 20 minutes when you experience discomfort, and after practice
3. on a full stomach, take 600mg Ibuprofen. 400mg will kill the pain, but 600 will get the inflammation down. If the pain is severe, you may have to keep a steady dose going to get this under control.

Next, get a referral to a physical therapist to learn a proper stretching regimen, stick with it and make it part of your practice routine- don't even consider a surgeon unless a PT tells you that is your only option.

Lastly- and please accept my apologies if you already know this or if I sound like a preachy dad... Avoid foods that will raise your blood glucose levels- Anything with refined sugars: sweets, sodas; white bread (yes, pizza), high fructose corn syrup and alcohol. There is a very strong relationship between high blood glucose levels and inflammation- not to mention diabetes.

I'm hoping this goes away quickly! I had to stop playing for two weeks, but I got it under control. peace,
Rodger

Rodger, thank you so much for the incredible response. Very detailed, and it helped a lot.

While it sounds like your condition grew a bit more serious than mine was when I began to notice it on Sunday and then even moreso on Monday (at which point I became seriously alarmed), I was definitely experiencing some stage of the same thing.

I basically took it easy as much as possible. My instructors / the jazz faculty have heard me play upright, so they understood when I explained why I was auditioning for jazz ensembles on electric bass (something I hated to do, but better safe than sorry I figured).

I also tried to consciously lay off of crappy foods like you mentioned as well as soda. Since Monday I think I've only had one Mt. Dew, so I'm doing pretty good for myself. Whenever I remember, I've been taking a couple of ibuprofen with meals, too.

I started holding my arms straight out at a 90 degree angle to my body before I play with my palms facing downward and stretching my fingers out and up, then with my palms facing upward and stretching my fingers out and down.

All this to say, today was Wednesday, and I have already noticed an extensive improvement. There is still a bit of tenderness, but tonight at orchestra rehearsal I was able to use my left pinky a fair amount. I still cheated on a lot of the fingerings just because I want to make sure I don't overdo it and potentially ruin progress I've made.

All in all, I feel like I'm definitely on the road to recovery. Thank you so much.
This freaked me out quite a bit. I've heard a lot of horror stories. I'm hoping the healing will continue at the same speed and that I will be at 100% by this coming Monday.

 

[BassinCT]

Definitely don't be alarmed by others' horror stories. The good news is that you can take charge of it and if you stay on track, you can avoid seeing a physical therapist or orthopedic doc. Here are some additional stretches to avoid a recurrence.

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peace,
R

 

[DinnerWithAGypsy]

Definitely don't be alarmed by others' horror stories. The good news is that you can take charge of it and if you stay on track, you can avoid seeing a physical therapist or orthopedic doc. Here are some additional stretches to avoid a recurrence.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

peace,
R

Thanks much! I will check those out and hopefully incorporate them into my pre-playing stretching from here on out!

Cheers!