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Double Bass Thumb cracking

M

MisterBeagle

Jul 14, 2007
22
0
Virginia Beach
#1
Hello all!

I hope I'm not coming across as the annoying spammer! I've had a problem with my left thumb cracking allot. Not the saddle joint, but where there's a full digit. It first started doing it when I jammed it sliding into a base during a baseball game. It was swollen like a hot-dog, and it took a week or two to go away. It's been about 4 months since, and its been cracking allot ever since. It doesn't hurt when I play, not more than any other person's thumb would after a long session. I'm just worried, since it looks like music is going to be my career, and having a thumb that hurts too much to play would be afwully inconvenient for playing an instrument what requires such finger strength. My father says that it's because the cartiledge hasn't grown back, and since I use that joint allot, it will naturally take a while to heal.

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? And more importantly, is this something to worry about!
 
#2
My thumb cracks often. I think it's the same thing you are talking about. It usually happens when my thumb has been in the same position for a while. Sometimes it happens randomly. It never hurts it just pops. I think it's the same type of thing when people crack their knuckles.
 
#3
Hey Mr Beagle, First of all, did you get an x ray ? If you do not have pain then this is a good sign. BUT since I am not an MD. I would discuss these things with a trained MD or physical therapist/sports MD.

Secondly if music is going to be your life then you seriously need to consider your sports choices. I myself broke both my right thumb(skiing) and my left writs (soccer) within one year of each other. I have not played soccer for 13 years and I ski with great care.

My thumb does click. No Pain. It may not be that the cartilage is growing back but that the colagen fibers are re aligning themselves or that you have stretched a ligament .
If you are young you should grow out of this situation after a while no problem. Be very careful if MDs start talking about cortisone injections or surgery to stop this clicking.

Hope this helps but go and talk to a pro....

G
 

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