Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
When Your Wrists Let You Down
- Thread starter sal4bass
- Start date
i broke my left hand about 6 months ago which sucked... the only thing that could've cheered me up was hearing and playing my bass... no... 6 slow weeks before the doctor said i could play again. then when i started back up again my hand was so weak the action on my bass was so painful to my ring and pinky i had to have more therapy. it was basically a 2 1/2 month process will i could play good again
look into therapy... i know your problem is much worst than mine but it's worth a shot... i'm really sorry to hear that though best wishes
Thanks Will.
I am a Software Engineer and type pretty quickly. I play guitar and bass, and enjoy my Playstation 2 every now and then. Last November, I was over active and paid for it: after typing all day and practicing for an hour a night, I decided it would be a good idea to get into video games. After 2 weeks of doing all this every day, I right-clicked my mouse and felt a pop just to the left of my middle-finger knuckle on the back of my right hand
It swelled up and was a little numb--and I had to play at church the following Sunday. Later, I felt pain in the muscle below my left thumb on the palm side. In addition, I have started the early stages of carpel tunnel several times.
I went to a hand specialist and he told me the following, which I have found quite helpful:
- If you get less than 7 hours of sleep a night, you will continue to have problems. The specialist told me that each night, our bodies repair the damage we do to them every day--particularly our muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If we don't get enough sleep, as we get older, it will catch up with us in the form of more joint and repetitive-use injuries. At the time, I was getting 6 hours a night on a good week.
- Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!
- Once it isn't painful, exercise your hands regularly.
- Get on Alieve and stay on it for 6 months. Since it is coated, it is slow release and lasts 8-12 hours. He also told me that once it heals up, take it an hour before I play if I feel even a hint of it returning. He said anti-inflammatory's keep the blood flowing and speed up healing for these kinds of injuries.
Well, I found, in my estimation, a miracle device. I have been using it pretty regularly to handle carpel tunnel issues (which it does better than anything else I have tried), but once I started using it to build up my strength, I started recovering faster. Its a low impact hand and arm device called the Dynaflex Pro Gyro Exerciser and it has saved my hands and wrists:
http://www.dynaflex-intl.com/flash_site/musicgyros.html
When I was playing video games constantly, I developed pain in my wrist and numbness on my forearms right behind my wrists. I started using this thing and while the numbness took a while to go away, the pain is mostly gone--if I keep up my routine (5-10 minutes a day), my previous symptoms no longer happen. I recommended this device to someone with similar wrist weakness and he noticed an improvement--and for $20, its worth a shot
What about the pop in November, you ask? Well, I had stopped using the Dynaflex during that 2 week period--my mistake Oh, and since this injury, my PS2 is collecting dust.
And finally, if you haven't yet, check out Norm Stockton's "Grooving for Heaven" DVD series (4 volumes + a chart book, if you want it)--so far, the best bass video series I have encountered. In the first volume, he talks a bit about when he had tendinitis and shows warm up exercises you can do, before you pick up your bass, that can make a real difference.
Hope this helps!
It swelled up and was a little numb--and I had to play at church the following Sunday. Later, I felt pain in the muscle below my left thumb on the palm side. In addition, I have started the early stages of carpel tunnel several times.I went to a hand specialist and he told me the following, which I have found quite helpful:
- If you get less than 7 hours of sleep a night, you will continue to have problems. The specialist told me that each night, our bodies repair the damage we do to them every day--particularly our muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If we don't get enough sleep, as we get older, it will catch up with us in the form of more joint and repetitive-use injuries. At the time, I was getting 6 hours a night on a good week.
- Stretch, Stretch, Stretch!
- Once it isn't painful, exercise your hands regularly.
- Get on Alieve and stay on it for 6 months. Since it is coated, it is slow release and lasts 8-12 hours. He also told me that once it heals up, take it an hour before I play if I feel even a hint of it returning. He said anti-inflammatory's keep the blood flowing and speed up healing for these kinds of injuries.
Well, I found, in my estimation, a miracle device. I have been using it pretty regularly to handle carpel tunnel issues (which it does better than anything else I have tried), but once I started using it to build up my strength, I started recovering faster. Its a low impact hand and arm device called the Dynaflex Pro Gyro Exerciser and it has saved my hands and wrists:
http://www.dynaflex-intl.com/flash_site/musicgyros.html
When I was playing video games constantly, I developed pain in my wrist and numbness on my forearms right behind my wrists. I started using this thing and while the numbness took a while to go away, the pain is mostly gone--if I keep up my routine (5-10 minutes a day), my previous symptoms no longer happen. I recommended this device to someone with similar wrist weakness and he noticed an improvement--and for $20, its worth a shot
What about the pop in November, you ask? Well, I had stopped using the Dynaflex during that 2 week period--my mistake
Oh, and since this injury, my PS2 is collecting dust.And finally, if you haven't yet, check out Norm Stockton's "Grooving for Heaven" DVD series (4 volumes + a chart book, if you want it)--so far, the best bass video series I have encountered. In the first volume, he talks a bit about when he had tendinitis and shows warm up exercises you can do, before you pick up your bass, that can make a real difference.
Hope this helps!
Hi!
I'll give you the most effective solutions for me. And it was only after my wife explained what the real problem of my wrists were that I was and am able to treat my symptoms.
For starters the problem does not begin with your wrists -- though it may end there. The problem is in the muscles in your forearms. More than likely if you press down with your thumb on them they will feel tight and knotted up and have pain.
Well, when muscles are knotted, blood can't flow to the nerves. The lack of blood flow to your wrists is causing the nerve damage in your wrists.
Here's what you do. In addition to your hand stretches, you must daily massage those forearm muscles and get them loosened up. Make sure to drink a lot of water, as well. this will move the build up of lactic acids out of your body that the massage therapy has loosened.
To effectively massage these muscles, take lotion and apply it to the bottom of the opposite forearm. Then lay the forearm you want to work on flat on a table palm side down. Take your lotioned arm and lay it perpendicular on the arm on the table. Use the weight of your body to apply pressure. Then push your lotioned arm from the crook of your elbow down to your hand. Repeat for several minutes as needed. Then switch arms.
I would do this every day 2-3 times a day.
For as long as you have been playing, I'm sure there isn't much you don't need technique wise, but I would suggest the floating hand Gary Willis approach on electric bass. You'll keep your wrist straighter, play with a lighter touch and use shoulder muscle groups that are much stronger than anything in your forearm or wrist.
For every hour of physical practice take at least a fifteen minute break.
Also, if the pain is that bad, get wrist braces to where at night to keep your wrists straight - take ibuprofen to reduce swelling. And, again, drink lots of water!
I'll give you the most effective solutions for me. And it was only after my wife explained what the real problem of my wrists were that I was and am able to treat my symptoms.
For starters the problem does not begin with your wrists -- though it may end there. The problem is in the muscles in your forearms. More than likely if you press down with your thumb on them they will feel tight and knotted up and have pain.
Well, when muscles are knotted, blood can't flow to the nerves. The lack of blood flow to your wrists is causing the nerve damage in your wrists.
Here's what you do. In addition to your hand stretches, you must daily massage those forearm muscles and get them loosened up. Make sure to drink a lot of water, as well. this will move the build up of lactic acids out of your body that the massage therapy has loosened.
To effectively massage these muscles, take lotion and apply it to the bottom of the opposite forearm. Then lay the forearm you want to work on flat on a table palm side down. Take your lotioned arm and lay it perpendicular on the arm on the table. Use the weight of your body to apply pressure. Then push your lotioned arm from the crook of your elbow down to your hand. Repeat for several minutes as needed. Then switch arms.
I would do this every day 2-3 times a day.
For as long as you have been playing, I'm sure there isn't much you don't need technique wise, but I would suggest the floating hand Gary Willis approach on electric bass. You'll keep your wrist straighter, play with a lighter touch and use shoulder muscle groups that are much stronger than anything in your forearm or wrist.
For every hour of physical practice take at least a fifteen minute break.
Also, if the pain is that bad, get wrist braces to where at night to keep your wrists straight - take ibuprofen to reduce swelling. And, again, drink lots of water!
PS - you can do this things and recover your playing strength and never have to go under the knife. Don't let the doctors push you into surgery. Do the physical and massage therapy.
I'd be interested to see pictures of peoples' right and left hand techniques that have carpal tunnel/tendonitis. My right hand up until only a few weeks ago was always in the claw shape, but recently I've been straightening my wrist and it has vastly improved not only comfort, but also my speed and accuracy, both in scalar lines and in string-skipping, which used to be a weaker part of my playing. It also helped my arms in general to relax while playing.
When I had a brief bout with carpal tunnel back in high school, I switched to ergonomic keyboards. Best thing I ever did for my health. My case was probably not as severe as many of the people in this thread, but I'd seriously recommend picking up a couple of them if you want to alleviate some pain. Belkin makes the best ones, IME.
When I had a brief bout with carpal tunnel back in high school, I switched to ergonomic keyboards. Best thing I ever did for my health. My case was probably not as severe as many of the people in this thread, but I'd seriously recommend picking up a couple of them if you want to alleviate some pain. Belkin makes the best ones, IME.
Anything you can do to keep your wrists straight is the best. The reason we don't on the computer is that our shoulder muscles are lazy. And we tend to slump over. Make sure to sit up straight and keep the shoulder muscles working -- the trapezoids in between the shoulder blades.
Hi Salvatore. Yes it is a serious issue for those of us that suffer from repetitive motion injures.
I am sorry that you are having pain when you play.I know how depressing and frustrating that can be. Don't try to "play through" the pain. If it continues it is best to see a physician to develop an informed plan for addressing the issue. Keep us posted on your progress.
Hi Sal ~
Fortunately, I can play keyboard and drums without discomfort, but I'm really having severe bass withdrawal symptoms.
!!! After some professional procrastination, and have contacted a ortheopedic (spl) doctor in my area (Chester County, PA), who specializes in hand injuries, and treats musicians. Clearly the pain means there is someting not right and it's not going away. Before I got my good bass guitar with a great set-up, and was leaning on a entry-level bass. Although the tone was pretty good, the action was not. So as I began to practice daily I assume I was using WAY TO MUCH preasure, and this may have damaged a muscle, tendon... whatever. Of course, when I got my good instrument I just kept playing, even more so, and rather then getting time to heal my wrist wasn't getting the rest it needed. (Oh yes, I'm stubborn too!). But this thread has been of great help, and has encouraged me to seek professional treatment.
Please do keep us informed regarding your progress, and I will post updates regarding my progress as well.
Peace...
Salvatore ~
Ice for twenty minutes once or twice a day helps. I worked as a massage therapist in a rehab clinic and we saw a lot of this kind of thing. Muscle stripping is also good, uncomfortable but effective. If you can get a hold of an electrical stimulation device they can also help reduce the discomfort.
Hey, just to chime in quickly, I have found the exercises on this site to be most benificial to wrist health (found the link somewhere else on these forums):
http://ergocise.com/wrists.html
Specifically, the "desk lift" alone has reduced the pain in my wrists a ridiculous amount.
Also, a while ago someone mentioned chiropractic adjustments... I'm going to second that. I visit a chiropractor on a semi-regular basis and get him to check my wrists every two or three visits; definetely helps.
http://ergocise.com/wrists.html
Specifically, the "desk lift" alone has reduced the pain in my wrists a ridiculous amount.
Also, a while ago someone mentioned chiropractic adjustments... I'm going to second that. I visit a chiropractor on a semi-regular basis and get him to check my wrists every two or three visits; definetely helps.
FYI - I'll be seeing a hand specialist for my wrist pain on Monday. As promised, I'll keep ya'll updated.
Peace,
Salvatore ~
Peace,
Salvatore ~
Update: I started playing again this past Wednesday (lightly). At first I only played for 15 minutes or so. Tonight I probably overdid it with about 70 minutes of playing. My wrist pain is gone but the weakness and forearm tightness remain. My doctor says we can try Cortisone shots next, but most likely I am going to have to find some way to deal with it through technique changes, or give up bass at least for several months. Man, I don't want to do that, so I am trying to slowly work my way back into playing shape. I am using the lowest finger tension I can and keeping my wrist as straight as possible. I use stretching exercises to warm up with.
Last night I tried out a short scale bass at GC (Fender Mustang). The smaller neck scale really felt nice on my arm and wrist. I am considering picking up a short-scale bass if my wrist will let me keep playing for the next few weeks.
Tonight I also played my Cirrus (35-inch scale) for about 15 minutes. I can tell the longer neck scale places slightly more strain on my wrist, though I have extra-light gauge DR Hi-Beams on the Cirrus to help offset the increased string tension. All my other playing this week has been on my 34-inch Fender Jazz Basses. I've got a set of TI Jazz Rounds en route that should give me low tension for added comfort. I am cautiously hopeful I can make some progress, though the fact my symptoms still remain to some degree is concerning to me. We'll see...
Last night I tried out a short scale bass at GC (Fender Mustang). The smaller neck scale really felt nice on my arm and wrist. I am considering picking up a short-scale bass if my wrist will let me keep playing for the next few weeks.
Tonight I also played my Cirrus (35-inch scale) for about 15 minutes. I can tell the longer neck scale places slightly more strain on my wrist, though I have extra-light gauge DR Hi-Beams on the Cirrus to help offset the increased string tension. All my other playing this week has been on my 34-inch Fender Jazz Basses. I've got a set of TI Jazz Rounds en route that should give me low tension for added comfort. I am cautiously hopeful I can make some progress, though the fact my symptoms still remain to some degree is concerning to me. We'll see...
Hey Sal - I'll say again what many have said - Stretching and a relaxed technique might be the answer. If you're serious about buying a short scale, check out the Epiphone Allen Woody. I'm telling you it's a real easy playing bass
Hi Sal ~
Yeah, I've been wondering about short scale as well. Let us know if you go that route. By the way, do you know if a higher (taller) fret is easier to fret vs. medium (lower) frets?
Salvatore ~
Just looked at this bass on-line. Great suggestion. It looks GOOD. Very interesting. Warrants more investigation, for sure.
Salvatore ~ (the other "Sal")
I've been starting to get a little bit worried about my wrists recently, and I'm not sure whether its just paranoia after constantly seeing people talking about carpel tunnel syndrome on bass forums, or whether it could actually be the start of a problem.
Rather often now, when I pick up my bass and start to play, I get the feeling of something not being quite right in my wrists. Mostly its my fretting wrist, but sometimes I get the same in my other wrist. It doesn't exactly hurt, its more a feeling as though the wrist needs to crack... so mostly I just wave my wrists around a bit, move them around in circles until they crack and the feeling goes away, but it is happening more and more often recently.
Does that sound like something that I should do something about? Perhaps I should start doing some hand-wrist exercises before I play.
Rather often now, when I pick up my bass and start to play, I get the feeling of something not being quite right in my wrists. Mostly its my fretting wrist, but sometimes I get the same in my other wrist. It doesn't exactly hurt, its more a feeling as though the wrist needs to crack... so mostly I just wave my wrists around a bit, move them around in circles until they crack and the feeling goes away, but it is happening more and more often recently.
Does that sound like something that I should do something about? Perhaps I should start doing some hand-wrist exercises before I play.
You've found a good thread. sal4bass (who started this thread) has been working though this problem for a bit now, and posting his progress. I am seeing a specialist tomorrow regarding the same thing. Others have been reporting on their journeys as well. There is a lot of good information in this thread. Stay tuned. I would suggest a visit to a doctor wouldn't be a bad idea, and some of the exercises that are suggested on this thread can be worthwhile as well. More as it happens...
Salvatore ~ (srptopdog)
