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Wrist issues

F

Fassa Albrecht

Feb 18, 2007
7,818
26
38
Tyneside, UK
#1
This is getting serious. I've had some light physio and I'm on medication at the moment, including painkillers and nothing seens to work.

The strange part is that it's always on my left hand, and flares up randomly.

Anything to help lessen the stress on my wrist?
 
#3
I'd give it a rest. I made the mistake of not doing that with a flare-up in my right Achilles' tendon and have lived with tendonitis in my right heel for the past 12 years. I've been doing stretches to moderate it for almost all that time - after three years of therapy on it. Whatever your doctor suggests, do it - and if you can get to a doctor who works with musicians, that might be a plus.

You're too young to remember the comedian Henny Youngman, who was famous for one-liners. One of his lines was:

"Doctor, doctor, it hurts when I do this!"

"Don't do that."

But in this case, it's probably the best advice.
 
#4
1) Look at your wrist while you're playing. It should be straight, same as when the hand is relaxed. You might need to adjust the position of the bass or your technique to achieve this.

2) Are you using one-finger-per-fret on the lower frets? Don't.
 
#5
Have you had X Rays/MRI's? Without that, you are just guessing. Go to an orthopedic specialist before this gets worse. It could be that you need relief on the tendon sheath. This is a simple procedure that will keep you out of commission for two weeks max. You should PM Emblymouse, as he had this procedure done. I know a classical pianist who had this done, and she was back up and running in a week.

Don't wait. It can only get worse (see my tendinitis surgery thread below!)
 
#6
lament said:
1) Look at your wrist while you're playing. It should be straight, same as when the hand is relaxed. You might need to adjust the position of the bass or your technique to achieve this.

2) Are you using one-finger-per-fret on the lower frets? Don't.
Click to expand...

On point 2, some songs are impossible without it. If you can shift your hand fast enough to play something like Hammer Smashed Face with a 3 fret spread, you win one cookie.
 
#7
Pilgrim said:
I'd give it a rest. I made the mistake of not doing that with a flare-up in my right Achilles' tendon and have lived with tendonitis in my right heel for the past 12 years. I've been doing stretches to moderate it for almost all that time - after three years of therapy on it. Whatever your doctor suggests, do it - and if you can get to a doctor who works with musicians, that might be a plus.

You're too young to remember the comedian Henny Youngman, who was famous for one-liners. One of his lines was:

"Doctor, doctor, it hurts when I do this!"

"Don't do that."

But in this case, it's probably the best advice.
Click to expand...

I've got it all trussed up at the moment.

lament said:
1) Look at your wrist while you're playing. It should be straight, same as when the hand is relaxed. You might need to adjust the position of the bass or your technique to achieve this.

2) Are you using one-finger-per-fret on the lower frets? Don't.
Click to expand...

I rarely go below 10th fret at the moment...

I'm playing my bass pretty high as well....I can't slap if I have the bass around my ankles.

Commreman said:
Have you had X Rays/MRI's? Without that, you are just guessing. Go to an orthopedic specialist before this gets worse. It could be that you need relief on the tendon sheath. This is a simple procedure that will keep you out of commission for two weeks max. You should PM Emblymouse, as he had this procedure done. I know a classical pianist who had this done, and she was back up and running in a week.

Don't wait. It can only get worse (see my tendinitis surgery thread below!)
Click to expand...

This is what I'm going to do. Yes, I've had X-rays and the doctor said there was 'minor' damage. But that was a good year ago and I'm up for review now.
only problem is that the chances of me finding a NHS doctor who is speciallised in musician's injuries is slim to none, especially here in Newcastle.

gm jack said:
On point 2, some songs are impossible without it. If you can shift your hand fast enough to play something like Hammer Smashed Face with a 3 fret spread, you win one cookie.
Click to expand...

Got any tab? I'll give it a bash...
 
#9
#11
gm jack said:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/c/cannibal_corpse/hammer_smashed_face_ver7_guitar_pro.htm

The actual playing it is not so hard, but keeping the tempo up (8th notes at 220 bpm) for the whole song is hell, especially as I also have a minor wrist issue I am getting looked at next week. It isn't that hard, but I just find that at the tempo, if I make a single mistake, I fall to pieces.
Click to expand...

That is FAST!

wizay said:
How high/low are you wearing your bass?
Keep an eye on your wrists angles
Click to expand...

I've got into the habit of wearing my bass pretty high (not too high thought) cause I'm playing a lot of slap.
 
#13
gm jack said:
On point 2, some songs are impossible without it. If you can shift your hand fast enough to play something like Hammer Smashed Face with a 3 fret spread, you win one cookie.
Click to expand...

Its not that hard. Relax, post your thumb at the root of the chord your working in and just pivot. I find I can move faster then one finger per fret because there is no tension in my hands.
 
#14
My left wrist had some raging pain about a year ago in the same way. I switched basses to a wider nut width, consciously watched my wrist angle, wore a wrist brace at night (when it hurt), and started using my pinkie way more - problem solved.
 
#15
fender_funk_man said:
Its not that hard. Relax, post your thumb at the root of the chord your working in and just pivot. I find I can move faster then one finger per fret because there is no tension in my hands.
Click to expand...

I don't find there is tension in my hands, so much as the bottom of the wrist itself. My bass is as high as the strap allows, and I am playing around with positioning the bass at different angles and arm positions to eliminate this tension.

Also seeing a doctor next week as recently, it's been flaring up a lot worse than normal recently, as my left wrist has a bulge on it when I tense my hands that is not present on my right wrist. I'm almost hoping that is something that is causing problems, as I have spent most of my playing years (not that many, but enough) trying to find a comfortable standing position, but always failing (closest I got was lifting the neck almost vertical, but then my arm just got tired from lifting the neck up so much. I'd hope I can find a position where the bass can naturally balance).
 
#16
lament said:
1) Look at your wrist while you're playing. It should be straight, same as when the hand is relaxed. You might need to adjust the position of the bass or your technique to achieve this.

2) Are you using one-finger-per-fret on the lower frets? Don't.
Click to expand...


Couple quick questions, I do want proper technique since I am developing minor pain in my hands and wrist

Is point #1 referring to both hands? And how do you position your bass to attain this?

Point #2, this is how I was taught how to play. How else can you play, just slide your big finger around and play that way? Obvioulsy on faster passages, you would have to use 1 fingger per fret technique right?
 
#17
gm jack said:
I don't find there is tension in my hands, so much as the bottom of the wrist itself. My bass is as high as the strap allows, and I am playing around with positioning the bass at different angles and arm positions to eliminate this tension.

Also seeing a doctor next week as recently, it's been flaring up a lot worse than normal recently, as my left wrist has a bulge on it when I tense my hands that is not present on my right wrist. I'm almost hoping that is something that is causing problems, as I have spent most of my playing years (not that many, but enough) trying to find a comfortable standing position, but always failing (closest I got was lifting the neck almost vertical, but then my arm just got tired from lifting the neck up so much. I'd hope I can find a position where the bass can naturally balance).
Click to expand...

The bulge could be the beginnings of a ganglian cyst. This happens from gripping too tight, forcing the tendon to "pop" out of the tendon wall. These will heal, but will take time. Don't tense up your hands! Keep 'em relaxed!
 

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