Waddycall Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 A couple of years ago I slipped on some rocks at the beach and fractured the middle knuckle of my right middle finger - my number one string plucker. Since then I’ve had a bit of arm/wrist pain and off after playing for any longer than 20 mins or so and developed a ganglion on my right wrist. In autumn last year I learnt Rio by Duran Duran and repetitive practice of this seemed to make things worse and ever since it’s been a bit more painful. It’s not helped by the CAD drawing I’m doing at work which means frequent mouse clicking (I’m getting a different mouse to help). short of going to see doctor/physio has anyone else experienced this and are there any exercises you can recommend to ease it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 My advice would be to go see a physio if you can, tbh. It's easy to make things worse by accident if you don't identify the underlying issue. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mybass Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Try and find a really good Osteo/Osteologist…..I’ve seen an excellent one for years in NE Hampshire. We often have injuries or pain that affect or can be affected by other parts of our bodies skeletal network. A doctor may get an X-ray done to see if there is any ongoing bone or scar problem and therefore may be able to refer you for NHS physio. An Osteopath may well see something else needs ‘fixing’ to help that knuckle problem. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddycall Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 Interesting trip to the physio. She reckons there’s nothing wrong with my hand, wrist, or arm and it’s all down to neck and shoulder issues. I need to lay off the bass playing for a bit until it’s improved but main thing seems to be desk set up at work. Hopefully she’s right and I’ve been putting 2 and 2 together and making 5 with my theories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 I have carpal tunnel on my right plucking hand and wear a wrist brace when I'm playing bass and working at a computer. I had to have an operation on my left wrist and I don't want to have one on my right. I use a weightlifters brace on my wrist while playing (it just looks like a heavy duty sweatband) and a velcro wristbrace, which I got from Boots, when on the computer. I've done this for the last 10 years and thankfully the carpal tunnel hasn't got any worse and doesn't hurt when I play. Prevention is better than cure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 My fretting hand issues were down to a chronic posture problem, 3 hours of fairly intense erm… manipulation on my shoulder and (mostly) back brought about a release of fluid down my arm and what felt like a new hand. definitely see a professional. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 On 02/06/2022 at 07:52, Waddycall said: She reckons there’s nothing wrong with my hand, wrist, or arm and it’s all down to neck and shoulder issues. I was so sure that I had spinal issues that I paid to have an MRI scan done. The results that came back said that there was nothing at all wrong with my spine, my back, or any other part of my anatomy. The specialist told me, "You have a lovely back, you're just not using it properly". I started doing Pilates to improve my posture and to strengthen my core, and as I gained in Pilates knowledge and experience my supposed back troubles just faded away. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrinkleygit Posted June 13, 2022 Share Posted June 13, 2022 This won’t help your playing, but I stopped using a mouse many years ago and went with a tracker ball at work together with a track pad at home, much easier on my fingers and wrist, good luck, Mike. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 (edited) I broke my collarbone years ago and learned to use a (right-handed) mouse with my left hand as a result. It didn't take particularly long (about a month?). This might help. Edited July 24, 2022 by alyctes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddycall Posted July 24, 2022 Author Share Posted July 24, 2022 Well I’ve had three visits to the physio and not played bass or guitar for weeks and have been told to lay off for longer - probably end of August. It seems to be improving but we’ll see. Might try the left handed mouse thing. I’m pretty ambidextrous so might take to it ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 The military way, man up and work through it, pain is a sensation sensations are all in the mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddycall Posted July 24, 2022 Author Share Posted July 24, 2022 Just now, Bunion said: The military way, man up and work through it, pain is a sensation sensations are all in the mind! Nah, don’t think so. Hoping to have at least another 25 - 30 years playing out of this arm so don’t want to do any permanent damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 I had a number of issues with my left hand/arm/shoulder when playing cello, so equivalent of fretting. I had pain in my elbow and in my shoulder. I saw a physio and there were several issues conspiring together. My day job was designing computer systems, so I was sat at a computer all day using a mouse and I'm left-handed. A normal mouse introduces torsion into your forearm: compare your arm resting at your side when stood up vs how it is when using a mouse - there's a significant rotation. So one recommendation was get a vertical mouse. I had a work station assessment done at work and they not only got that, but a 'slope' which my keyboard sat under and I coudl pull it down to write without having to twist to the side. I also got a better headset for phone calls and a better chair. I had some tendinitis in the left elbow, so I was given some exercises for that. This was caused in part by gripping the cello neck too tightly - the thumb should really 'float' with almost no pressure and stay opposite ~2nd finger. I adopt the same approach with the bass. With cello being fretless, it is easy to apply too much pressure when fingering a note and in particular to squeeze with the thumb. We often carry a lot of tension in our neck/shoulders and modern work sat at a desk with a computer really doesn't help. If you have posture/stance issues, this can lead to all sorts of problems and an osteopath can help a lot with sorting out skeletal issues: use a physio for muscle/tendon/ligament issues. If in doubt, seek professional advice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 Powerball Gyro... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddycall Posted July 24, 2022 Author Share Posted July 24, 2022 8 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said: Powerball Gyro... Like this? Never really got the hang of it. Do you use one? How do you get on with it etc?t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 (edited) Yep... Had one for about 20 yrs... Got it when i broke my wrist and dislocated my shoulder in a motorbike, (scooter!) Accident... Spin it up with the string... Then 'stir' the wrist... like stiring a cup of tea or slight 3D 'whisking' motion, like whisking eggs... close to the body... Start slow, below the gyro speed the speed up till it 'catches'... thats the tricky bit... you are trying to throw the weight to the wall of the ball... Then speed up the wrist rotation to acceletate.... You can then try with arm up or outstreatched. Edited July 24, 2022 by PaulThePlug 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddycall Posted July 24, 2022 Author Share Posted July 24, 2022 Thanks Paul, that’s helpful. I’ll give it a bit of regular use and see what happens. Did wonder of it was a bit of a gimmick but endorsement from a fellow bass player gives it some credibility 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted July 24, 2022 Share Posted July 24, 2022 (edited) Just dug mine out from the 'usefull tat that doesnt have a home draw'... and giving it a whirl.. Got it back in '05... £18 Edited July 24, 2022 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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