Pain(ache) in left shoulder while playing (bass with strap)

#41
play sitting without the strap in a position where the bass doesn't slide off till you can get to a doctor and find what the problem is... IF your doctor can sort that out. i'm not a doctor, but there could be more than one thing that could cause this problem. some could be improved with certain exercises, but some could be made worse. but at a guess, your bass could be too heavy for you or your strap too hard. btw, does your strap have any harder or protruding areas where it rests on your shoulder? maybe a thick seam?
 
#43
I had a very similar problem that went on a long time, pain relievers only worked so well. Got to the point where I was using Tylenol III. Eventually I went to an orhopaedist. I was having inflammation in the joint and causing aweat on the biceps tendon too due to the friction at the inflamed spot.

Got a cortizone shot... helped a lot... in conjunction with ice ...eventually the pain has gone away. ICE, BTW, is the BEST anti-inflammatory, acording to a medical friend of mone. When the pain finally stopped, a week or so after the shot, it was a night where I fell asleep with an ice pack on, for 2-3 hours.

Now I have pain in the other shoulder. :bored:

Anyway-- don't just suffer, you are probably doing damage... it's not just pain, it's injury happening. Wait too long and it will not be fully fixable.

I wish that the US had a health care system whereby people without a lot of money could still get health insurance and be healthy, and be able to work. Someone should come up with a plan for that.
 
#45
I agree with pedroims
I have back problems due to a work injury and tend to have my shoulders hurt from standing with my bass
It is not the bass but the movement of my arms and weakened lower back
The dr. gave me specific exercises to deal with my back and I can play longer now without pain
Please see a doctor and I hope for the best for you
 
#46
russosborne said:
Thanks.
It will be on the list of things to get. Right now food and rent are a tad more important. I just need to know for sure that spending that money on a strap would help. If my instructor thinks it will I'll see what I can do. I have a very little credit I can use if needed. Also really trying to get a job, which would cure most ills we are having.

As far as the age thing goes, I am 57. So it could be something like arthritis. I am playing with the bass in a little different position as well, per my instructor, so as to not have to have a death grip on it with my left hand. It may also be overall posture, I think I am unconsciously bent over and trying to be small as I am playing in a rather small corner and feel a tad claustrophobic.

Thanks.
Russ

Or I just suck and my body is telling me that. :laugh:
Click to expand...
I have an extra Comfort Strapp that I will give to you.PM me.
 
#47
pedroims said:
Something does not sound right: 20 minutes of playing cause a pain that does not go immediately away. The consensus here is that you can fix it by buying more gear but I would like to suggest to visit the doctor, the pain can be related to any other problem.
Click to expand...

Yep, doctor... the only problem is that OP may not have health insurance, isn't working now, and can't afford the $25 for a strap at the moment... so while "see a doctor" is the best advice, (cortisone shots are expensive), I am saddened to think it might not be an option for the OP... but permanent damage through inflammation and neglect is expensive too. A good strap WILL help at least some in the short term though. Mega Bass Strap is a good one.
 
#48
Update of sorts.

Good news/bad news. It isn't playing the bass that is causing the pain. It seems to be caused by my posture or something internal going on. Was sitting on the edge of my bed using my phone and realized that the pain was there. It seems to be more of an issue when I am sitting with no back or arm support.
I will try to focus on my posture issues and see if that helps at all. Someone mentioned stress/tension in the shoulder area, I can feel that so I need to work on avoiding that.

I do have insurance, for the moment. If I ever get a job I lose it. I have an appointment for a physical next month if I still am not working, so I will bring it up then. Honestly I'd rather have a job, but having a hard time finding one that I can do. Being old in today's job market sucks. Having made some bad decisions the last few years hasn't helped. My fault, oh well. I made decisions based on my experience in the job market in the past, but I hadn't realized how much that market had changed.

Thanks,
Russ
 
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#49
I am very tense while playing, I am sure that doesn't help.
I am not that good yet, working on things and I worry about doing the stuff and I am sure that makes me tense all over.
Be a good excuse for smoking pot if I didn't have to worry about drug tests in the field of work I am usually in. Plus it wouldn't be a good mix with my asthma and copd.
Russ
 
#50
russosborne said:
I am very tense while playing, I am sure that doesn't help.
I am not that good yet, working on things and I worry about doing the stuff and I am sure that makes me tense all over.
Be a good excuse for smoking pot if I didn't have to worry about drug tests in the field of work I am usually in. Plus it wouldn't be a good mix with my asthma and copd.
Russ
Click to expand...
As I said above,I have an extra Comfort Strapp.Do you want it?
I might help a bit.
 
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#53
I have the same problem. Some of it is arthritis and some due to the unknown. I think I may have some tendonitis or bursitis. No special strap has helped me except playing a 3-4" padded type rather than a thin narrow one. I can get through a gig, but my shoulder hurts all the time, onstage or not. I just try to minimize pressure on it as best I can. Sometimes exercize has actually helped. I'm 67, and have been playing guitars since 1963.

Best thing is to get it looked at by an orthopedic doc. Don't mess around trying remedies that could make it worse due to not knowing what the real problem is. Until then, try sitting without a strap at all. It's the best bet against making it worse.
 
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