I've been playing electric bass for about 18 years and desire to play for many more years to come. It is my main hobby, my job, and my love. With all that said, I've been experiencing numbness in my hands, the downside. It started about six years ago, and I had it checked out a few times.
Here's the deal...
The numbness happens when I'm in bed, trying to sleep, and it's particularly bad in the right hand. It goes numb from the mid forearm to the tips of my fingers. When it's really bad, it feels like my hands are on fire; The hot, numb pain will wake me up from a dead sleep.
When it happens the worst...
This problem does not happen all the time, or every night. I've noticed it increase in pain when i play the bass notes harder for the barky tones. OR if I play with an exceptionally loud drummer and I try to play loud enough to keep up with their drum volume. I think it's something within my hand position and the way I pull the strings, that work at low tension but hurts me when I'm plucking at higher tension pulls.
***Basically, if my hands stay relaxed during the gig, then my hands don't hurt later.
The worst pain ever...
I was shoveling our garden last month, and the pain at night, every night, was horrible. That was the worst it's ever been. EVER! Hot pain and numbness. I stopped that part of the garden work and got hand massages daily and within a week or two it was gone.
What I do about it so far...
I used to try to get it to stop by putting my hand into the air and then opening and closing it repeatedly. I also used to try to hang my hands off the bed to get blood to them. Neither of these methods seemed to speed any exodus of the pain. However, just last month found a better way. I lay flat on my back with my hands by my sides and the pain goes away rather quickly and I'm back asleep til I get into the wrong position again, then the pain comes back and I'm back awake.
I can also regulate the pain by adjusting the volume of my bass amp to a louder setting. This allows me to play softer with my hands. This works great, BUT I can't get the barky tone that I sometimes want. I fair trade off (I guess) if there's no other option.
Lately, I've been rubbing Mullin Oil and other natural remedies on my hands. This helps shorten the recovery time. I can get sleep sooner.
Doctors and Massage Therapist...
...haven't really helped at all. First doctor said it wasn't carpal tunnel syndrome and the latest doctor said that it may be. She gave me Ibuprofen which didn't help at all. Most massage therapists work on my shoulders and neck the whole time and never do my arms and hands like I asked them too. I leave there pissed. This has happened a lot, every time I've visited one.
I would love any advice on what other ideas are out there to keep my hands healthy and in good working condition.
Stretching techniques? Hot water/Cold Water treatment? Lotions and Salves? Relaxation technique (mental and physical)? Anything else?