Your friend's probably right. I wouldn't worry at the moment. Just take a break for a week or so! Don't hit the panic button yet. Don

Hello Soufian. Sorry to hear you are suffering this problem. Here are some things to consider.
1. See a doctor. If it is a playing problem, he can tell you. It might be caused by something else, such as too much time on the computer.
2. Do take a break from bassing (hard as this seems to do). Take time off to give your hands/wrists a break. Too much practice can be a pain (as well as cause them).
3.If the problem persists, then it may be time to go see one of those orthopedic doctors. You most likely will have to adjust how you hold and play your bass to eliminate the problem from repeating itself.
Whatever happens and whatever you need to do, I wish you well. Remember that the old saying "You have to play through pain" was first told by some sort of idiot who probably lost his ability to play later on...
Doug

I agree. If there's any "playing through pain" to be done for bass players, it should refer to the fingertips ONLY as they get calloused.

Good advice Doug. I second those sentiments.

D Silbag!

Hi hon..a dear drummer friend of mine had a very severe problem with carpal tunnel..he was told to take B6 and B12..and also that Glucoseamine would help greatlee..it did,..hope this will help..get a doctor to check tho k?
Love an Whitelight
Ginger Lee

Hi, If this problem just started there is alot of solutions to help. To add to what others have said, anti-inflamatory pain killers, ice the area, see a doctor he will be able to tell if there is therapy that can be done. The quicker you catch this the easier it will be to reverse. I have had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand and I feel great. Unfortuately my job contibutes to the problem. I will need surgery on my left as well but I was stupid and didn't take the problem serious years ago when something could of reversed the problem. There is a hand stretch that helps. Put your palms together and push or put your hand on a table edge with your fingertips on the edge....now push your wrist down and fell the stretch.. good luck....Pat

If the symptoms are just starting out it's pretty unlikely you'll need surgery but you should see a doctor just to make sure.

When you are ready to start playing again you should pay particular attention to your left hand and right hand technique (keeping wrists straight, exerting minimal pressure etc)a good resource for this can be found at http://www.adamnitti.com/lessons.shtml

thanks for all your help so far guys.

I've decided to take a 2week long break from playing bass

Hi:
Are you sure its Carpal Tunnel, it could be just tendonitis. When I used to play drums i suffered from it regularly, it would start by pulling in my wrist and then my fingers would feel hot and tingle, and if i continued a sensation of a cold pain would go up to my elbow. I have had it once or twice with bass, but I dont push so hard these days so its stopped. I also learned to stop starting from the first symptoms. You are doing the right thing by resting for a while, it will give the inflammation a time to go away. Once you pick up again try not to push so hard, cheers Tom.