In the preceding pages I repeatedly mentioned the necessity to go see a doctor if a certain moderate pain keeps returning. It's the way to go, but it won't happen, I'm afraid. Normally, people are not that eager to seek medical help. They will show a tendency to at first wait and see and after that try some self invented exercises, or go out and buy some medication not requiring prescription. Most probably you will wait and see if a problem will disappear by itself. If it doesn't, you will most likely take one or more of the following rather harmless measures:
It is not advisable to start real excercises without seeing a doctor or a physiotherapist. The same goes for exercise materials sold on the internet. Unmonitored use of those is hazardous. Massage is generally good, especially in cases of cramp.
The above measures serve to give muscles and ligatures some rest. Rest is the essence of recovery. However:
Therefore you should not try to be your own doctor for more than a week.
Important exceptions:
In these cases. go see a doctor right away. Severe pain and sudden loss of functionality are often symptoms of nerve compression. Nerves are relatively tender and easily harmed. They recover only slowly, if ever at all! So, go!
Most doctors do not play the bass guitar, so it will be hard for them to understand how your playing affects your body. Doctors will try to localize problems and local treatment is their first option. That surely is a solid approach, but may lead to curing symptoms instead of taking away causes. Seeing you play will be a great help to your doctor to understand your problem.
You may also consider seeing a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists often have an even better understanding of the human musculoskeletal system. For a true holistic approach you best go see an osteopath. Also there, take your bass guitar with you.
In various cases, playing the bass guitar is only highlighting a problem, instead of creating it, as has been shown here already in the video. Other activities may contribute as well. Prior to seeing the doctor or therapist, try to map all activities that may contribute to your problem. Important fields to check out are:
The most important causes of problems are:
A quite different problem are old and perhaps long forgotten injuries. Internal scar tissue, for example, may compromise nerves or muscles in a certain stage of your development as a bass player, because as a result of your practice, muscles will grow stronger and need more room to move. Try to remember if you suffered from any shoulder, elbow or wrist injuries in the past and tell the doctor or therapist about them.