Hi all,
I’ve been playing for almost twelve months now, usually about two hours each day. Just recently I’ve developed bursitis on my fretting arm elbow. It’s not painful, just a fluid sac about the size of a ping pong ball. Has anyone else experienced this?
I’m wondering if it is as a result of using too much pressure whilst fretting? If this is the case, would adjusting the bridge height help, or maybe even changing the gauge of strings I use?
Hello and welcome!
I’m sorry to hear that.
I once had bursitis on a knee, after carrying heavy boxes through stairs. It took time to heal, and corticosteroid injections to reduce the inflammation.
As far as I understand, bursitis is often caused by pressure. Leaning heavily on the elbow could cause it, it could also be caused by an infection. I don’t know playing bass could cause elbow bursitis. It could cause elbow tendonitis, but I don’t know about bursitis from playing. Possibly something else has caused it. (I am not a doctor, so I can’t say for sure).
You probably should give it a rest for a while, so that it can heal properly. Take care, and a speedy recovery for you!
Hi and thanks for your reply. It’s quite weird because I haven’t banged it or been leaning excessively on it. It might not be bass related at all, but I thought I would see if anyone has had similar before seeking medical advice.
Don’t wait until it gets worse. The doctor can get you fixed up in no time. I was at a wedding and bumped my knee on a cast iron bench before heading out on the three hour drive home. By the time I got home I could barely press the clutch in my Mustang. Hobbled into the house, moved my truck out and parked the car. Next morning I could not bend my leg. After a week of meds I was much better until one of my dogs decided to launch himself onto the same knee from seven or so feet away. Rinse and repeat. Couldn’t drive the car for almost two months.
Now that I know how it feels, I just call the dr. for an Rx and skip all the heman attitude to tough it out. Hope it is a short injury to deal with for you. Do not overdo it and follow what the dd. says to get things back to normal.