Cramps in my hand

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Sully it's not a pinched nerve, I had one of those in my back when I was working as a drywaller. I think its just sore from overuse lately, Im gonna check out some stretches for the hands.

[VitaminG]

could be dietary. How's your salt intake? Lack of salt can contribute to cramping.

I was discussing a similar problem with a bassplaying friend at work recently and she recommended celery juice.

[HuntinDoug]

could be dietary. How's your salt intake? Lack of salt can contribute to cramping.

I thought it was a lack of potassium that causes "charlie horses" or cramps.

[St.James]

Just curious if you switched guitars when this happened?

I was playing my SL2H last night, which I don't normally play and I started cramping up. I tried to just work it out, but it was just too uncomfortable so I switched back to my main axe and all cramps and uncomfort when away... Kind of odd.

[Bengal65]

Yea, I hear ya! I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand. Sometimes my hand goes completely numb while I'm playing. Sucks! I've been thinking of getting those splints you wear at night to relax the wrist.

[VinceV]

I thought it was a lack of potassium that causes "charlie horses" or cramps.

Could be, I know it is a factor in restless leg syndrome.

[horns666]

"box, is it more of a tingling that goes from your pinky, and down that side of your hand to your wrist? that could be nerve related. i have those issues in both hands, but thankfully it hasn't cropped up in a while.
sully"

That's exactly what I got..My pinky is completely numb and weak, my ring finger is very tingly/numb, my mid finger is tingly, my first finger is the same and so is my thunb..and sometimes my left hand shakes alot..

I had that nerve condutive test..where they poke those needle electrodes all around your hand..some places where they poked really sucked..

I have nerve damage due to my Cervical Injury ..C6 and C7 is mushed..that is compressing the nerve root to my left arm and hand/fingers.

It feels like I'm playing with a glove on..but I'm managing to still play and getting better on guitar which is odd..

I'll get the surgery when all is lost...very risky operation and I don't like to gamble.

[SGplayer]

I found my hand cramps when I play a real thin neck, I have a modified Charvel CX guitar w/real small/thin neck & I cramp after playing it, I need fatter necks.........

[jackson1]

If all these suggestions fails... then try wearing the guitar higher.

Also, you could be nervous. I was attending a rehearsal today and the guitar player got cramps in his thumb part of the palm and said he was a bit nervous due to my presence. Normally he wouldn't get cramps.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

I'm not really nervous, it happens when I play by myself...I raised the guitar up at the show on Friday and that seemed to help some but my hand still cramped up in a song, which sucked. What are these hand stretches that John petrucci does? I tried to find them on youtube but couldn't get anything.

[jackson1]

Maybe this will help a bit, i dunno, check it out:

http://www.juliencarayon.com/Lessons...arming_up.html

[Soap]

Sully it's not a pinched nerve, I had one of those in my back when I was working as a drywaller. I think its just sore from overuse lately, Im gonna check out some stretches for the hands.

Yep, mine is/was working related too.
I use to do the same thing, "construction work" of all types and the continous use of my hands, wore my hands and wrists out. I'd wake with my hands tingling (like they fell asleep) and numb, couldn't feel. I'd flex and make a continuous grip with my hands and in a few minutes feeling would come back and stop tingling.

Thats been years ago, about 20 years or so, and I still occassionally wake up with my hands tingling and numb. I flex and make grips with my hands and it goes away.

There are times, when I first start playing the fretting hand will get tingling and numb, I keep playing and it works itself out and goes away.

I think if your getting pain, then I'd take that more seriously.