right hand pain! aah!!

[BZ Beetle]

it seems lately that im having a very hard time playing with the band. the first song usually goes smooth but by the second song my picking hand starts cramping up like a sum-a-beeetch. to the point where i can hardly play at all because my hand is a giant cramp. this continues for probably the next 6 or so songs, and doesnt end until im well warmed up, usually waaaaay after our 8 song set is over. anyone experience this and/or know how to handle it?

we play punk rock, and its mostly pretty fast, but we've been doing our thing for almost a year now, every tuesday night. wouldnt i have adjusted to it by now?

[spacenuke]

it's happened to my fretting hand before, but warming up with some scales, riffs and some strumming helped.

[VanWyck]

Cramps can be due to a number of things - most commonly dehydration, hypokalemia (low potassium), hypoglycemia, or poor (blood) perfusion of tissue - possibly secondary to a tightly clenched fist. What to do? Warm up slowly, drink enough fluids - NOT beer/alcohol - it dehydrates you, well balanced diet - bananas have lots o'potassium. If cramping persists find out if anyone in the family suffers from peripheral vascular disease, if so see your MD. Oh yeah, cigarettes cause peripheral vasoconstriction so quit now - it is the single best thing that you can do for your health. That'll be $120 for the consult, thanks.

[Texter]

Well those are nice things to read Be sure to do some warming up before you start playing with the band indeed.

[cusplaya]

Try using the other hand (not while rehearsing).
Gip your pri..er I mean grip your pick more loosely.
Turn up your monitor volume (this one's serious) If your volume is just barely audible you will tend to play harder just to hear yourself.
Run your hand under warm water before you start while stretching it & massaging it for 5-10 mins.

That'll be $120 for the consult, thanks.

No charge here, don't want a lawsuit if it don't work!!

[BZ Beetle]

thanks for the input guys! I really appriciate it. Ill try the warming up thing the next time we get together. hell i might even try eating a banana, and in an extreme case i might even ask my doctor. but quitting smoking? not drinking? what devil speak is this!?

thanks again guys