My guitar days may be over

[loudncrunchy]

Hello Friends,

Unless some miracle happens via the medical profession (and I don't have any hope in that), my days of guitar will be over. I severely injured my hands and wrists recently and if any of you have had similar experiences that could possible help me avoid selling me gear, it would be greatly appreciate it.

[duhvoodooman***]

Wow, mega-bummer! What happened, man? Understand completely if you really don't want to talk about it, though.

Only suggestion I can make is to do some digging around and find the best orthopedic doctor or medical group in your area and push hard to find out what can be done to help!

Plus I'll say a little prayer that the Good Lord helps you through this difficult time, however it turns out.

[loudncrunchy]

What basically happened is that my joints and tendons in both my hands (especially my left!) are very painful and swollen. The doctors where I live refuse to treat me, so I'm basically doctoring my self.

I'm trying to get the swelling to go down. So right now, I can still play guitar but it hurts like a mother. Talk about suffering for your art.

[t_ross33]

Why on earth would a doctor refuse to treat you? Something is not right there. Look around and find the best medical attention you can...

I do understand that in some places, insurance and/or ability to pay comes into play... I feel for you, man.

Would it be a carpal tunnel or repetative stress type injury? I have a bum shoulder from an old martial arts injury (THAT goes over real good with the ladies - LOL!) and my hands and wrists bother me a bit. Too many years on a computer, and arthritis runs in my family...

I'm not qualified to diagnose, but you might have to advocate for yourself, or find someone in the health services industry that can/will advocate for you.

Good luck! Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Trev

[marnold***]

As I mentioned in another thread, I severed the first three fingertips on my right hand. It took a while and I still have minor problems from time to time, but it can be done!

[mikew]

If I'm not mistaken Dave Mustaine had suffered something similar, but recovered and is now playing at the top of his game again. I don't know if his injury was as bad as yours, but it's something to consider. You can start here if interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Mu...ry_and_breakup

Keep the faith man!

[tot_Ou_tard]

Holy sh!t! Loud n' Crunchy that is beyond a bummer. Good luck & I second or third the question of why doctors refuse to treat you. Izzit money, or are you in some funky corner of the world?

[mikew]

As I mentioned in another thread, I severed the first three fingertips on my right hand. It took a while and I still have minor problems from time to time, but it can be done!

That sounds similar to what Tony Iommi went through just before he went on with Black Sabbath! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Io...trial_Accident

[Justaguyin_nc]

What basically happened is that my joints and tendons in both my hands (especially my left!) are very painful and swollen. The doctors where I live refuse to treat me, so I'm basically doctoring my self.

I'm trying to get the swelling to go down. So right now, I can still play guitar but it hurts like a mother. Talk about suffering for your art.

Sorry to hear this... I broke my left wrist and hand when I was around 18, never healed right..wrist swells quite large when I use it a bit... but got use to pain pills, whiskey and just grinning.. if someone grabbed my left hand and twisted quickly.. I would be on the ground.. so its pretty bad.. but I can bend it.. I hope you can get some sort of inflamation meds.. and continue to play... I think its worth the pain... but mine, I just got use to it and might not be as severe as yours...

[ted s]

Crunchy, sorry to hear this. Stay positive and search high and low as the others have said. As long as your paws are in place there's gotta be a way. We're pull'n for ya.

[aeolian]

I have never heard of doctors refusing to treat a patient. Is it an insurance issue? Otherwise ask to find out what kind of specialist knows how to treat your kind of injury.

[tremoloman***]

I suffer from carptel tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. I also was told the same by doctors. I went to the music store and tried every guitar there until I found one that didn't require me to push so hard to play. The American Deluxe Strat was the one that made me realize I could still play.

Take some time off and rest your hands/arms. I used to go for 15-30 mins and was in agony. With the AmDlx, I can go for 3-4 hours before I start to feel real pain.

Don't give up!

What basically happened is that my joints and tendons in both my hands (especially my left!) are very painful and swollen. The doctors where I live refuse to treat me, so I'm basically doctoring my self.

I'm trying to get the swelling to go down. So right now, I can still play guitar but it hurts like a mother. Talk about suffering for your art.

[zeusse]

There's a procedure to fix that so most likely I say get another opinion and inform them your a guitar player and the words "sorry can't help" don't apply, unless like already mentioned its an expense insurance issue and either you don't have any or your insurance company is deeming it an unnecessary procedure. Which leaves you with paying the tab for a real doctor that gives a darn to delve into the issue. I know they have to cut the tendons in the fingers or palms depending on the degree of severity of movement restraints my buddy had it done about 5years ago and he's fine now...just my .02 cents good luck I feel for ya

[tot_Ou_tard]

I suffer from carptel tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.

Tremoloman, your fretting wrist in your avatar looks extremely bent to me. Would it help to adjust the position of your guitar? Or is that just the way it looks in that photo.

[marnold***]

That sounds similar to what Tony Iommi went through just before he went on with Black Sabbath! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Io...trial_Accident

Basically, it was. Mine was in a snowblower instead of a metal press. Also I'm right handed, so while many things I do normally were drastically affected, my guitar playing wasn't so much.

[Ro3b]

Loudnchrunchy, in the short term find another doctor. You at least need to have your symptoms treated in the short term, which means prescription anti-inflammatories, wrist braces, and other things you really need professional help for.

In the long term, see if you can find an Alexander Technique teacher or a similar body-work specialist to help you evaluate and rethink the way you approach your instrument. Also look at other ways you use your hands, espcially how you have you computer workstation set up. Do as much reading as you can on ergonomics and RSI--there's a lot you can do to help yourself there.

What finally laid my RSI to rest was strength training: building up the big muscles to support the small ones. I never have trouble with my hands now. Or getting paid for gigs.

[pie_man_25]

What basically happened is that my joints and tendons in both my hands (especially my left!) are very painful and swollen. The doctors where I live refuse to treat me, so I'm basically doctoring my self.

I'm trying to get the swelling to go down. So right now, I can still play guitar but it hurts like a mother. Talk about suffering for your art.

wow, that sucks, the only thing that keeps me sane is guitar/bass, if I couldn't do that I'd go columbine the school or become an hero or something. That sucks

[Katastrophe]

Loud & Crunchy -

I don't know what to say about getting better with the wrist and hand injuries, except to call every doctor in the phone book until you find one that is willing to help you. Don't give up, if playing means that much to you. The music world is rife with stories of guitar players that overcame obstacles to master thier craft. Here's a few:

Django Reinhardt: could use only two fingers on his left hand.
Chris Poland: had to change the way he played due to a hand injury, but still sounds great.
Tony Iommi: already mentioned, but bears repeating.
Paul Simon: I know, not a shredder by any strech of the imagination, but almost quit playing guitar due to problems with a finger. He recovered and still plays.
Dave Mustaine: again already mentioned, but came back after hearing that he may never play again.

Just because one doctor said that he can't treat you doesn't mean necessarily that all doctors can't treat you. That's why they call it practicing medicine. Some practice more than others.

Also, look into changing guitars for something with a bigger neck and lighter strings to give you more leverage. A 24.75" scale guitar is going to give you a little help, too, over a Strat type with a 25.5" scale. I don't know what the scale length is on your Epoch...

Good luck, man, and heal up soon!

[warren0728]

here's another option!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSnUwA6c67k

ww