As I mentioned in passing in my jazz guitar thread, a few weeks ago I dislocated two of the fingers on my fretting hand rather badly, causing a fair amount of soft tissue and ligament damage.
I've had a few hospital visits now and although it's early days I can't really play anymore and the long-term prognosis is that there's a fair chance I won't ever regain full movement and/or strength.
Now obviously I'm going to see as many specialists as I can, both independently and through the MU, and I'm confident that I'll be able to play in a way which will satisfy my expressive and creative needs eventually even if I don't recover fully, but my days as a versatile money-earner may well be over.
My band is going to continue (we have booking into 2019)so I'm training the other guitarist to take more of the core duties, and I'll happily add the odd phrase or accent when I can, and continue to mix for them for the time being at least.
I'm not being too melodramatic about this, it really is early days and I have many other aspects to my life outside music it'll be fun to concentrate on, but I'm finding it more than a little depressing hanging around on a guitar forum, for obvious reasons.
Consequently, I'm going to sign off for a while, hopefully I'll be able to have hungover jams with singer friends and play about with Les Paul wiring again in the not too distant future.
Bisous xx
Comments
Totally understand your reasoning - good luck with it and all the best with whatever you get up to.
Have you considered switching to being a leftie? It's been done before...
Surely you can still hang out with us?
Trading feedback here
I always read your posts with interest, as a genuine source of solid knowledge and advice.
All the very best with your recovery.
(lost the use of two of his fretting hand fingers after being burned in a house fire)
(lost the tips of two fretting hand fingers in a factory accident)
(broke his elbow in a car accident in 1948, refused amputation, had his arm set at an angle that would allow him to keep playing and had a pick set in to his cast. Re-learned to play four different times between the mid-60s and his death in 2009 due to progressively worsening arthritis)
It's easy to say when you're not the one faced with the task like yours, but it doesn't have to be the end. All the best.
Don't talk politics and don't throw stones. Your royal highnesses.
On my fretting hand I've had a fractured wrist, and dislocated pinky fingertip. The wrist flexibility mostly returned with exercises and I have a bit of a mallet finger on my pinky mostly because I didn't realise it would need a splint after I re-set it myself. In terms of playing I got back to pretty much full capability though after re-learning how to adjust.
Seriously, that's some bad luck matey, but modern medicine can do wonders, chin up old chap!
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1