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Hi Folks,
I'm new here really, but figured this would be as
good a place as any to have a chat about this!
I'd say about five years ago I started noticing it
was getting increasingly difficult to play certain things, my picking hand
started to feel like it was constrained (I'm a guitar player). To cut a long
story short, progressively this got worse and worse. My fingers started tensing
up, I lost all dexterity in my wrist and holding a pick to play became
extremely difficult, eventually even playing with fingers was extremely hard.
It got to the point whereby the prospect of
playing a gig was really stressful, and as such the last gig I played was 1yr
and 11mo. ago.
During this time I've had surgery for ulnar nerve decompression
in my right elbow (Dec '23) and seen countless doctors/consultants etc.
For context it's not just playing guitar, it's
typing, hand writing and anything that requires me to maintain a grip or repetitive
use of my fingers. (Typing this causes discomfort and pain!)
Not being able to pick my guitar up and play what
I want, when I want is killing me, and while I only play in a cover band, I love it and miss it terribly.
The prognosis of success after my surgery was if
it works it could take 18 months or this might be how you are now.... I reckon
at present I've got about 20% of my ability.
Has anybody else suffered or is suffering from
anything that's stopped you playing? How are you coping?
It's really getting me down! However, I did recently by myself a new amp to try and motivate myself towards playing live again (Bogner 3534 50 W and matching cab!)
I'd love to engage in some chat about this as I feel this environment will be populated by people who understand!
Thanks folks!
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Comments
About twenty years ago, I developed Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome - to the extent that the only relief from it was being asleep. I had to give up working in mechanical engineering.
Cut to October 2023. I suddenly developed trigger finger in my left (usually fretting) hand. My third finger would either not move when I wanted it to or would stick in a bent position until I manually unstuck it. I presented the problem to my GP, was referred to a specialist for assessment and, a mere six months later, received a steroid injection. No more locking.
Trigger finger did not entirely prevent me from playing guitar or bass but it did prompt a fair few retakes on my home recordings.
Your condition lies somewhere between my two - both in terms of severity and in the prospect of obtaining lasting relief.
My experience is the approach taken by physios varies but it can really help if you get a good plan and stick with it.
It's BAPAM who put me onto the chap who runs this website:
https://www.musicianshandclinic.co.uk/
They were brilliant - I eventually had surgey via the NHS with the consultant who runs the website above. So yeah BAPAM were instrumental in my journey - so yep, I agree!