It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 6:02 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:23 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 5:33 pm
Posts: 1084
Location: NoHo in SoCal
The closest I can come is when I injured my right wrist years ago and couldn't write, drive (I had a stick shift) or even move my hand enough to pick a guitar. I couldn't imagine not being able to do those things for life ... though I did learn to compensate somewhat by learning to write in a crude fashion with my left hand.

Still, that's not the same as potentially for life -- so my prayers are 100% with you and for your recovery!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:40 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:14 pm
Posts: 230
Location: Connersville, Indiana, USA
At least a neuroma can go away, unlike a neuropathy like I have in on the side of the 5th metacarpal (bone between the wrist and pinkie finger) in my left hand. An off balance step in a kitchen, and accidentally smashing my hand into the corner of the counter top, as I raised my arms to catch my balance, severed the bundle of nerves that run from the wrist and along the 5th metacarpal. They eventually grew back together, like the neurologist told me, but he didn't tell me about the possibility of developing a neuropathy from such an injury. If you have a "tumor" of nerves, as you've been told, it's likely you have developed a neuropathy, rather than a neuroma.

My injury occurred at a time when I was wanting to become more serious about playing guitar, to the point of either taking lessons to learn chords, or learning from books, software or videos. As a result of my neuropathy, I'm not able to do much of anything on the fingerboard with my pinkie finger, unless it's being held down by my ring finger. I've been meaning to go through my poster of chords, and figure out which ones I can make that don't involve the pinkie finger, otherwise I've developed a playing style that's a cross between Django Reinhart and Keith Richards, and it works, so I'm not complaining.

If it turns out that you do have a neuropathy, instead of a neuroma, you might ask about which type of medication would be best to lessen the pain, and somewhat control any other symptoms that come from a few nerves being "wired wrong." My neuropathy went untreated from around this time in 1997 until September 2005, when I was prescribed tramadol (along with rx strength naproxen) for a chronic ankle sprain (since September 2003). After taking the tramadol for a while, at some point I began to notice "hey, my neuropathy don't act up as much as it used to."

I'm not a doctor, and am only going from personal experience, but as I'd said, it sounds like you've developed a neuropathy, rather than a neuroma. Here are a couple of Wikipedia entries, so that you can compare the two...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroma

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuropathy

Good luck with it!

Matt

_________________
Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:41 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:06 pm
Posts: 3545
Location: Brooklyn N.Y
Wow thanx for the support people it lifted my spirits. As for looking into Dr WOLF I am going to look into him ZZ as that im in brooklyn NY .The hard thing with the doctors I have dealt with is they dont play so they dont realise how much the guitar means to someone who does.I have 7 a BECK strat,a Clapton,and a strat Ultra.I also have a 62 reissue tele.a 72 thinline.and a nice cream colared model that shows the grain of thw wood trough the finish,the teles are all mij as i favored those over the u.s ones in the 80s.And i have a Peavey Wolfgang standard with a stop tail piece because i needed a guitar with humbuckers lol.Ihad bought that on ebay in 2003 for 630 mint now that Eddie left the price on them went through the roof but theres nothing like a Fender.AS most of you know they become like your kids its like you feel the pain of everey ding lol.Thanx for all the advice and yes i have changed my style to what lil things i can do like tapping,sweeping and a lot of 3 note per string stuff which never were a big part of my style which is more in the vein of HENDIX,GARY MOORE,CLAPTON.BLACKMORE and yes SETZER.I had recently read on the web that STEVIE WONDER had this injury and had id successfuly corected which gives me hope.The one thing i can offer to everyone is that if something happens to you and your you have to alter your playing look at techniques that you wouldnt use theres some great stuff and it will only make you a better player when you add it to your bag of tricks. KEEP ON ROCKING GOOD PEOPLE OF THE FENDER LOUNGE.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:14 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Having made note of your geographic location, I elected to refer you to Manhattan in that Hospital for Special Surgery is just what it represents itself to be.

You begin this journey by presenting the doctor with an accurate history of what occurred, and the nature of the medical evaluations and opinions you have gathered during the past 15 mos. Emphasize the fact your are extremely distressed about the condition having separated you from your music and would hope to be able to recover the use of your hand in the fullest.

That's the best you can possible begin with. The rest remains with the surgeon in establishing a definitive diagnosis and a therapeutic approach to returning you to full function. I don't know that there could be anyone more empathetic with your needs than a surgeon whose life's work is treating hands.

Find his page on the hospital's web site.

Keep us posted.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:21 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Ceri... Thanks for the vote of confidence. I hope this man will be able to return to what he seems to love very much.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:29 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2008 12:58 pm
Posts: 7714
Location: Planet Earth
Doc has written a good perscription to get things started. You need the advise of wise people like the Doc on these things.
Me I can send you some Mojo and a Prayer that things get better.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:05 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:57 am
Posts: 13164
Location: Peckham: where the snow leopards roam
zzdoc wrote:
Ceri... Thanks for the vote of confidence. I hope this man will be able to return to what he seems to love very much.


Doc, that confidence seems to have been rewarded - once again!

If anyone in the medical profession will be sympathetic to the implications for Mr Straycat's music it surely must be a hand specialist. Without doubt he'll have treated many other musicians over the years.

And music playing medicos are not unknown, in any case! I knew personally the Consultant in Communicable Diseases at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital - a gentleman who taught himself to play Bach on the piano, and very well at that!

BTW: regarding Mr Surfabilly and his fourth finger neuropathy. It obviously ain't a complete answer, but check out Gary Moore's left hand technique. He almost never uses the pinky, and doesn't use the third finger that much either. Curious, as I have an idea (could be wrong) that he's actually left-handed. In any case, most of us would be happy to be able to play like him, let alone only using 2 1/2 fingers...

Cheers - C


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 2:28 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:54 pm
Posts: 56
Dave mustain had an severe nerve injury and he talks about it and his rehabilitaion process in a video on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBYlzVN7twM&feature=channel_page


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:28 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2007 8:08 pm
Posts: 2472
Location: Virginia
Maybe you can't play regular guitar, but have you looked into possibly Lap or Pedal Steel guitars? The ones that are played horizontally, often with big metal slides or bars? Granted its not the same, but at least you could still be playing a bit...

Also, I don't know what area the surgeon you talked to specializes in, but you may need to consider consulting a neurologist or some type of specialist who may deal with these types of injuries more often...

_________________
RAMA LAMA FA FA FA


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 24 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: