I found out yesterday, my shoulder needs to be 'replaced'.
Replaced. Cut off and discarded like a bad cue ball.
The same shoulder I had when I was born, when the church taught me to
feel guilty, when I saw the liquid sun through a wave breaking over me,
when the Federales' poked me in the stomach with their rifles, when I kissed miss S. in the rain, when I made miss R. forget her vows.
The shoulder that has helped me demolish and rebuild bathrooms, kitchens
and everything else I did, when I should have been practicing.
Well, I cant go on like I am. snap, crackle and pop.

Looks like somebody's gonna be fingerpicking. Look out, James Taylor,
there's a new sherriff in town. Not my scene at all.

You know what man.. I do feel bad for you. I wouldn't wish that on any musician. But.. BUT.. I'm gonna tell you something one of my old wrestling coaches told me once. It seems harsh at first. It's hard to swallow when you first hear it. And I'm gonna seem like a dick for saying it. But I want you to really hear it for what it is, and later, you just might thank me for it.

It goes like this:
When you're through feeling sorry for yourself, get back in there and kick some $@!.

There are great guitar players out there who play with their feet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qN57X5KoGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3gMgK7h-BA

Anything is possible, it just depends on your own determination and self motivation. Don't let it hold you back dawg. When it's done being replaced, let it heal, and the rest is up to you.

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HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
http://www.haleamano.com

Hang tough Bro. Get past the surgery and get back on the horse. I'm guessing getting back at playing will actually be great for rehab on your shoulder. It's amazing what good physical therapy will do for you. It will suck at first, but bit by bit you'll get it all back.

It sucks, but I'll bet w/in a year you'll be playing better than ever!

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Old age and treachery will win every time over youth and enthusiasm.

"You can never have too many Tele's." A quote from my Sweetwater Sales Engineer

Thats hard news my friend. I have much sympathy for you. Which shoulder is it? Strap wearer or strummer?

Hope you get through it with the minimum of fuss.

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No no and no

What's a rotten joint like that doing in a nice guy like you?

Wishing you the best of luck and a swift recovery.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Good Luck with the replacement, feel better soon, Taurus.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder. Wishing you a good recovery. If baseball pitchers can undergo shoulder surgery and come back to pitch i think you should be okay to do a little strummin. But then again a fingerpicked guitar sounds sooo sweet. Good Luck

Hang in there. Sometimes even surgeries are not as bad as they seem. My son had another type of shoulder surgery about a year ago. They had to go in and shave off some bone that was rubbing on another part in there and was causing alot of pain. Within a month he was able to start lifting some weights, and within 3 months his shoulder felt better than ever and could do anything he wanted. Try and stay optimistic. We all wish you the best.

- C

Sorry to hear that. I had shoulder surgery about 10 weeks ago, not as severe but they did have to remove the end of the clavicle.
I am not only back to full speed but much better than before - the "ice pick" is gone..

Good luck to you. Make sure you do what the physical therapists tell you to - that makes all of the difference in the world!

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Ignorance IS bliss - and I am the happiest person here!

That's way too unfortunate. Speedy recovery. :]

Taurus, I like your writting style. You sound like you may have haunted a few surf breaks in SoCal. No?

Also my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

wow that kind of sucks. But who knows maybe you'll be playing better after the surgery.

Don't give up just yet. I shattered my left wrist and was in a cast for almost a year, and the day the cast was off I ran home with my skinny/gimpy/sunlight deprived arm and started trying to play again. Turns out playing was the best thing for it.

Many years into adulthood later I busted my back, same story, couldn't play for a long time, and then when I could stand up I couldn't stand and play for very long at all. But working at it, practice, (and switching to lighter Strats ) and I'm back playing fulltime again.

Don't give up man. The surgery sounds horrible, but I'm sure it's not going to stop you from continuing to play.

Taurus, when life deals us these cards, we have to just bite the bullet, do what you have to do, then carry on.

Best wishes to you!!!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Had both mine done over the past 5 years and still rock like a madman, and I know you aren't older than me. Good luck bro. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.