At thirteen, I almost think that medications would more of a hinderance than help in rehabilitating your neurological deficit. Brain injury at young ages is very reversible in terms of training alternate pathways in the brain to perform lost functions. Each part of the brain save for very few areas have redundant functions that can take over if the area of primary control is damaged or completely dysfunctional. I would say that your best course of action would be to get back on the horse as soon as possible after a spasm passes and work through the episode with a goal of increasing the time between the spasms. That's easy to say, but believe me; I am working with spinal nerve root damage from crushed discs in my neck that causes my hands to go weak and numb. Ask your doctor about mild doses of anti-convulsant meds like Topamax or Neurontin to help with the spasms. The thing to remember is that you are fortunate to be playing guitar; that's an inspiration right there! Progress is slow, but in several years, with determination you could be the next great player of your generation. Best wishes to ya, Riley!

Etiologies of neurological dysfunctions vary as do the physical expressions of same. One cannot extrapolate from one to the other. Your circumstance is one of loss of tranmission of inflow/outflow information to the brain from the periphery. Hence the symptoms you experience. In essence, your brain does not know where your hands are, nor cannot it adequately effect your motor function. His is one of brain damage in the absolute. There's no central control.

Whether or not the phenomenon of brain neuroplasticity can accommodate for these deficits remains to be seen. I would expect that the health care providers consulted in these matters are current with a tools available to them at the present time.

Doc

At thirteen, I almost think that medications would more of a hinderance than help in rehabilitating your neurological deficit. Brain injury at young ages is very reversible in terms of training alternate pathways in the brain to perform lost functions. Each part of the brain save for very few areas have redundant functions that can take over if the area of primary control is damaged or completely dysfunctional. I would say that your best course of action would be to get back on the horse as soon as possible after a spasm passes and work through the episode with a goal of increasing the time between the spasms. That's easy to say, but believe me; I am working with spinal nerve root damage from crushed discs in my neck that causes my hands to go weak and numb. Ask your doctor about mild doses of anti-convulsant meds like Topamax or Neurontin to help with the spasms. The thing to remember is that you are fortunate to be playing guitar; that's an inspiration right there! Progress is slow, but in several years, with determination you could be the next great player of your generation. Best wishes to ya, Riley!

Hi Riley,me yet again,I've had Botox in my back for pain and spasms and it worked for 3 mths.Also another word in defense of accupuncture,the needles are as thin as a human hair and when they are initially inserted there is no more pain than that of a mosquito bite and after a couple of minutes you'll most likely experience a pleasant tingling sensation and complete loss of pain and the pain loss can last for days.To me it was a small price to pay for some relief.