In the morning I'm going to see a new pain specialist.The one I was seeing before I could only see once a year and he was a four hour drive and that required two overnight stays as I would have to drive out there on for instance-on a Wednesday-see him on Thursday and drive back home on Friday.These long hauls weren't at all good for my back or my hands.
This new Dr. is also licenced to dispense the med which I am using for pain management and that is a big part of the reason that I had to drive 4 hours,a doctor has to have a special licence and training to prescribe it.Form what I've heard from her other patients this doctor is a Godsend and really is dilligent in getting to the root of what's causing the pain.I'd almost put up with the back pain if she could fix my hands and find out what's really causing all the pain and fatigue.The worst fates for a musician are deafness and the loss of use of their hands.Thank God my hearing is way above normal(that was REAL surprising)but I'd give just about anything to get my hands functioning again.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Guitslinger.,
I can relate.I have one of the best pain specialist in my area and they are very helpful in making sure that I have all my bases covered with meds,therapy, whatever it may be that I need and I see them every few months for Rx refills.These people are pain and spinal specialist but I have hand issues too.If you remember I had both hands operated on for severe carpal tunnel syndrome a year ago and I am still having some trouble but we are working on it.Right now we cannot get my insurance company to step up and pay for the necessary back surgery I need to alleviate some of the pain I endure from the bad discs in my lumbar.I take heavy duty pain scripts each month so I know what it like to be in pain 24-7...it aint no fun.I hope these people can help you out and also be sympathetic that you are in pain.I know some people who are treated like they're drug addicts by their docs cause they have chronic pain and that is not right at all.Not everyone is out to seek pain meds to get high...some of us actually need them just to get through our days.I will send you some good mojo that everything goes well and you are treated well and taken care of.It took me several pain docs before I found the one I currently am with and he is a godsend as well as a professional that is sympathetic to a younger man like myself (45) and the pain I endure each and everyday,I wouldn't wish it on anybody
Best of luck bro
Eric

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1986 Fender Sidekick Reverb 35
1990 Fender Red Knob - "The Twin"
1992 Fender Newporter - Acoustic
2000 Fender American Series Strat - Natural ash
2010 Fender Mustang 1
2011 Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster -Sunburst
2012 Fender Champion

That's a coincidence, I go tomorrow as well. I'm going to see a surgeon for a consult. It's hard for people to understand how pain makes you tired. After so long (years) it just takes all your energy and motivation. My trip is about 3 hours each way so I hope I get some good news. I hope you get good news as well.

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My ability to spell is in direct proportion to the amount of coffee I've had.

I have 6 crushed discs in my back along with pinched nerves in both my legs from a job related injury. I`m in pain 24/7 since `99 so I know how you feel. It sounds like you have pinched nerves in your back thats affecting your hands as well. The Dr. might send you for a nerve damage test and that will show where any damage is. Good Luck and I hope you feel better soon.

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As the old saying goes"misery loves company" it's good to know that there are others in the same boat.I saw the specialist this morning and she was very thorough and even asked if I had used marijuana for pain,I told her that I did occassionly and she never flipped out at me but asked if I found it effective.I told her that it worked quite well in aleviating a good bit of the pain and really helped me sleep.She said that when she sees me in 3 weeks she will prescribe the marijuana pills for me to help me sleep without having pain wake me up.

When I told her about my hands she wasn't surprised at all but said that it's very common for people with chronic back pain to develop pain in their hands and other extremities.This is due to the nerves that are damaged basically rewiring themselves but firing off the wrong impulses from other areas that are not affected.Chronic pain is a strange thing and there is hardly anything taught about chronic pain in med schools.The chronic pain education taught in med schools boils down to approximately 6 hours in the final year of med school.Ironically enough veterinary students spend a whole 2 weeks studying pain in animals.If this doctor doesn't work out I think I'll go to my dog's vet.LOL.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Guits,

If I remember correctly a couple of weeks ago your wife was not doing well. Hope she is better.

Hope things look up for you too.

OL

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I remember when we were free!

Good luck with your new pain Doc. I know only to well that its tough feeling like crap all the time. There is plenty of good Mojo round these parts so I'll send you all I can find. I asked my Doc about the Marijuana pills and he flat turned me down. I may be mistaken but I think he even gave me a bit of a frown. Oh well you keep the faith and stay strong. Remember "Ti's the season to be Joly".
----Danny,

Good luck with your new pain specialist...funny you should mention hearing, I just found out that I need a hearing aide in my left ear. I knew it was getting bad and I have tinnitis in my left ear from an earlier injury, but didn't think I needed a hearing aide yet. I am not looking forward to this.

T2

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What time is it? It's Fender Time.

Thanks guys for the supportive posts.My little woman is on the mend and gone back to work for 4 hours a day 4 days a week both she and the docs feel that that's about all she could handle now.On top of that she's coming home and doing painting etc.I can't help there because I got up on the ladder last week steaming off wall paper and almost ended up in Emerg. from the pain.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Guitslinger,

How is it going with the new pain specialist?

OL

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I remember when we were free!

Update:

Went to my family Dr. and she prescribed the marijuana pills as well as another med the specialist suggested and so far so good,I'm sleeping much better and daytime pain has subsided a bit.I see the speciallist again on the 21st and we'll see how it goes from there.Now if only my mitts would cooperate.Once again thanks for your support and concern.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.