One of the many health problems I have is a nerve issue in my neck that makes two of the fingers on my left hand(right hand player) numb. Sometimes the entire hand is affected. Anyone else deal with something like that?

hi duster , i know where your coming from mate , a few years ago i slipped a disc in my neck the end result being total numbness of my left arm and hand . It was this that made me pick up a guitar again after a break of about 8 years , now the numbness is only on tthe palm of my left hand along the lines of the first 2 fingers , i think that playing guitar helped it along a good bit , that and i really enjoy playing guitar one more cheers
Alan

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Several forum members including myself have neuro-muscular issues with their hands. I am currently getting chiropractic treatments done and that along with a prescribed exercise regimin has helped restore some semblance of normalcy back to my hands.

The trouble with my hands originates from my neck and shoulders and is the result of years of playing guitar for too long and not doing stretches and excercises.Several years of weight training also contributed to the condition.Have you tried chiropractic?As I aleady stated I found that it was the best treatments I've tried yet.

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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.

I am one of those several others that guitslinger mentioned. My regular Dr. sais there is nothing that he can do for me. If I expect any relief I'm going to have to see a Specialist for treatment. Its getting so bad that when I attempt to form a chord I get sharp pains in my wrist. You see those other OLD guitarists playing there everloving A@#%& off and apparently have no discomfort what so ever. It isn't fair.
----Danny,

Welcome to the club Duster, tho' not a club you would ever wish to join this one

I have focal dystonia or a form of it, started in my picking hand and was noticeable when fingerpicking, then i started noticing that i was having trouble keeping grip on the pick and felt it was twisting in my fingers. I've gone to using a thumbpick because of this, better in a way than a standard pick anyway, more versatile.

One dilemma that is really bugging me about this condition is this: could this neuro-muscular condition be caused by anti-depressant usage? I've read on various message boards on the net that SSRI use can cause dystonic reactions.

With me i can hardly use the index finger when fingerpicking, the others are not too bad but nothing like they should be. I also notice that my hands get much more fatigued much easier.

If i found out that these SSRI's could be causing this or making it worse i would be so upset and i'd want to quit taking them because music is everything to me but i'd be scared to stop in case something horrific happened to me. You hear so many horror stories about these things.

I echo what Danny said; you see old guitarists playing with no hand problems whatsover and you feel so envious. The one positive i take is that i can play, some people are destroyed by it. Did you know the great classical guitarist Liona Boyd had to give up her career as a soloist because of it? Brazilian guitarist Badi Assad suffered from it as well.

Horrible thing it really is. The annoying thing is technically there's nothing wrong with your hand, the problem is in the brain making muscles contract when they shouldn't.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

i have spasticity in most muscles in my right hand and arm, some muscles are still paralysed. my hand is constantly insanely tense, to give you an idea, tense your whole arm and hand as hard as you can for about 5 seconds, then double it. thats kind of what i go through every minute of every day. just extending my fingers is a almost impossible challenge for me, or making my wrist stay straight. its hell. tell you the truth, as a direct result, i got suicidal once (not anymore...). my only wish is to get rid of it. as for the paralysed muscles, hardly noticable as a normal person barely ever uses them anyway.

and the suckiest thing about it, i'm only 15 an i've had it for nearly 6 years.
so playing guitar for me, is difficult. with that being said, i love it. even though i can barely get through one song some days. like gorgon said, some musicians are totally destroyed by there muscle condition. luckily im not one of them

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former user radio_friendly_unit_shifter

My fingers go numb from time to time too. Sometimes when I'm driving, sometimes when I play. I suspect it's a result of poor circulation or carpal tunnel. I'm not a doctor so I don't know for sure. It hasn't happened in a while though so who knows.



Glad to hear you are past that dark spot Riley. At 15 you still have a lot to experience in life. Rock on brother!

Sorry to hear you're goin' through this crap rileymcc, it really is horrible. The dystonia thing is like task specific so really doesn't affect me only when i'm playing guitar but it makes the muscles in my hand and forearm contract and really tighten up. Like you mention in your post the muscles in my right hand and forearm contract when they shouldn't and as well as prematurely bringing on fatigue i get really sore at the elbow area.

One thing to remember is: keep playing, no matter in what form, i've had to alter techniques, change things round, alter parts etc. etc. but i try to view it as fuel for the creative fire ie. put that into the music you're playing and realise that's a part of life that you're experiencing now, express that frustration, sadness or whatever emotion you feel through your guitar.

There's no cure for focal dystonia, once you have it that's it, i've pretty much learnt to deal with it now and move on, but i went through years of wracking my brain to figure out what was wrong with my hand. Because the condition is so uncommon they took the easy way out and diagnosed carpal tunnel. They were wrong i never had that.

Best wishes to you and no matter what keep playing and enjoying your music, there's nothing like it

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I to suffer from numbness in both hands. Mine is from lack of oxygen and as a side effect from my BP meds.
Sometimes I can play guitar for an hour, sometimes I'm only good for a few minutes.
This is one of the things I plan on working with my Dr.'s with in the coming year!!

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

if i am going to play for a while, i take a couple of motrin in advance. seems to help most of the time

A few years ago, I broke my left hand, disabling the use of my ring and pinky for pretty much anything. I can sort of use my ring finger for play, but it usually moves slower and less precisely and gets in the way.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Mine not only restricts my guitar playing, it also bothers me when typing, driving or holding a pen. When it started it was only once in a while. It's gradually gotten worse over the last 2 years. I think mine is largely because of My COPD/Low oxy. and poor circulation. When it really gets bad I think of you guys and I know I'm in good company. Don't give up guys. Keep on picking and grinning.
----Danny,

Well said Danny always keep picking no matter what, it's too important to our lives. What also sustains me is the idea that ok i might not be able to play the super fast, super intricate stuff anymore but i can replace that with as much feel and emotion as i can which in the long run might be better anyway.

I'm so glad that we are all positive and don't let it get to us. We can all continue to play and create great stuff forever.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

On a lighter note. I told my wife that just in case, on 12/21/12. I plan on being in my favorite Picking spot with My Silver Strat in my arms and a large Glass of Makers Mark at My side. If I feel the Earth start to shake, I'll take a big swig of whisky And start playing Ghost Riders as loud as I can. If the Earth don't shake the whisky gose back in the bottle and I'll play Riders anyway.
----Danny,

Funny idea. I think there'll be a spike in pregnancies, because so many people think it'l be their last night...

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic