Arthritis runs in my family, and to be honest, I think I may be developing it. I do feel the joints in my hands tightening up, and my wrists are in pain a lot of the time, but I manage to push through, most of the time.

I can't manage to play through any of the songs that I used to, other than ones with simple transitions, and really can't learn with my left hand, being the way it is. Pinhead literally killed my left hand today.

Then again, my left hand is the one that I broke, and cold does tend to mess with broken bones.

I just hope I don't end up having to dust off gear each time I use it.

Cheers.

_________________
1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Oh, holy... Yeah, that would really s*ck, but hopefully it's not the arthritis. I recommend you don't mess with your own head by assuming the worst before you really know. Hang in there!

_________________
"Today Atlantis, tomorrow the world!"

Ouch!
(Literally)

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Probably getting a doctor's opinion within the next week or 2.

_________________
1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic

Dude, you'll be right. Don't be let down so easily. Trust me, I know about these things. Push through, and fight it.

_________________
former user radio_friendly_unit_shifter

I have it and you need to keep playing through it. It gets worse if you stop exercising the afflicted parts. Have it checked out for your own well being.

Hi Buxom: good plan. Of course, it's not impossible to have arthritis problems at the age 17, but it would be very bad luck. That's shockingly young. Getting a first opinion from a doctor is the sensible place to begin.

Best of luck with it - C

_________________

Im so sorry to hear about your situation, Buxom. Hopefully, the doctor will have a simple solution.

This may be way off base (I'm not a doctor and I don't know your health/lifestyle habits)...but Google a list of "acidic foods"...

A highly acidic diet can lead to a few different types of joint pain, most notably gout. Everybody thinks of gout as being in their big toes (and that is the most common problem spot), but it started in my wrists and knees (later affected my toes and ankles as well).

Also, most people think gout is a problem with older, heavier men who drink a lot of beer...I initially had issues when I was 32, slim and a teetotaler, so that myth goes out the window.

The allopurinol that is most commonly prescribed helps, but I found it easier/cheaper/healthier to change my diet. About the only thing I miss is the peanut butter.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Hey Buxom, I assume you're stretching and warming up your hands before playing? It's always good to do gentle finger stretches and exercises for about 5 minutes or so before playing. And it's also a good idea to take a break every 20 minutes or so to give your hands a rest.

I've also noticed that my fretting hand wrist tends to hurt if my guitar strap is strung too low. This could be an issue.

You're likely aware of these tips already, but it's amazing how much those gentle warmup exercises can help to alleviate pain.

The pain and cramping, of course could be the result of any number of issues, so I think you're being smart by having it checked out by a doctor.

Not trying to be a jerk, but do you lift weights or do pullups? Doing that would totally strengthen your fingers and forearm muscles.

I suck at playing guitar, but I've been doing pullups and lifting weights since I was 8 years old, and one problem I don't have is weak fingers or pain in my fingers. You don't even have to target the forearms. Gripping dumbbells and doing pullups works the forearm muscles and finger tendons and all of that.

Grass is always greener, and I wish that I had spent more time my entire life learning to play guitar instead of working out, but I have noticed a lot of guitarists who might say the opposite--they clearly have spent all their time playing guitar and not eating healthily, so they can play guitar but have skinny arms and weak fingers.

I have no idea what shape you're in. Just throwing that out there.

Checkout guitarprinciples.com. She teaches how to play in a relaxed state. I had similar problems and was able to get past all that with her information.

Or, there could be toxins in your environment. For example, fluoride will cause arthritis type symptoms.

Also, most diseases and pain are the result of mineral deficiencies. You may need a supplement like Tangy Tangerine to fix that.

Protein too, you need pure protein to develop muscles and to maintain muscles. Undenatured whey powder and hemp seed will fix that.

Try to eat organic to avoid all those other nasty toxins.

No chemicals or artificial sweeteners.

And yup, exercises (push-ups, light resistance with weights, etc.), stretching too!

Don't over do it. The ole "no pain; no gain" don't apply here. Here, pain usually equals crippling disability down the line!

_________________
"The individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a Conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst." J. Edgar Hoover

Buxom, did you ever hear about using Tumeric powder to ease the symptoms of Arthritis? I know of at least one person who buys it bulk, and buys gel caps to fill. Supposedly the difference is like night and day. Might be worth checking out....

_________________
Please subscribe to my Channel!
https://www.youtube.com/user/b7567

I have arthritis in my right hand especially my right thumb.

Do yourself a big favor and get to see a doctor. The macho "play through it" isn't the right answer. If you are in pain, your body is telling you that it objects to somethuing you're doing.

I'm not talking the "sore after a workout" or some such, but if your joints are arthritic, then getting it checked out is the best thing. If it's some muscle or joint issue, you could end up doing long-term damage.

Sorry to be the wet blanket here but get yourself checked out by the doc just to be sure you're not hurting yourself.

Jeff

I wasn't saying, 'don't see a doctor', no, I think it'd be stupid not to, in fact. It's just that out of my experience with doctors, every single time I go down to the hospital to see them about or check up on my right hand and arm, they just send me to other doctors and neurological specialists that do nothing except for say, 'oh, keep doing your excersices, it'll come good someday...', and there's big $$$ for them, just for having another wothless appoitment. Yeah, I've been doing excatly what my OT and physio have said for 7 years an it hasn't improved

I'm just saying, if it is by any chance arthritis or something similar, and the doctor tells you to stretch, or gives you medication, don't get your hopes up to much. Stay dedicated to overcoming it like crazy, definetley, and do what the docors say, if you trust them, of course, but just bare in mind that you may have to face it.

It's probably totally different with arthritis anyway, after all it is a very well known problem.
Good luck.

_________________
former user radio_friendly_unit_shifter

I know what you mean! Arthritis of any type is a downer and painful, but when it keeps you from doing the things you love most it's also psychologically devastating. Definitely see a doctor (rheumatology is the specialty), and get yourself checked out for osteoarthritis (common, almost everybody gets it somewhere if they live long enough), gout, and a relatively recently diagnosed condition called pseudogout, which mimics the symptoms of gout but doesn't respond to treatment for gout.

Armadillo has some good advice regarding gout, especially the part about modifying one's diet. In my case, limiting the intake of smoked meats and red meats keeps me free from pain for months at a time, but if I fall off the wagon I can be left literally crippled for up to a month. There's nothing sadder than coming home and looking at your instruments and equipment knowing you can't use them . Barre chords? Forget it. String bending? Don't make me laugh!

There are medications for arthritis, prescription and over-the-counter, and making the effort to keep your fingers and wrists nimble through exercise will definitely pay off. Good luck to you!

_________________
Most profound blues lyric, from Robert Johnson's Hell Hound On My Trail:

"If today was Christmas Eve, if today was Christmas Eve,
Tomorrow would be Christmas Day..."