It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:55 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:33 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
Yesterday morning I had an appointment with the surgeon who had done the carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand.I told him that I'm still having loss of sensation and can't hit the strings as precisely as I could before.I used to be able to do Townshend style windmills and could bring my pick down on whatever string I chose to now I have a real tough time with just regular strumming.Anyway he told me that this isn't related to the surgery or the carpal tunnel syndrome at all.He figures that all the trouble in my hands is down to what appears to be a pinched nerve between two of my neck vertebra that showed up in my latest MRI and said that he's 90% sure that's what it is.He said that other things such as Parkinson's,M.S. and some other neurological disorders cause similar effects but where there clearly is an impinged nerve in my neck,that is most likely the culprit. He is going to send a note off to the neurologist I see in 2 weeks time and my family doc is booking me for another neck MRI.I am hoping and praying that it is as simple as a pinched nerve because that it a relatively easy fix.I still have a long road of recovery if I do have the problem rectified because I'll have to retrain my muscles and get my fingers limbered up considerably.

_________________
'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.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 6:45 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:02 pm
Posts: 1978
Location: Manchester
I've had a bit of a headache all afternoon.

_________________
Image
Image my stuff on soundcloud


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 7:29 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
I really hope you get well soon.

Edit: I just Googled headache cures and found this one that's guaranteed to get rid of your headache.Fill a large bucket with water,dunk your head in it 3 times and come up twice.

_________________
'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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 5:54 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:51 pm
Posts: 517
Location: Newfoundland
lol....


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 12:22 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:52 pm
Posts: 23
Good luck on that fix mate. Being a medicine student I can only say that warming up your muscles and tendons goes a long way so try to do that every single time. Not necessarily by playing guitar but try to get some long walks or run for 5/10min. I know the neurological part is the issue but that might help on the limbering up of your fingers. As for the pinched nerve in your spine I hope you get that fixed soon. There is nothing like being able to play your axe without impairments :D

Best of luck on your recovery! 8)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 7:25 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
Thanks Bossandblues,if it were only the pinched nerve that was causing the neuro-muscular problem that wouldn't be so bad but it was not only exacerbated by the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome but by a severe case of Raynaud's Syndrome.The neurologist who reviewed my cold water immersion test results wrote on his report that my reaction was the most extreme and fastest that he'd ever seen.In less than 15 seconds every function in my hands shut down.All the circulation,muscles and nerve impulses just ceased operation and I had to spend several minutes with my hands immersed in warm water and do some vigorous Pete Townshend style windmills to get feeling and function back in my hands.After spending 5 years like this and losing the most important thing in my life,I can empathize with Leona Boyd and can't imagine how devastating she must find being unable to ever play again,whereas there is still a chance that I will regain function and eventually get back to playing and even gigging again at some point.Cheers.

_________________
'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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 8:12 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2014 5:52 pm
Posts: 23
Another reason for you to do a proper warm up. It will expand your peripheral arteries and as a result it should largely make ur Raynaud's symptoms milder.
I'm not saying that I do workout and do a proper warm up every time I grab my axe but it's important. You are using your muscles and your tendons and you have to treat 'em nice or else they might bite back later on! As for the Carpal Tunnel I honestly wish you all the best with that. Dropping your axe might feel bad but to be impaired to the point you must cease playing... that's the really bad thing. Still I can advise you plenty of physiotherapy. It's amazing how overlooked physio is and how important it usually is in recovering the patient's function (that goes from P.O. to a tendinitis or knee pain) physio really works wonders and you may see yourself back on track with that. I myself have stopped playing basketball due to a nagging knee pain and am waiting on an appointment with one of the best when it comes to knee issues. I have no doubt that I'll be needing physio if my guess is right (torn meniscus). So even if it is on a minor scale compared to you I kind of understand your feeling and wish you the best of luck! I'm sure our very own guitslinger will pull through! :wink:


Image

I'll be sure to open one of these tomorrow thinking of you! :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2014 8:27 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
Thanx-very much appreciated.

_________________
'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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:48 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
GilgaFrank wrote:
I've had a bit of a headache all afternoon.

Guess you didn't follow my advice last. :wink:

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:56 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
guitslinger wrote:
Thanx-very much appreciated.

'Boss' may find himself with a more global impression of your issues once a residency is a thing of the past, particularly if he's done either neurology, neurosurgery or physiatry. He's also rather recent in traveling the road with you these past several years. Going forward, carefully weigh any considerations of surgical intervention in your cervical spine, should it be recommended, particularly with respect to downsides. I've friends whose outcomes represent both sides of the issue. Its a tough choice, the juice vs. the squeeze. Been there, done that.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 10:39 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
Thanks Doc,after working in a rehabilitation center for children and young adults for over 30 years,I too have seen the benefits of spinal surgery but I have also seen absolutely horrifying results such as a teenage girl who had scoliosis but not what you would call severe and had corrective surgery that involved getting a Harrington rod attached to her spine to supposedly correct the deformity-she ended up a paraplegic.What makes this even more tragic is that it was hinted at that there were grounds for malpractice but her family wasn't at all well off and the doctor would make Rupert Murddoch look like a homeless vagrant.They even sought legal advice and were basically told that it would be a battle of who ran out of money first.

I have seen some miraculous results from lumbar,thoracic and cervical surgeries but the ones that went wrong are the ones that stand out most-this will be well considered if the option of surgery comes up.

BTW: After I had a spinal fusion done my legs no longer collapsed without warning sending me into a pile on the floor,but the pain intensity increased significantly-that certainly was a mixed blessing if there ever was one.
One of our home grown orthopedic surgeons,Dr. Edward (Ted) Shapter was well known internationally in his area of expertise and even was a consultant at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minn..He not only designed and developed special implements to be used in surgery but actually had some surgical procedures named after him-according to local lore.There is no denying however his genius as a surgeon,
that wasn't lore because he did have an international reputation as being at the top of his game.

_________________
'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.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:04 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:50 pm
Posts: 469
Location: TURKEY
I can really sympathise with you Guitslinger
I got cubital syndrome in march this year (it is very similar to carpal, but it's the ulnar nerve that is blocked somewhere and affects the pinky side of both ring fingers and the fingerprint down to the first joint of my right hand )
We sold our house and are now temporarily living with my daughter and her family,before we eventually move to our villa in Turkey, so after changing doctors, I have better hopes of either some better treatment , or if necessary, some minor surgery to try and correct it , seeing as my old doctor was useless
Best wishes that you get fixed soon

_________________
Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 12:40 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
guitslinger wrote:
... After I had a spinal fusion done my legs no longer collapsed without warning sending me into a pile on the floor,but the pain intensity increased significantly-that certainly was a mixed blessing if there ever was one.......

Trauma, is trauma and, even in the best of skilled hands, the success of a surgical outcome can never be predicted. :wink:

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Saw surgeon yesterday.
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 1:17 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
I elected not to have a cervical carving/fusion done (for AS), because after pestering the surgeon again and again until he got me actual statistics, the risk of a fatal outcome or becoming paraplegic was in the double-digits.
What annoyed me was that they didn't seem to want to be upfront about how big the risks were, just that there were risks. If I am to gamble, I want to know the odds. Especially for things more important than money.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 14 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: