from Arthritis to Carpal Tunnel

Stratman68

Axe-Master
So, we have had a few threads, some lengthy, about arthritis and other guitar player taboos. I started a big one myself a few years back.
Well, now it seems I need to have carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand-I am a righty (player) so, yes, my fretting hand.
Coming up in 2 weeks. Plus trigger release for thumb and index finger on that same hand.

Curious, I have read quite a bit of course, since learning this. But have yet to talk to, be it the web or in person to anyone that has actually had this done...A guitar layer I mean. Doctor tells me I could resume playing after 6 weeks. I do have a plan, finish up thew family CD I have been making forever and never finish. Guitar tracks will be all done in a week..Most were already. Drums, keys and Bass also are all done- Raw. So for 6 weeks I can mix and also record vocals . Should be fun.


So anyone have real life experience with this? either your self or someone you know well?

I am a bit worried, I am an old guy here-Viet Nam vet gives you an idea.
Doctor is very experienced and well spoken of. She treats vets who are much , much worse off - She is hand specialists...orthopedic Surgeon.
Sorry if I ramble, just a bit nervous.............................Thanks Frank
 
I'm closing in fast on the point of no return with my fretting arm ulnar nerve.
Transposition surgery he calls it.... The boy doctor about 25 year old.
Good grief I swear he don't care if grampa play's the blues ever again.
I'm working in 2 bands and may loose my seat in both if recovery takes too long or the job is botched and my life long gift is destroyed.

She says I'm supposed to think positive.....Getting old is not for the weak...Youth is wasted on the young.....Good grief..:cool:
 
Sucks brotha. Not sure what I'd do if I couldn't play. I've been spending more time on the piano because it seems to keep things loose.

I'm not there yet, but I feel for you, and FWIW, do EVERYTHING the Dr sais for rehab and exercises. It may not be easy, but giving up a few vices and changing a part of your life will be worth it to be able to throw that guitar around.
 
A few years ago I had a similar problem, and it was seriously painful, so I did some serious research.
If your pains are chronic like most people, food may be the problem, and if so food is the solution - Try kale smoothies, and no oils in food or dressings - only lean meat once in a while as a treat. Lots of starches like potatoes, oatmeal, rice, corn, pasta to make up calories, as much as you can eat.
This simple solution has worked for thousands. Best wishes.
 
Very sorry to read this Stratman. Getting old ain't for wimps. I had a really bad bout with tendonitis back in my 40's. Ended up getting cortisone shots and doing therapy. The pain was pretty severe. I could not even pick up a coffee cup with one hand. My advice is to follow your medical instructions for recovery and do take an active role in your therapy. Better to have a set-back and then recover, than to have a set-back and never really recover. Prayers for your complete recovery amigo.
 
I cured my severe tendonosis (in both hands) with hot and cold water therapy. It's pretty simple and worth a shot. Basically, you crank up the hot water as hot as you can stand it and let it run over the area of injury for 4 or 5 minutes, then use cold water for the same length of time or until your hand(s) is completely cool. This increases circulation to the area which brings nutrients via the blood supply, which in turn heals the area. I recommend doing it 2 or 3 times a day. Like I said, it completely cured my severe tendonosis. Granted, it took 6 months but I was able to avoid surgery. Incidentally, the cortisone shots my doctor gave me did relatively nothing to resolve the issue.
 
Sorry to hear of your worsening troubles stratman! I would try some diet, brace and therapy options first. I had a Quack operate on my left hand almost 2 years ago and it has never recovered to where he said it would with the surgery. I still can only play guitar for only a few minutes, and some chords are impossible. I have ended up with a huge lump in my hand were it was cut open that has not gone away but only gets harder. Of coarse your doctor may know what she is doing.
 
I accidentally got bit by my 130 lbs Cane Corso dog on my right arm. I was playing tug of war with one of those rope toys and she missed the toy and chopped on my arm.

I lost all feeling in my right hand for about a day. Most of it came back but it somehow cured the pain I used to get in my thumb and wrist when playing a lot of down strokes.

I wish I could get the same thing done by a doctor to my left fretting hand (by surgery, not getting bit again ;)) bc I get a lot of pain in my thumb and wrist when playing bar chords but I'm too afraid something may go wrong or I wouldn't be able to give it enough time to heal before going back to work.
 
Hey Guys
Really appreciate all the responses. I have tried most home remedies over the years. I am NOT looking forward to this and may just cancel. Still have 11 days to do so. I actually went to this doctor (waited 3.5 months to get in) to get a shot in my index fingers on both hands. They always worked for me and it's been 15 years or more since I've had one. so the surgery was her idea, not mine. BTW, this is the VA. The doctors their do NOT get any extra $$$ for operations of this nature...that is a fact. I am sure I know have carpal tunnel to some degree. But I also have bad psoriatic arthritis. Same outcome as rheumy arthritis but psoriatic is from psoriasis. Same damage, same joint inflammation, etc.

At this time I am undecided, as I stated.........Thanks again
Stratman68 AKA Frank
 
I cured my severe tendonosis (in both hands) with hot and cold water therapy. It's pretty simple and worth a shot. Basically, you crank up the hot water as hot as you can stand it and let it run over the area of injury for 4 or 5 minutes, then use cold water for the same length of time or until your hand(s) is completely cool. This increases circulation to the area which brings nutrients via the blood supply, which in turn heals the area. I recommend doing it 2 or 3 times a day. Like I said, it completely cured my severe tendonosis. Granted, it took 6 months but I was able to avoid surgery. Incidentally, the cortisone shots my doctor gave me did relatively nothing to resolve the issue.
heys Jason,

I've been doing the same cold + hot water therapy daily now for months
got the method from some guitar tendonitis e-book I bought
it does help, yes
but only 15 secs ice cold water, 30 secs hot water, n some forearm twisting movement
total bout 10-15 mins
but only once a day, at night before sleep

how are your fingers now, n if you're still doing it
hope they're solid as ever

I need to try it at least twice a day...
 
I was in the same boat, couldn't use my right hand at all. Days before surgery a friend took me to a wonderful chiropractor. Two hours later I left that office 80% healed and possible free after two years of suffering. The following six weeks got me to 95%.
I had knee surgery 15 years ago, been in constant pain from that ever since, and I my have 20% functionality in that leg. Surgery was done by world renowned orthopedic specialist.
I'd exhaust all options before letting then butcher me.
 
A few years ago I had a similar problem, and it was seriously painful, so I did some serious research.
If your pains are chronic like most people, food may be the problem, and if so food is the solution - Try kale smoothies, and no oils in food or dressings - only lean meat once in a while as a treat. Lots of starches like potatoes, oatmeal, rice, corn, pasta to make up calories, as much as you can eat.
This simple solution has worked for thousands. Best wishes.

I used to have terrible joint pain, carpel tunnel issues and my neck was stiff 4-5 days out of the week to the point I had to turn my whole body to talk to people. I switched to a whole food/plant-based diet almost 5 years ago and within 2 months all the aches and pains went away. My wrist only bothers me when I’ve been playing bass for 4 hours or longer. Haven’t had a stiff neck once since that time.

The carpel tunnel used to be bad enough that I couldn’t play at all, didn’t matter how buttery the guitar was or how much tension it lacked, I just couldn’t wrap my hand around the neck. I used to think people were exaggerating when they’d say “I can’t even pick up a guitar it’s so bad”, but once I experienced it myself, I was legit scared. Never an issue these days, though!
 
Unless my experience was a total coincidence, I'll have to give another vote for diet/food.

Did you have the nerve conduction testing? I did, about 3 years ago, following a few years of steadily-worsening carpal symptoms. Nerve test showed not great, but not terrible. According to the data, not quite bad enough that I'd need carpel tunnel surgery. I was worried though, because I'd get numb hands and fingers after only a bit of playing and loss of finger articulation. I used the wrist braces for sleeping for a while, I tried some supplements, and did a bunch of nerve-flossing exercises daily, but none of that seemed to help.

A year went by, numb hands still seriously degrading my enjoyment of playing guitar. Then, independently of this, I decided to start eating healthier, lose some weight and do cardio exercise every day. I didn't really do a bunch of food science research and I didn't go full plant-based. I simply cut out beer and sugar drinks, cut down on fatty red meats and breads and highly-processed junk, ate a lot more fresh veg and fruits instead. Common sense healthy eating stuff, and did a lot more bike riding which I love to do anyway.

So I lost about 25 lbs over 4 months and felt way better, but the happy surprise for me was NO more serious hand numbness! I can play guitar for hours and hours! Really no issues at all these days.

One thing is, when I started exercising I bought an Apple watch to track health stats and progress. The watch band has to be a certain tightness on your wrist to register your heart rate properly, and because of this I noticed it getting looser as I lost weight... my wrist was actually getting skinnier. I can't help wonder if that helped reduce nerve pressure around the carpal nerve. Hmm..
 
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