I may have to quit playing

[PugNinjas]

Hey Folks,

It seems my guitar playing days may be coming to an end. I severely damaged the nerves in my wrist & elbow years ago and despite a valiant effort on my part to keep playing, I believe my ability to do so might just be over. I have gone through more tests that I care to remember and each and every one has confirmed the severity of the injury. Now it is too painful to play guitar even though my beloved Albert Lee puts the least amount of strain on my hand/wrist. The worst part of it is that after playing since 1980 I have to, most likely, hang it up and leave something behind that I truly love and that has become a part of who I am. Sorry to drop this one everyone but I'm pretty bummed out.

 

[brentrocks]

oh man, i'm so sorry to hear that

how did you hurt your hand?

 

[GWDavis28]

Pug man that BLOWS, so very sorry to hear that.

Can you play like Jeff Healy?

Glenn |B)

 

[Spudmurphy]

Hry Pug - you told me about this a while ago, you have been fighting this for some time.
Keep playing to your best ability man, dont give up, - keep it to short sessions.
KEEP AT IT!!!!!

 

[francric]

Sorry to hear that Pug...............

 

[beej]

Pug- that's awful news. Any chance you can learn to play left-handed? It's like starting all over again ... but better than giving it up entirely?

 

[francric]

Pug- that's awful news. Any chance you can learn to play left-handed? It's like starting all over again ... but better than giving it up entirely?

That sounds like a cool idea............

 

[Spudmurphy]

Pug- that's awful news. Any chance you can learn to play left-handed? It's like starting all over again ... but better than giving it up entirely?

Good idea - flip the guitar over a la Jimi.

hey Sterling's a LH but he taught himself to play RH.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Sad news Pug.

BUT, either try it left handed, or, now I'm not trying to be funny here, have you tried acupuncture? My mom (who has been a nurse since 1960 and is now a nursing professor) really believes that acupuncture is very helpful, even with nerve injuries. Just throwing it out there. I'd hate to lose a founding member of the ALOC.

Keep at it man, my mojo's pulling for ya!

 

[mbgreene]

Sorry to hear that Pug. I'm sure only you know what kind of discomfort you're in and what you've done to deal with it, but some of the suggestions here might be helpful for the short term so that you don't give up entirely.

Flipping it over, The Healy lap method or maybe switching to lap steel with a slide (or even all the way to pedal steel). Would always playing seated with the guitar well supported ala Skunk Baxter relieve any tension?

As I mentioned, I don't want to sound filppant and don't know what you've already tried or considered but just hate to see you walk away fro something thats been an enjoyable part of life.

Good Luck man.

 

[phatduckk]

dude, i dunno what to say.

I think Beej's idea isnt too bad. would that be an option for you as far as pain goes?

it would suck to have you walk away

 

[PugNinjas]

Thanks for the kind words folks.

I really don't think that playing left handed would be an option because of the picking motion involved in the left wrist.
My injury, and the resulting condition I have, leaves me with the constant feeling of pins and needles (banging your funny bone) as well as sharp pain and a feeling as if my elbow to wrist is on fire, among other miscellaneous twinges.

It's funny that MBGreene mentioned pedal steel because I have been really groovin' on Robert Randolph lately, what a great player with incredible tone & feel. I first saw his band one night on Conan and I was blown away.

Norrin, I have yet to try accupuncture and I will see what my Dr's say later this week.

I originally switched from my trusty EBMM EVH to the Albert Lee because of weight issues and that the body contours on the AL better positioned my wrist.

I think all the inspiration I garnered from the great players on this site whose vids I've seen (Tristan,Norm,etc) and getting to jam with Keith (KBaim) kind of lead me to push myself too far. Probably seeing Jeff Beck and Albert Lee in the last few months didn't help either. I've always been the kind of player who immediately picks up my guitar after seeing some incredible & inspiring players.

I'm not going anywhere as far as this forum goes

Once again, thanks for the kind words

 

[candid_x]

Hi Pug,

Sorry to hear your arm/wrist problem has gotten worse. This might be a long shot, but my son bought me one of these 3 years ago, and the results have been impressive. I was suffering serious pain in my wrist (carpel tunnel) and this little unit has all but completely eliminated the problem. Though your problem sounds more serious, I wouldn't discount what this thing may be able to do for you.

My oldest friend had a stroke last week, losing feeling and motion in his hand. His wife just ordered one of these for him. He's been playing guitar since he was 12.

Welcome to the Home of Dyna-Flex International
Testimonials - Musicians

Best wishes, and hang in there, bud.

Bruce

 

[Bungo]

I think all the inspiration I garnered from the great players on this site whose vids I've seen (Tristan,Norm,etc) and getting to jam with Keith (KBaim) kind of lead me to push myself too far. Probably seeing Jeff Beck and Albert Lee in the last few months didn't help either. I've always been the kind of player who immediately picks up my guitar after seeing some incredible & inspiring players.

Pug

Sorry to hear your news. That must be really distressing.

If it'll help, I'll post a vid of me playing. This should have the opposite effect to the inspiring clips you've seen and encourage you to put your guitar back down again for a bit of a rest!

Good luck mate.

 

[jeffrey]

Man I'm so sorry to hear that Pug.

I hope you figure out a way to keep playing, even if it's left-handed or in your lap, at least you are still playing!

 

[roburado]

How about learning to play a different instrument?

 

[MikeVt]

Wow Pug, I'm sorry to hear that. I agree with other folks' suggestions...

Both of my median nerves are already damaged, and I frequently numb up while playing. I've often wondered what I'd do if it became too painful to enjoy, and even though I don't play that well, I just couldn't quit. I'd try my feet, tongue, anything. It's just been such a part of my life for the last 35 years that I just couldn't give up....

Best of luck to you - I hope you find something that works, or at least something to fill the hole...

Mike

 

[kbaim]

Jesus!
Any chance you can go see the team dr.s for the UNLV athletic dept?
Maybe they have some state of the art stuff that might help.

Umm...you still got my guitar right?

 

[73h Nils]

Ouch! That's terrible!

I don't know what I'd do if that happened to me, guitar is 1/3 of my life.

Hang in there! I'm sure something will come up!

 

[PugNinjas]

Jesus!
Umm...you still got my guitar right?

No worries Keith, I did not smash it up in a fit of rage or anything, in fact it's going over to Larry at Pat's Desert Music for a nice set-up this week.