My Plea to Ya'll - Do them stretches and take care of yourself!

[ScoobySteve]

Hey guys, just wanted to share my experiences lately. I've widdled down my collection of balls from 3 to 1, and even with that one, I haven't been able to play much and lately been less active here.

I was recently diagnosed with De Quervain's Tendonitis and it really stinks. I warmed up my hands, and stretched them before/after practice and I still managed to get bit by it. It's not super painful, though it makes playing an instrument you love into a sustained mode of pain and discomfort, among other things.

Please carefully consider other activities that you do that could also impact your hands/wrist. I'm an English teacher, so I'm constantly on the white board, grading papers, on the computer and writing. This with lots of guitar practice, and casual computer use, it all adds up, and it makes things painful.

Invest in some reuseable heat backs, ice packs, stretching and of course all things in moderation, including jammin' with your Balls!

Play safe!

 

[DrKev]

Aw man, that's awful!

He does have an important point. Lukather has mentioned it in interviews too and I tell my guitar students during their first lesson - treat the muscles in your hands and arms as an olympic sprinter would treat the muscles in their legs. DO warm up at the beginning of a playing session. If you hurt something, you stop. Come back later. Don't keep going though the pain. you risk permanent injury.

 

[coldsummer]

I feel for you and totally agree, guys take care of your hands and don't take it for granted they will always work properly.

Similar problems myself, in fact I had an MRI scan of my hands today, hopefully get a diagnosis and treatment. I can only play for about ten minutes before it becomes too uncomfortable. Fingertips getting softer by the day and unable to make full bends. I have to rely more and more on the trem arm for vibrato. It properly sucks

On the bright side, at least I have a good excuse for sloppy playing now