Rollin Hand-less

[Rollin Hand]

The other week (on my birthday, no less), my left wrist started to hurt. A lot. It was similar to an experience that I had last summer when my right wrist went nuts and delivered the worst pain I have ever experienced. It was a little sore, then overpowering.

I went to the doctor, got a requisition for x-rays and blood work, and we decided to treat it as though it is gout. Now, 10 days on, it is better, but is still swollen and sore despite the medication. I might be a heavyset guy in my 50s, but don't eat or drink many of the things that lead to this problem.

The doc says that if more of the gout medicine doesn't clear this up, it's another issue. I think he doubts it is gout. But the upshot is I can't play right now, and it sucks

At my kids' Cristmas concert, one of the classes did something using music by Trans Siberian Orchestra. I thought (like I do every year, it seems) that maybe I should finally learn it. But then I remembered "oh, #$@<, my wrist."

My right wrist still isn't 100 percent from the summer. I had carpal tunnel surgery, which helped, but it has been a long healing and strengthening process. I already had the surgery on my left wrist in 2018 so I could play without losing feeling in my fingers. It likely won't be needed a second time. Either way, I might have a long rehab process.

Folks, play your guitars. Enjoy the privilege. Because you never know when you won't be able to.

[sabasgr68]

The other week (on my birthday, no less), my left wrist started to hurt. A lot. It was similar to an experience that I had last summer when my right wrist went nuts and delivered the worst pain I have ever experienced. It was a little sore, then overpowering.

I went to the doctor, got a requisition for x-rays and blood work, and we decided to treat it as though it is gout. Now, 10 days on, it is better, but is still swollen and sore despite the medication. I might be a heavyset guy in my 50s, but don't eat or drink many of the things that lead to this problem.

The doc says that if more of the gout medicine doesn't clear this up, it's another issue. I think he doubts it is gout. But the upshot is I can't play right now, and it sucks

At my kids' Cristmas concert, one of the classes did something using music by Trans Siberian Orchestra. I thought (like I do every year, it seems) that maybe I should finally learn it. But then I remembered "oh, #$@<, my wrist."

My right wrist still isn't 100 percent from the summer. I had carpal tunnel surgery, which helped, but it has been a long healing and strengthening process. I already had the surgery on my left wrist in 2018 so I could play without losing feeling in my fingers. It likely won't be needed a second time. Either way, I might have a long rehab process.

Folks, play your guitars. Enjoy the privilege. Because you never know when you won't be able to.

Sorry to hear about it, Rollin...

And yes, you're right. If we can, we should play our guitars.

And you can extend that to many other things in life.

If you have a family, love them and take care of them.

If you can: walk, run, swim, talk, hear, see, feel, touch, taste and so many other things, do it! (sometimes I have to remind myself about it, I admit).

Hope you recover soon!

[uwmcscott]

Hope things clear up soon and if not that they can find a diagnosis. I injured my wrist climbing out of a tree-stand during hunting season this year and you are so correct that we take for granted simple things like mobility/flexibility. Being thankful/grateful is not a forgotten thing but it never hurts to have a reminder so thank you

[andrewsrea]

Wishing you get better soon!

Always sucks when medical issues get in the way of playing. My friend is a brilliant player and would practice "like a maniac." His favorite style is Danny Gatton / Chet Atkins, which is a lot of three part finger picking and 'reach' chording. He had to stop as his hands hurt to the point he was having trouble using cutlery to eat, let alone using them to play.

Turned out to be rheumatoid arthritis, which his treatments allow him to play again.

[Rollin Hand]

Hope things clear up soon and if not that they can find a diagnosis. I injured my wrist climbing out of a tree-stand during hunting season this year and you are so correct that we take for granted simple things like mobility/flexibility. Being thankful/grateful is not a forgotten thing but it never hurts to have a reminder so thank you

Right now I am constantly reminding myself that, on the whole, I have it great. Good job, great wife, amazing kids...but not being able to enjoy simple things like playing guitar, or carrying my coffee AND cereal to the breakfast table at the same time is frustrating. And pain colours everything one does.

I am hoping that even if I can't play I'll have good enough hand movement to catch up on some guitar maintenance. But I am very scared of hurting my hands again -- the right wrist went nuts after I did some work on a trem. Could be unrelated, but might not be. Either way, the pain was bad enough to make me gun shy.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Oh that sucks. I had one experience with gout and it was horrible, but restricted to one big toe. And it took over a year to finish going away. That's a typical gout location and scenario. But gout is just one type of arthritis, so the wrist thing might be another type too (not a doctor). I hope you get an answer and path to fixing it soon. I had a reminder we get older this year too. Too much working with chain saws and I think I pinched a nerve badly (didn't cut myself). For months, I've been missing feeling in the very tips of my strumming hand's finger tips. That's completely workable, but reminded me I'm not as young as I used to be. Invincible is not a real thing.

[Rollin Hand]

Father time remains undefeated.

[dabbler]

Father time remains undefeated.

True that.

Take care of yourself and listen to your doctor.

Getting old ain't for wimps.

[Spike]

I hope you’re on the mend soon.

[tonebender]

Sorry to hear and hope you recover soon. I have arthritis where my thumb connects to my hand and it was really painful before my stent was installed but it seems somewhat better since. It has not affected my playing yet but it certainly has potential if it gets worse. Getting old is not for wimps.

[Rollin Hand]

Sorry to hear and hope you recover soon. I have arthritis where my thumb connects to my hand and it was really painful before my stent was installed but it seems somewhat better since. It has not affected my playing yet but it certainly has potential if it gets worse. Getting old is not for wimps.

That's actually a weird thing for me: before this, I had arthritis at the index finger knuckle. Now it's gone completely.

Little victories....

[tlarson58]

Sending good vibes for a quick-and-complete recovery.

I pulled a muscle in my back on Thanksgiving day getting off the couch. What's up with that?!

[dabbler]

Sorry to hear and hope you recover soon. I have arthritis where my thumb connects to my hand and it was really painful before my stent was installed but it seems somewhat better since. It has not affected my playing yet but it certainly has potential if it gets worse. Getting old is not for wimps.

That's actually a weird thing for me: before this, I had arthritis at the index finger knuckle. Now it's gone completely.

Little victories....

WHAT!?!?!? Arthritis made your index finger knuckle disappear???

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[Rollin Hand]

Sending good vibes for a quick-and-complete recovery.

I pulled a muscle in my back on Thanksgiving day getting off the couch. What's up with that?!

I once threw my back out adjusting the Thera-Band that I was using to do physiotherapy for my knee.

[peskypesky1]

Damn that sucks! I hope you are playing again soon.

Two of my brothers have had gout, and I think my mother had it.

Luckily I haven't had it, but I don't drink or eat the things that can trigger it. I'm a vegetarian, and I don't drink much alcohol. I've switched over to gummies for my buzz. I also drink a LOT of coffee.



^ should say "purine"

[tonebender]

Sending good vibes for a quick-and-complete recovery.
I pulled a muscle in my back on Thanksgiving day getting off the couch. What's up with that?!

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving 1995 I went to visit a dear friend who was ill on my way home from the office. I sat there for awhile talking and then it was time to shove off. I went to get up out of the chair and my back went out. He and is wife had to help me to be vehicle. I was down until Monday, spent four days off down. I hope you healed up quickly.

[jtcnj]

@Rollin Hand Sorry to hear of your troubles, hope it resolves well and quickly.
I share your pain, as I had carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists this year. One in May and the other in July.
I'm just now really getting back in the groove of playing.

The whole thing was pretty depressing in general, and mostly why I have not been around here much lately.

[Rollin Hand]

An update: talked to the doctor in Christmas Eve, and he says the is tracking less like gout, and more like a triangular fibrocartilege complex injury, which could need surgery. I will be getting an MRI at some point.

Still can't play. Grumble.

[tobijohn]

I've got various issues that directly affect my playing to the point that barre cords are out, and to get enough downward strength in my fretting hand, I have to have my palm directly on the back of the neck.

At this age, it's like trying to make a thirty-year-old car your daily driver. It's hypothetically possible but it's going to take a lot of maintenance and even then, there's no way you'd trust it for anything more than local driving...

[Rollin Hand]

I've got various issues that directly affect my playing to the point that barre cords are out, and to get enough downward strength in my fretting hand, I have to have my palm directly on the back of the neck.

At this age, it's like trying to make a thirty-year-old car your daily driver. It's hypothetically possible but it's going to take a lot of maintenance and even then, there's no way you'd trust it for anything more than local driving...

The only answer for me will be physiotherapy, surgery or no. I am going to actively work to strengthen both hands (the other is still only at 85 percent) so I get them both back. This is all going to take weeks if not months, but I'll get there.

[Rollin Hand]

An update: had an MRI yesterday, but aside from that, the swelling has gone down a titch, possibly even a smidgen, for the first time in a month. I am still unable to play, so I am thinking if there was ever a time to purge, this is it: no playing something and falling back in love with it. Still mulling the idea, as getting the guitars up to snuff for sale will also be incredibly challenging give time constraints and my hand.

I still kind of hope I won't need surgery, but if I do, best it were done quick.

[tobijohn]

Has it been determined yet what exactly is the problem? And how soon before you know whether you have to go forward with surgery?

[Rollin Hand]

Not definitively, but reasonably sure it's a triangular fibrocartilage complex sprain or tear. Since the swelling hasn't gone down much, my money's on a tear. That said, it still could be something else, but the TFCC checks all the boxes Probably did it doing push-ups.

Once the doc puts me in the queue, I'll need to see a specialist and set things up to get it scoped. Could be a while. Hopefully not.