|
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Well I finally got the staples out and can move my elbow, hand, and fingers... BUT... even though the Dr. didn't restrict me from guitar playing, I have no feeling in my left pinky and part of my ring finger. The outer-left portion of my hand remains very numb and those two fingers are extremely weak. I can move them all the way up and down, but guitar playing isn't happening. Any of you had this surgery and any words of encouragement? This is beginning to be a bit scary. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Hang in there Vince: hopefully it will just take time...and not be a nerve problem...all the best... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2005
Posts: 497
Location: California | Vince- go slow with PTheraphy but be consistent with those excersices; it will take sometime for your hand no to be numb and it is a good sign the Dr. did not restrict you from playing. My Dr. told me you will be ok and after 12 months am back to normal feeling the pressure of the strings with my fingers. Wish you a quick recovery.
Hector |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2006
Posts: 3969
| It's scary, but don't get discouraged. These things take time to heal. Just don't try to overdo it, and definitely stick to the PT. Best of luck. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | not sure what kind of surgery you had since you did not say.
but
I had my elbow operated on. There was an infection and it had to be cleaned out.
DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT just go on doing things the way you did before.
Let it heal, listen to the doctor.
I did not, and about 2 weeks after the surgery played guitar for about 45 minutes. it set back my recovery 2 months and I felt like crap for weeks, lay off the arm, find something else to do, only use it in moderation.
believe me I've been there. it took me a couple of extra months of rehab because of my stupidity |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2009
Posts: 381
Location: Miami | bvince, I'm right there with ya. The doctor told me the guitar playing was only aggravating my shoulder, and he was right. If it wasn't for the shallow bowl, that would have been the end of at least my gigging career. For me it wasn't a matter of rest, but a permanent injury for which only surgery was left as an option, until I switched to the SSB (and a modified shoulder workout that I will likely have to stick with for the rest of my life - a small price to pay to keep playing).
Stick with the PT and definitely take it as a good sign that you haven't been told that you can't play again. Don't rush it. Nerve numbness as many have experienced, can take months to restore. Hang in there, my friend. You're in my thoughts and prayers. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | …all of the above…and…take up slide. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 815
Location: Colorado | What Tim said +1.
Give your elbow the chance it deserves to heal Vince. You'll heal up only as quickly as your body wants to, which takes longer the older we get.
Patience will pay off. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | It was ulnar nerve transposition surgery. They took everything out of the groove in the elbow and moved it to the inside of my arm... and they didn't even take me serious when I asked to have a tuner installed. Still hurts like heck and the narcotics aren't helping much. I tried playing the Uke down at waist level, but that sucked too. So I'll just back off and see what happens when all the swelling eventially goes down. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 815
Location: Colorado | Find something else to do with that left hand for awhile...like nothing.
Hang in there man. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Tune the guitar to a major chord and practice finger picking/strumming. Let the left arm recover naturally. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I broke the bones at the elbow and later at the wrist. The ulnar nerve runs all along the outside and affects the pinky and ring fingers. I still get a tingly feeling in them occasionally, but most of the feeling comes back. Once you get to PT, ask when you can start playing guitar. The PT may work it in later in your exercises. I waited till I was done and the PT told me she could have worked it into my therapy if I had said something earlier. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Nice idea Mark... Thanks. I know I'm probably not healed enough for PT yet, and although the Dr. didn't say not to play the guitar, my body has been clearly saying it. So I'll just take all you guy's advice and sit out for awhile. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 4238
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Lots of good advice. All I can say is "Take care of it." And BEST of luck! :) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | I feel your pain... hang in there.
 |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Good luck, Vince! We're all pulling for you! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | DANG Jonmark! That looks a lot worse than mine! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 1565
Location: Indiana | I was hoping you'd see it that way. And it all worked out for me... so, you'll be fine.
Just mind your doc's.
And tell everybody how much better a player you were before the surgery. |
|
| |
Elbow Surgery Sucks!
