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Location: Flahdaw | To all those like me, who suffer with arthritis in their hands and feel their guitar playing days might be numbered.....here is a VERY interesting article on a new study. Gives me some hope
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2282980/The-cure-arthriti... |
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| I'm getting older(mid 50's) and have carpal-tunnel and arthritis. I sometimes just have to put the guitar away for a while when things go bad and have to wear my brace. I don't like it, and the guitar calls me, but the pain is pretty intense at times and just gets worse if I try to push on thru.
Thanks for the link Bob, I've tried just about everything else, trying the fish oil/aspirin remedy next.
Edited by fretboardwizard 2013-02-27 10:46 AM
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Location: south east Michigan | Become a drummer. |
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Location: Fort Worth, TX | I'm experiencing lately what my little brother told me is trigger finger, along with pain in the first two joints of each finger on my fretting hand. It has me concerned. Usually, after an hour or so of playing, everything is tolerable but still uncomfortable. I have so far escaped diabetes, which has killed two of my younger siblings, as well as congestive heart failure those two had also. They each died way too young, leaving only me (the oldest) and my youngest brother who is diabetic as well. Of course, I have suffered other issues with 18 major abdominal surgeries, a few with absolutely horrendous complications. I don't like the idea of adding another issue into the hand I've been dealt. Especially not one that could lead to curtailment of the last activity I have left that keeps me sane, playing guitar. Gonna start eating glucosamine like m&m's to try and stave off any advancement of the issue. Getting old isn't for the faint of heart. |
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Location: Sacramento, CA | I had trigger finger, but it is pretty much gone now.
It was so painful that every morning I had to take my other hand and pull my finger open.
For me, the only thing that loosened it up was playing guitar. Not chords, but practicing "speed" lead.
The faster the movement, the better. It eventually got better and better.
I also even took my Stratocaster on a cruise my wife and I took. It helped to keep the Trigger finger at bay.
Of course I was still writing for a guitar magazine at the time, and we were touring the Fender Mexico factory for an article.
What really made it go away was they gave me a Cortisone shot. THE MOST PAINFUL THING I EVER FELT. But it all went away after that. I think that was 2005 when I got that shot. |
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Location: Denver, CO | Brad Durasa - 2013-02-27 10:09 AM Become a drummer. Then it'll be your back, and your knees, and your shoulders. Back when I was gigging on drums regularly, I started having knee aches the day or two after a show. When I figured out that a 3-hour show added up to about 50000 bass strokes, I wasn't surprised. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | I can't speak to the hands, but I have arthritis in my hip. I started trying to be "healthier" last June - exercise, eating better, etc. As part of that I started taking Glucosamine/Chondroitin. Over time, I felt less and less discomfort in the hip. Today, I rarely notice it. I'm not sure what really improved it - probably a combination of all things. I did start eating a lot more things like Salmon, so I'm sure the Omega-3s had an effect as well. |
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Location: Sydney, Australia | I've been taking glucosamine for dodgy knees for years. What was interesting was that the minor pains I'd been noticing in my hands (opening jars etc) went away after about 3-6 months. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I guess what makes this interesting to me is that it's HARVARD medical school who did the study. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I never broke a bone to my knowledge until I was in my 40s (almost 20 years ago) and then had several. I had no doctor other than orthopods. I had no reason to have a doctor because I was never sick. So I asked my orthopedic surgeon what I should do to prevent these injuries in my old age. He said to quit acting like a kid. Worst medical advice I ever received so I ignored it. My physical therapist said to play more guitar. I like that advice better. Still playing soccer and skiing at 60. My ankles hurt and my shoulder only hurts if I shovel too much snow, so I watch that. After the kidney stones last year, I'm going back to avoiding doctors as much as possible. It's been working so far. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Mark in Boise - 2013-02-27 2:42 PM
I'm going back to avoiding doctors as much as possible. It's been working so far.
In the ole daze, I never saw a doctor unless they hauled me to the Emergency Room.
In 2008 I went to see a doctor cuz I woke-up with Trigger Finger in my left ring finger...
Once I visited the doctor for one little thing, she wanted to test me for everything.
Now I have High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, COPD and they stuck a camera up my butt.
Suddenly I have to take six different medications.
Staying away from doctors is very good advice.
As to the Trigger Finger...
First they had me taking, NSAD's (naproxyn), then Tylenol,
now I take nothing, just play guitar and everything works-out fine.
Exercise is Good. If it becomes painful, stop and play more later.
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Location: Flahdaw | arthurseery - 2013-02-27 9:17 PM
and they stuck a camera up my butt.
Gawd! And we thought your shirtless videos were bad..... |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Ovation Fan Club = OFC = Old Fart's Club |
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Location: SoCal | OMA, the doctors didn't give you High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, or COPD... they did stick a camera up your butt just for fun though. |
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Location: Michigan | all right were now talking about body functions like cameras shoved up are arses , and drugs that we now take to feel a little better , hoo-rah this site is slowly starting to get back to it's old self again and i like it.GWB  |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Does that mean we've gotta give you back your caps lock key?  |
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Location: Flahdaw | noah - 2013-02-28 12:01 AM
OMA, the doctors didn't give you High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, or COPD... they did stick a camera up your butt just for fun though.
The good news was they found most of OMA's busking "donations" |
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Location: Texas | "they stuck a camera up my butt. " Don't worry, it is probably like one of those wildlife camera's that takes a picture when a badger or something comes along. How often do you have to change the batteries? |
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Location: Flahdaw | 
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Location: Michigan | great memory you got muzza , i haven't been able to yell at anyone in 7 years since you took away my caps lock function.  GWB |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | They were looking for his head! |
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Location: cincinnati, ohio | Interesting. I had been tuning my guitar down 1/2 step and playing with a capo on the first fret for quite a while to make it easier on my left hand. I'm 62 and have some arthritis in my left hand, especially my pinky finger. That finger has a knob at the first joint and takes a wicked dog leg to the right. I had despaired of ever playing an Fmaj7 again - the one where the top E string is open and you hook your thumb over the first fret of the bass string. I started just playing an F barre chord instead. My right hand, so far, seems clear. I don't have pain issues as much as stiffness issues. I had a very skilled luthier saw down the grooves of the nut on my Balladeer, but I still had troubles at the first fret, So I kept tuning down and capoing. I have had a lot of trouble with C and F-shaped chords.
About a year ago I started taking fish oil as a preventative. We also started dosing up with something called "Joint Juice" for the creaky knees (I think the actual name is Glacial Milk). It has glucosamine and chondroitin in it, and it REALLY works (about $20 a bottle at Sam's Club). Anyway, I've been feeling less creaky overall since taking the joint potion. The other night I got brave, tuned up to concert pitch, and had at it.
I played an Fmaj7 for the first time in YEARS. Almost brought tears to my eyes.
I don't know if there's a connection to the fish oil and joint juice, but it's interesting. I think I'll start popping the occasional aspirin, too... 
Edited by rick endres 2013-02-28 7:58 PM
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OT- guitar playing & arthritis
