General Music Chat

I was really worried about the Carpal Tunnel surgery I had (only 13 days ago).

You see,
Everything I read from "other" musicians prior to my surgical consults said recovery would be anywhere from 4-6 months, and that the recovery (playing again) would be a long and painful process from there. When I met with the surgeon, he initially wouldn't say, but insisted on giving me a steroid/cortizone shot, saying that my physical reaction to it would dictate my recovery time, but said yes, it is long and painful-

So everything went well with the shot, better than expected he said. It even settled some of the fatigue and pain, which allowed me to continue doing gigs until the scheduled surgery.

The Surgeon told me to expect 6 weeks minimum just to pick up a guitar, and at least 8 weeks before I could even be back on a daily or regular routine. In a world where guitarists are a dime a dozen, and the fact that I'd been playing like sh*t for the last several months, has made me a bit paranoid, to be honest.

So the day of the surgery, during the pre-op, he explained exactly what the incision he makes in the palm, and gave me the basics- The incision is a little over an inch, between the main two palm muscles, which are connected by lots of muscle tissue and 'bridges' of tissues. Apparently that's what the painful recuperation is all about, that muscle tissue takes a long time to reconnect, heal, and strengthen back up.

So, he talked to me after the surgery, when I was only half-conscious lol.. I barely recall talking to him and nothing about the conversation..

So last week, he took out the stitches and explained to me what happened-

Apparently I'm in a very rare minority where my palm muscles are completely separated, he was able to make the surgical incision, go around the muscle, and then cut & release the tunnel and then sew me up. The end result is a spectacular recovery time and little to no pain, outside of the surgical scar and healing itself.

I was able to finger the guitar last week and was wondering what the hell everyone (who said recovery would be long and painful) was talking about.

The doctor said this was rather uncharted territory for him, as he never worked on a guitarist with that palm pre-condition before, so he asked that I just refrain for another week, but admitted he really didn't know, and that other people who did have that same palm feature mentioned doing full-blown work like jack-hammering and other carpel related jobs (that caused it) almost immediately.

So I did a test run yesterday, played about 15 minutes. I was a bit clumbsy at first, but fell back in easily. I admit, I do have a little pain from the incision still, but it subsides more and more every day. I waited a few hours and picked it back up ... played almost two hours straight! Although most of it was working on "lighter stuff".. but I did touch on some other tough songs, especially ones that really sent me into pain city before.. most went really well, a couple irritated my palm/wrist a little, but nothing terrible.. power bar-chords kind of hurt a little for some reason (pressure on the palm I think), but mostly I felt great and plan to go to band rehearsal on Wed. night, playing through all of it !! (initially we didn't expect me to return to playing at rehearsals until last week of Nov.)

So there's the long story.. yay me and all that !! I'm finally lucky in at least one regard of life hah.

Well...it's nice to know that you're a frikken mutant & all, but you really need to take the recuperation process more seriously, imho.

Good to see that you're healing, though.

Slow & easy, man. Don't flook up your progress by doing too much too soon.

Keep healing.

Good for you Kramer.

Well...it's nice to know that you're a frikken mutant & all, but you really need to take the recuperation process more seriously, imho.

Good to see that you're healing, though.

Slow & easy, man. Don't flook up your progress by doing too much too soon.

Keep healing.

Don;t worry man, I won't push it, if I get sore or any pain, I take it down a notch or will stop.

I did see their therapist and we did some therapy the other day, I got hand exercises out the wazoo, I'm doing all day almost. They said I could lol.

I cannot tell you how glad I am for you. Man thats awsome news.
I am going to reverb what Phil said.
You have the whole rest of your musical career ahead of you now.
Dont F it U due to a desire to get back to full steam to soon.
Be mindfull of any swelling as well. Edema can short circuit the whole pain response thing and mask injury by putting pressure on the nerves.

I was really worried about the Carpal Tunnel surgery I had (only 13 days ago).

You see,
Everything I read from "other" musicians prior to my surgical consults said recovery would be anywhere from 4-6 months, and that the recovery (playing again) would be a long and painful process from there. When I met with the surgeon, he initially wouldn't say, but insisted on giving me a steroid/cortizone shot, saying that my physical reaction to it would dictate my recovery time, but said yes, it is long and painful-

So everything went well with the shot, better than expected he said. It even settled some of the fatigue and pain, which allowed me to continue doing gigs until the scheduled surgery.

The Surgeon told me to expect 6 weeks minimum just to pick up a guitar, and at least 8 weeks before I could even be back on a daily or regular routine. In a world where guitarists are a dime a dozen, and the fact that I'd been playing like sh*t for the last several months, has made me a bit paranoid, to be honest.

So the day of the surgery, during the pre-op, he explained exactly what the incision he makes in the palm, and gave me the basics- The incision is a little over an inch, between the main two palm muscles, which are connected by lots of muscle tissue and 'bridges' of tissues. Apparently that's what the painful recuperation is all about, that muscle tissue takes a long time to reconnect, heal, and strengthen back up.

So, he talked to me after the surgery, when I was only half-conscious lol.. I barely recall talking to him and nothing about the conversation..

So last week, he took out the stitches and explained to me what happened-

Apparently I'm in a very rare minority where my palm muscles are completely separated, he was able to make the surgical incision, go around the muscle, and then cut & release the tunnel and then sew me up. The end result is a spectacular recovery time and little to no pain, outside of the surgical scar and healing itself.

I was able to finger the guitar last week and was wondering what the hell everyone (who said recovery would be long and painful) was talking about.

The doctor said this was rather uncharted territory for him, as he never worked on a guitarist with that palm pre-condition before, so he asked that I just refrain for another week, but admitted he really didn't know, and that other people who did have that same palm feature mentioned doing full-blown work like jack-hammering and other carpel related jobs (that caused it) almost immediately.

So I did a test run yesterday, played about 15 minutes. I was a bit clumbsy at first, but fell back in easily. I admit, I do have a little pain from the incision still, but it subsides more and more every day. I waited a few hours and picked it back up ... played almost two hours straight! Although most of it was working on "lighter stuff".. but I did touch on some other tough songs, especially ones that really sent me into pain city before.. most went really well, a couple irritated my palm/wrist a little, but nothing terrible.. power bar-chords kind of hurt a little for some reason (pressure on the palm I think), but mostly I felt great and plan to go to band rehearsal on Wed. night, playing through all of it !! (initially we didn't expect me to return to playing at rehearsals until last week of Nov.)

So there's the long story.. yay me and all that !! I'm finally lucky in at least one regard of life hah.

hahah dude ur a beast. i wish my hand muscles werent connected. we should begin a super race with u at the helm. we can use your genes so that no one will ever again have connected hand meat thus leading to a long recovery process per carpel tunnel surgery.

Good news!

God is good.

... Well... Unless it wasn't God.


Just sayin. But prolly it was.

LOL

.

Great news KG!