Rabs Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Good advice. It does get scary when your hands dont work properly anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Steve Vai seems like such a nice guy. Amazing what he plays with just his fretting hand, in the last third of the video. And the painful ending there, that was both hilarious and cringe-worthy. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefang Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 4 hours ago, merciful-evans said: Good advice. It does get scary when your hands dont work properly anymore. Tell me about it. I had what's called a "Transient Ischemic Attack"( mini stroke if you will) back in '14 and I'm STILL trying to work through dexterity and endurance issues. I found a device that's a small elastic bag filled with a kind of imitation sand that is originally intended for stress for sale at the counter of a BINSON'S medical supply store for $4.99 that helps. I've seen similar things at music stores intended for string players(guitar, violin etc.) to build up finger strength for much bigger bucks. It's helped somewhat. Whitefang 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 1 hour ago, Whitefang said: Tell me about it. I had what's called a "Transient Ischemic Attack"( mini stroke if you will) back in '14 and I'm STILL trying to work through dexterity and endurance issues. I found a device that's a small elastic bag filled with a kind of imitation sand that is originally intended for stress for sale at the counter of a BINSON'S medical supply store for $4.99 that helps. I've seen similar things at music stores intended for string players(guitar, violin etc.) to build up finger strength for much bigger bucks. It's helped somewhat. Whitefang A work friend of mine used something similar. His problem (and solution) was misdiagnosed though. Turns out he had a muscle wasting illness. I know of TIAs (didn't know that's what it stood for though!). 7 years is quite a while. Good to know you're still determined to overcome it though. 👍 Thumb osteoarthritis (both of em) is my cross. When its painful I remind my self that it could be worse and that I can still play. On the whole, I'm lucky. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 (edited) In the early 2000's I started having arthritis in my hands with some days worse than others. I would put Vicks on my hands then insert them into rubber gloves and sleep with them. Since then I have tried many different things for relief including DMSO and joint supplements. I have also found that the more sugar I consume the worse it gets. Now I do an exercise what I call my Kung Fu Fist. First opening and splaying my hand and fingers as far as I can, then curling my fingers into a very tight Fist and keep applying pressure for a few minutes, sometimes hearing or feeling my joints pop, like Bruce Lee used to do, Rock Fist. If I do this every day as I wake up, I'm usually good for the whole day, or any time I feel my fingers getting stuck in a nonfunctional position. I do have Carpal Tunnel as well which limits how far my wrists can be bent. Some of this is from martial arts practice including having my thumbs bent back to my forearms. Oh yea, loved Knappsack... Edited March 13, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefang Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 21 hours ago, merciful-evans said: A work friend of mine used something similar. His problem (and solution) was misdiagnosed though. Turns out he had a muscle wasting illness. I know of TIAs (didn't know that's what it stood for though!). 7 years is quite a while. Good to know you're still determined to overcome it though. 👍 Thumb osteoarthritis (both of em) is my cross. When its painful I remind my self that it could be worse and that I can still play. On the whole, I'm lucky. My wife was a bit amused about it because TIA is Spanish for "Aunt". Said that for men maybe they should call it TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ONSLAUGHT ("TIO", Spanish for uncle ) I'm hopeful your friend's muscle wasting illness isn't ALS. And I hope in your case you have better good days than bad, Whitefang 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 I've got what is called "Intentional Tremors". Hand start shaking as if attempts t to do something finite or precise. Perfectly fine holding a thread between thumb and forefinger in one hand, and a needle in the other - but the closer I bring the thread to the needle's eye - the more each of my hands shake. Mother had it. Couldn't hardly hold a cup of tea, but it really started shaking the closer she brought it to her mouth. I started seeing symptoms when I was around 50, has gotten gradually worse. CBD seems to help a little. Fretting is OK, but forget Travis picking ! I'm just really grateful I can play. I never could play well, but at least better than sewing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) He's wearing well. Good advice. Shoulder cuff and rotation problems are notoriously painful and hard to successfully deal with medically. I have Dupuytrens contracture in my left hand, a disease or condition where the skin hardens and the tendons get nodes forming on them and they contract, making it impossible to straighten the finger(s) and eventually curling it into the palm if left untreated. 3rd finger in my case, the most commonly affected one. Partly inherited but not helped by trying to play all of Ted Greene's 'Jazz Guitar Single Note Soloing' too much and too correctly for many years (and where did that get me?). Though still in its early stages it has adversely affected my chording skills and speed, and last year I was getting very despondent....unitl I started fighting back. I now wear a German-made night splint (a 'Fixxglove') on my left hand when I sleep, and take 200mg magnesium citrate supplement every morning. They're as big as horse pills but it helps to inhibit the formation of calcium-based nodes. I can't reverse the damage already done but I can minimise it and - I hope - stop it getting any worse until I am too old to play anyway. And these days I'm practicing melodies and music much more than technique and scales etc. You know....I'm very lucky, at least I can still play. Edited March 14, 2021 by jdgm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 Stretching before and after is a must. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted October 16, 2022 Author Share Posted October 16, 2022 My hands are pretty screwed up... Years of playing computer games, playing guitar, making guitars and then a job at a wood shop... I havent been to a doctor about it or anything as I am pretty sure its general wear and tear, RSI on my wrists and arthritis in my fingers. I sometimes go in to the workshop for a coffee and speak to the guy who replaced me.. He has been there over two years now and is having similar problems. He HAS been to the doctor about it and they did scans and blood tests and stuff and they told him that hes just wearing the joint out with excessive lifting and grabbing. They also said he has the first signs of scoliosis from heavy lifting (which is a curvature of the spine). So yah.. I dont think theres much I can do but just limit my physical activity... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted October 16, 2022 Share Posted October 16, 2022 I'm right-handed and did demolition and construction work for decades. Meaning, I beat my left hand with the hammer in my right hand... Happy to still be able to play at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 I feel the beginnings of rheumatoid arthritis in my index fingers lately. Hoping that if I get it, it advances very slowly!😔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 You know you’re getting old when all these old folks have the same aches and pains that you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 My folk duo partner of many years had a mini-stroke and a heart attack in early August. Both were said to be on the mild side. He’s home and goes for walks and in-general is feeling real good. But, he can’t move his fingers very well and he’s very afraid of tripping on something. He says the doctors tell him the full recovery from the stroke could take several months, at least. …..Glad you recovered from yours. I’m starting to realize just what my dad meant when he’d say “It’s hell getting old.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Sometimes if I sleep with my fingers in an odd position they get stuck and I can't straighten them, if I try to uncurl them with my other hand its really painful. So I have found that if I curl them in to a tight fist for a few moments then uncurl while tightly flexing they will unlock without too much pain all while tightly flexing releasing till fully splayed. Still flexing I slowly curl them into a fist again and repeat. This is my morning exercise, sometimes before I even open my eyes.. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted November 14, 2022 Share Posted November 14, 2022 Great guy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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