I made the latest issue of Classical Guitar!

[Red_Label]

Well... sort of...

So I got the latest quarterly issue of Classical Guitar Magazine yesterday and was flipping through it in bed last night. I was skimming through the mid-section on physical ailments and how they've affected some of the big name players. I was reading the piece on Julian Bream's woes (because he was my favorite "founding father" of the idiom if you will, and I never realized that he had to overcome physical challenges), and when I turned the page to read the continued story on him there was my name. As I first glanced at it, I thought to myself "oh great... some other A-hole is using my name". As I read through the first couple of sentences it became rapidly clear to me that I was the A-hole in question! LOL!!! I'd forgotten that I'd responded to an email from CG Magazine asking for responses to physical challenges that readers/players have faced. My wife was sound asleep next to me and I had to wake her up. Luckily, she was excited to read it and wasn't too unhappy with me for waking her up.

Anyways, yeah... I know... "cool story bro" and all. But it just surprised the crap out of me as I was falling asleep, to read my name and my letter in one of my favorite magazines.

Second pic is the "article" and I've cropped it to just my own statements so as not to run afoul of any copyright, etc issues.

[fazool]

Thats pretty cool

[dkstott]

very cool.... I was reading that article last night and I kept thinking; "I've seen that name somewhere before".... LOL

[rgregg48]

Ugly cover though!

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by dkstott

very cool.... I was reading that article last night and I kept thinking; "I've seen that name somewhere before".... LOL

HA HA HA!!! For sure bud.

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by rgregg48

Ugly cover though!

Yup... Muriel is quite hard on the eyes.

[hesson11]

Pretty cool, except for the reason you're in there! I have similar problems: peripheral neuropathy, cubital tunnel, carpal tunnel and Guyon's canal tunnel syndromes. They are no fun, but I can still play for at least a little while every day, although with a bit of pain and lack of coordination. I've been to several specialists, and as of right now, there's really nothing they can do. So I feel your pain, literally!
-Bob

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by hesson11

Pretty cool, except for the reason you're in there! I have similar problems: peripheral neuropathy, cubital tunnel, carpal tunnel and Guyon's canal tunnel syndromes. They are no fun, but I can still play for at least a little while every day, although with a bit of pain and lack of coordination. I've been to several specialists, and as of right now, there's really nothing they can do. So I feel your pain, literally!
-Bob

I was emotionally crushed when I first started dealing with my issue 20 years ago. I tend to throw myself 100% into things I'm passionate about. So when I abandoned the electric guitar to focus on my classical studies and performances, I went all-in. My goals were to play the Rodrigo Concerto with my local symphony and other such "lofty" goals. Despite having a full-time job, a weekend guitar teaching job, and small children to raise... I still managed to cram in up to six hours nightly to work towards these goals. So when I had to walk away from the challenge of playing classical and go back to my "pedestrian" rock and country playing... I was pretty devastated. But I knew that if I kept pushing it, I would suffer permanent nerve damage and not be able to play guitar at all.

These days... I just have to stretch and keep an eye on things. If I went back to six hours a day of practice, I no doubt would find myself back in the same boat. But I can manage my 1-2 hours a day just fine and I've learned to live with that. I'm 49 years old now and enjoy a regular gigging schedule, but no longer have a burning passion to light the world on fire. I just try to be the best me that I can be.

[Turp]

Great Thread. I remember 10 or so years ago reading about arm and hand issues that impact guitarists. I paid attention but was then not having any issues and dreaded the thought. Last year I ruptured a disk in my neck which then caused nerve issues in my arms and hands. I could play but was beginning to see an impact on my playing just before my surgery. I'm now 8 weeks post op from ACDF on C5 and C6. Overall, my recovery is good but slow. I am playing guitar with no detectable deficits, which is great.

As an also avid computer surfer, I'll warn others about the mouse. I think it can cause hand issues.

There are some good hand exercises, that I think help hold off issues

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by Turp

Great Thread. I remember 10 or so years ago reading about arm and hand issues that impact guitarists. I paid attention but was then not having any issues and dreaded the thought. Last year I ruptured a disk in my neck which then caused nerve issues in my arms and hands. I could play but was beginning to see an impact on my playing just before my surgery. I'm now 8 weeks post op from ACDF on C5 and C6. Overall, my recovery is good but slow. I am playing guitar with no detectable deficits, which is great.

As an also avid computer surfer, I'll warn others about the mouse. I think it can cause hand issues.

There are some good hand exercises, that I think help hold off issues

Good to know Turp. I was rear-ended violently in a vehicle accident on an icy interstate highway here in Montana back in December. I broke my nose, hit my head, and my neck was very sore. I had a flare-up several weeks after that where my right arm was in pain abd I couldn't lift it at all. It came on suddenly as I was sitting in the recliner, watching TV with my wife (doing absolutely nothing with my arm). At first, I thought I'd torn my rotator cuff. It went away after a couple of days... but I'm keeping an eye on it with the thought that I may have ruptured a disc in my neck. I'm really hoping not, as I also have on-going issues with my lower back. I had a microdiscectomy at L5-S1 six years ago and will be going back in next month to have disc decompression surgery also at L5-S1. The surgeon gave me the choice of that or a fusion and I chose the lesser procedure. I can always go back and have a fusion if need be, but that's the last card I have, so I'd rather wait until I have not other options before I pull that card. I've had constant sciatica for years and I'm trying to fix that. I told my wife after that flare-up in my right arm/shoulder that it would REALLY suck if I had both ends of my spine messed-up.

Chronic pain really wears you down and I wish I could impress upon those of a younger generation to take good care of their bodies. Whenever I watch these videos of kids doing crazy stunts and crashing hard... it makes me sad for them and their future. They have no idea of the life of pain that's coming their way due to the careless way that they treated their bodies. I'm only 49 years old, but I've definitely come to realize that without your health, NOTHING else matters. Unfortunately, most of us don't realize how precious and priceless it is until we no longer have it.

[Turp]

Red_Label,

Good you are aware to keep an eye on it, and not to sound an alarm because everyone/case is different, I originally thought my problem might be a shoulder injury. I kept having flare-ups that got worse and were easily tracked back to my neck. The good news was that my pain symptoms cleared up (using steroids) mostly before surgery but I still had some nerve worsening symptoms. And after the MRI, knew I was at risk for worse. As I've read, if your symptoms resolve by themselves, or with conservative care, that is a good thing. My ongoing issues were a red flag. It goes without saying about not hesitating to seek medical attention if needed.

You are so correct about youth. I wasn't a video hound, but have enjoyed very active sports and activities that some I wish some I had stopped sooner or hadn't tried. Thankfully, I feel mostly very good and am healthy; I'm just going through some late-middle-age restoration.

I hope you continue to heal and stay healthy!

[Guitar-ded]

Funnily enough, I showed that very same article to my wife as that's her dad's name too.

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by Guitar-ded

Funnily enough, I showed that very same article to my wife as that's her dad's name too.

NICE!

Same middle initial too?

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by Turp

Red_Label,

Good you are aware to keep an eye on it, and not to sound an alarm because everyone/case is different, I originally thought my problem might be a shoulder injury. I kept having flare-ups that got worse and were easily tracked back to my neck. The good news was that my pain symptoms cleared up (using steroids) mostly before surgery but I still had some nerve worsening symptoms. And after the MRI, knew I was at risk for worse. As I've read, if your symptoms resolve by themselves, or with conservative care, that is a good thing. My ongoing issues were a red flag. It goes without saying about not hesitating to seek medical attention if needed.

You are so correct about youth. I wasn't a video hound, but have enjoyed very active sports and activities that some I wish some I had stopped sooner or hadn't tried. Thankfully, I feel mostly very good and am healthy; I'm just going through some late-middle-age restoration.

I hope you continue to heal and stay healthy!

Thanks Turp. You and I sound similar. I used to be heavily into ice climbing and had two falls... one of them broke my ankle. And I've been into mountain biking for the past 22 years or so. I've been over the bars four times in the last two years, one of which tore my left bicep, and the last of which had my right calf impaled on a tree branch and me riding out of that trail area with a tourniquet tied around my calf to keep from bleeding-out. Had to have two layers of stitches for that one. I don't ride crazy, but things happen on trails and I'm not ready to just give it all up and die slowly in my recliner. But still... at least I'm not riding down hills in shopping carts or skateboarding off of buildings like some of these kids. I just cringe whenever I see programs that show crash & burns.

[martingitdave]

Very nice! It's exciting to see your name in print. Especially, when it isn't a police blotter.