Playing With An Injury

[mjolnir]

So my band did a gig at Fitz's the other night, and lucky me, this was about two days after I had seriously injured my foot in a falling accident. The night of the gig, I still hadn't gotten the X-Rays back so I hadn't the slightest clue whether my foot was broken or not, and if you've ever seen Fitz, it's not exactly crutches friendly, so I was hopping around on one foot in the hours before the show, and during our actual set, I was forced to sit on a stool for the majority of the time. Messed with my comfortability in the songs we were playing because I was playing them differently than we'd been practicing for months at a time.

Anybody else around here have an injury before a show that just threw 'em off?

[buzzbass]

It happens, don't be so hard on yourself. Under the conditiond, it sounds like you did great.

[Sundogue]

I could fill the forum up with stories like that. I've been playing for 25+ years, and I've thrown out my back, had a severe case of the flu, food poisoning, torn ligament on one of my fretting fingers, and just about any other thing you can think of that tried to prevent me from playing.

I still played every gig.

Ah, the show must go on, right? Kudos...You did the best you could. Yeah, things happen, and probably will continue to happen. Just chalk it up to experience and one more thing to laugh about when you're old.

Life always throws things at you. My philosophy? Catch and Release.

[Lanztek]

Summer before last, here's the scenario:

Wednesday night, trouble sleeping 'cause of pain in my right side.

Thursday day, pain continues in right side. I decided that if it still hurt by morning I would go see the Dr. about it. Didn't get much sleep Thursday night.

Friday morning, I decided to go to the emergency room and have it checked before I went to work. I took one blood test and one exam from a Dr. to determine I needed my appendix removed immediately.

The surgeon (who is a harp player BTW) came in to let me know what he was going to do and the recovery time expected. I told him I had a gig Saturday afternoon and it was to late for me to cancel, so he'd have to wait to do the surgery. He proceeded to let me know that delaying the surgery was not an option if I wanted to live and that if the appendix had not ruptured, I could probably play the next day.

I had the surgery, the appendix had not ruptured, and I went home that afternoon. The next day I put some bandages over the tape they placed on my naval (camara hole) to cusion it a little from my pants, popped a few vicodin, and went to set up for the gig. My son came along to do my load of the heavy work. I played through the 4 set gig with no problems until the tape over the hole below my naval let a load of blood out onto my pants. Needless to say, that was not a pretty sight

[mjolnir]

...Yeowch.

Yer one tough son of a gun...

I think I'ma shut up about my foot now. :/

[roger winkler]

Originally Posted by Lanztek

Summer before last, here's the scenario:

Wednesday night, trouble sleeping 'cause of pain in my right side.

Thursday day, pain continues in right side. I decided that if it still hurt by morning I would go see the Dr. about it. Didn't get much sleep Thursday night.

Friday morning, I decided to go to the emergency room and have it checked before I went to work. I took one blood test and one exam from a Dr. to determine I needed my appendix removed immediately.

The surgeon (who is a harp player BTW) came in to let me know what he was going to do and the recovery time expected. I told him I had a gig Saturday afternoon and it was to late for me to cancel, so he'd have to wait to do the surgery. He proceeded to let me know that delaying the surgery was not an option if I wanted to live and that if the appendix had not ruptured, I could probably play the next day.

I had the surgery, the appendix had not ruptured, and I went home that afternoon. The next day I put some bandages over the tape they placed on my naval (camara hole) to cusion it a little from my pants, popped a few vicodin, and went to set up for the gig. My son came along to do my load of the heavy work. I played through the 4 set gig with no problems until the tape over the hole below my naval let a load of blood out onto my pants. Needless to say, that was not a pretty sight

That hurts just thinking about it. And I was gonna complain about my carpal tunnel condition plus arthritis in my fretting hand, not gonna go there.

[jive1]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

I could fill the forum up with stories like that. I've been playing for 25+ years, and I've thrown out my back, had a severe case of the flu, food poisoning, torn ligament on one of my fretting fingers, and just about any other thing you can think of that tried to prevent me from playing.

I still played every gig.

Even though I'm not as old as you are, I've had much of the same.

I've had 3 herniated discs since my early twenties, so I've had to play quite a few gigs with a thrown out back. I still lugged my own gear, but thankfully I had a dolly or something like that. One gig, my back was hurting so bad that I went to the drug store and bought a pack of Ben Gay pads. I went into the bathroom at the club and proceeded to apply the entire pack of them to my back and arse. (I'm glad no-one walked in, I was quite a sight) It felt a little better, but I smelled like a nursing home all night.

I've also played with broken fingers (the risk when you play basketball before a gig). Just tape the broken one to a healthy one and use one less finger when you play.

I've also had the flu and food poisoning at gigs too.
Here's a story from a different thread:

Originally Posted by jive1

We were playing once in Breckenridge Colorado, during their pub crawl on Saint Patty's day. The bar we were playing in was the last bar on the pub crawl, so needless to say, we had a bunch of blitzed people.
We got a free meal that day, and i got some nasty nachos that disagreed with me. During the middle of a set, I felt a rumbling in my bowels. I tried to hold, but couldn't. I was getting sick. I looked at the guitar player, put my bass down and went toward the bathroom. The men's room was occupied, so I went into the ladies room and dropped a load like nobody's business. I was in there for a while, and I heard some girls pounding on the door saying "This is the ladies room!" I didn't care - I had important business to do. However, I did feel sorry for the gal that came in after me (the bathroom had no windows or ventilation ).
After I was done, I walked out and got back on stage midsong. I was wiped and I had to sit on a stool to finish the tune. The crowd cheered me as a got back on stage. I guess the guitar player told them I was partying to hard (much nicer thing to say, than I got sick on the food and had to take a dump). The crowd tought I was puking in the bathroom and they were cheering me on for getting back on stage and playing.

[txbasschik]

Halloween before last...I broke my toes. BAM!!! Banged them into a heavy box, and broke them.

The next night, a band I am friends with called me for a paid sit-in show. I needed the money, so I went.

I could not get my own food because of the rocky terrain of the walk to the grill. Nor carry my own equipment. So, the band helped me. They also got me a stool for the last two sets, because I was in agony.

My foot swelled up like crazy. And I didn't play my best. But it was an ok gig, and we got paid!

Cherie

[SpankyPants]

Well, I just ruptured 2 discs. I've been having epidural steroid injections, but I'm probably gonna end up with surgery.

Haven't had to gig yet... both of my bands just broke up. But a few groups have asked me to jam with them... so we'll see how that goes. ;-D

[buzzbass]

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

Well, I just ruptured 2 discs. I've been having epidural steroid injections, but I'm probably gonna end up with surgery.

Haven't had to gig yet... both of my bands just broke up. But a few groups have asked me to jam with them... so we'll see how that goes. ;-D

How do those injections work. My doc has been suggesting those for me, but I'm a bit hesitant.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by SpankyPants

Well, I just ruptured 2 discs. I've been having epidural steroid injections, but I'm probably gonna end up with surgery.

Haven't had to gig yet... both of my bands just broke up. But a few groups have asked me to jam with them... so we'll see how that goes. ;-D

Oh my goodness!!! I can only imagine the pain...

Be careful at those jams. Don't want to make your back worse. A percussionist friend can no longer play because of her back problems. Her hands go numb, and playing causes too much back pain for her. So...You be careful with yourself, you hear me?

(Sorry, but...my inner Southern Mama took over...)

Cherie

[spudmaster34]

I once had to play sax with a broken finger, unlike with a foot injury, I couldn't sit/stand to avoid the issue, and on sax, you can't just "use one less finger" Although I am sure it is beter than playing when you start bleeding into your pants, it hurt alot

[smo]

Originally Posted by buzzbass

How do those injections work. My doc has been suggesting those for me, but I'm a bit hesitant.

All no worries - they're a very simple procedure.
I work in exactly this field, and have helped to perform these many many times. I'm a radiographer by trade, so I'm the one doing all the screening/x-rays during the operation.
Basically, they'll give you some happy juice for pain, then pass a small catheter into the spinal canal via a puncture in sacrum inferiorly (top of butt-crack)
They then pass the catheter up the spinal canal until it gets to the main area of pain (usually around L2 to L4) and then inject a mix of happy juice and steroid.
These procedures are very safe, but do have a risk of infection (however small). They will usually last ~3 to 6 months, but can last indefinitely, completely dependant on life-style and initial condition.
The pain release comes due to breaking down the inflammation ONLY - once the swelling goes down you'll feel better. Just don;t go training for a marathon or renovate the kitchen - cos the inflammation will come right back!

[Slinky17]

threads alittle old but,

right now i'm playing with a broken right wrist. i have a 90 degree cast on so i have to play with my bass high as hell. it sucks dont break your wrist, but this not the first time.

3 years back i played with another cast on, left wrist this time. this was easier and better cause i still could move my fingers along the fretboard and such. Only 10 days till this cast comes off