Bassists with disabilities

[murphy]

I ca

I feel a bit odd for sharing mine, as it seems rather insignificant compared to some others. Had some major depression and was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, which essentially makes me wake up and go through life with a sense of dread. Meds and therapy have helped, but it’s still a factor. But it was severe enough that I lost a rather lucrative job, was divorced from a lovely woman of my own doing, and was on long term disability for two years, and when that ran out I still couldn’t function, so I spent another year with no income, trying to live off my severance.

I ended up moving close to family and got back on my feet…looking for work was tough at 55, with tons of experience but no degree. I’m running a coffee shop now, making enough to live and not struggle, but at least I am back on my feet. Feeling blessed in many ways, but the struggle is still a daily one. Every. Single. Day. The depression is low level but not gone, the anxiety is a daily struggle… still on meds, and likely will be for the rest of my life. Grateful to have family and kids, and a new granddaughter. And even in the times when I really struggle, when I look back to when I was at my worst, there is no comparison. It was very dark. Glad I’m still here.

I can relate to you so well...and I am so thrilled to hear of your GIANT achievement.

Don't sell yourself short...I do know the courage and strength it takes to get back on your feet and take on each day.
Stay strong

 

[murphy]

My right leg is paralyzed from a spinal column injury which occurred in 2004 when a driver fell asleep at the wheel of his car, crossed the center line and struck me head on at 65 mph. I was riding my BMW motorcycle and somehow instinctively led with my right arm which struck the windshield of his car, hurtling me over it and allowing me to survive. On my way though, the handlebars (probably) broke my pelvis into two pieces and extruded the nerves in my spine that once engaged the muscles in my right leg. It's all there but the electricity has been turned off.

I was wearing a quality helmet and never lost consciousness (I wish I had - every second of the event is burned into memory, even the sounds), though I almost lost my right arm. My wife told the surgeons that I was a musician and they just had to save it in spite of their doubts about it. Luckily for me, I received care from some of the best doctors in the world at the Mayo Clinic. I was back playing again in about a year but things have never been the same of course, in real life or the music business.

I'm lucky enough to have musician friends who didn't abandon me despite my inability to stand and play (more than a few songs at least), and the challenges I have getting myself and my gear to gigs and on stage. I've had some great gigs in the years since and consider myself very fortunate though I'll admit that I'd like to play more live shows than I do (average about a dozen or so per year).

I don't have any cartilage in my right wrist or elbow so playing with a pick or slap style don't work any longer for me, and I had to sell my upright as that also no longer worked for me. Finger style I can manage well enough to play Jaco's Teen Town at 128 bpm on my Fender Tony Franklin fretless P. The neuropathy that I have to deal with makes everyday life a real challenge all too often but the ability to continue playing bass at home and in public has been so important to my mental well being the last 17 years. I've buried enough friends to know that I'm one of the lucky ones.

Let's see...
Here's the tag on my motorcycle.
View attachment 4468424

I crushed a vertebrae in my back in a motorcycle crash, and have been in pain ever since. I also deal with anxiety disorder and bouts of depression. Most of my issues are (semi)controlled with medication. But I can't walk very far, or lift much. I recently took up bass because I can play sitting down at home. Arthritis is bad as well so I'll never be a Jaco, or Les Claypool, but just playing something I can recognise makes me happy.

Like you guys I was hit head on by a car...smashed my leg up 8 surgeries and multiple soft tissue and joint damage.

Limited walking...standing...and mega medication to control pain all day and night.

I feel you guys

 

[nutdog]

In the 80s I remember seeing an Atlanta band with a one handed bass player that was really good. I couldn’t tell if he was picking or thumping with his arm nub. Brilliantly, they were called the Outta Hand Band.

A little internet sleuthing reveals it was Randy Lewis, RIP, and he had a cast with a pick. He played with Mose Jones.

Untitled Document

Home - Mose Jones

 

[KohanMike]

Your story has brought tears to my eyes....What a heavy price you have paid all your life

Yeah, and I wish the medical establish would have stepped up and helped me pay for it all.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

I’ve officially run out of neurologists in the state of Iowa. I saw a specialist at the University of Iowa, and they don’t want to take me on as a patient. My current diagnosis remains an acute case of “That’s Strange.” Other than that, they’ve ruled out degenerative and autoimmune disorders, there’s no myelin damage, and no muscle atrophy. Multiple MRIs, including one of my entire spine, with and without contrast, show nothing.

My local neurologist made a referral to the Mayo Clinic, and now I have to wait 2 weeks to find out if they’ll see me. If not, I’m not sure what my next move is.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

It turns out the Mayo Clinic won't see me. In fact, the neurologists wasted my time by sending the referral on to Internal Medicine, who had me fill out a questionnaire about my problems. Predictably, since my symptoms are all neurological, they declined to see me as well.

It seems like the main thing I've learned so far is that most neurologists have horrible diagnostic skills. Once they see a symptom they don't recognize, or get to the end of their list of tests without a likely answer, they just give up.

 

[murphy]

It turns out the Mayo Clinic won't see me. In fact, the neurologists wasted my time by sending the referral on to Internal Medicine, who had me fill out a questionnaire about my problems. Predictably, since my symptoms are all neurological, they declined to see me as well.

It seems like the main thing I've learned so far is that most neurologists have horrible diagnostic skills. Once they see a symptom they don't recognize, or get to the end of their list of tests without a likely answer, they just give up.

You will find the same kind of problems up North here....and in the UK
We are all in a terrible medical crisis....I hope you can find some answers

 

[Rich Fiscus]

You will find the same kind of problems up North here....and in the UK
We are all in a terrible medical crisis....I hope you can find some answers

I’m almost certain I know what it is now, which is sort of the good news - except that it’s degenerative and probably fatal in less than a decade. The bad news is that the closest place to find the specialist and additional testing I need next is Mayo.

My previous doctor’s last act, before being fired from my medical team, was getting me an appointment with a different doctor who, after my 6 month wait getting in, will hopefully get me a competent referral to Mayo. With any luck it will only take another 6 months for the doctors to catch up with me.

 

[el jeffe bass]

I’m almost certain I know what it is now, which is sort of the good news - except that it’s degenerative and probably fatal in less than a decade. The bad news is that the closest place to find the specialist and additional testing I need next is Mayo.

My previous doctor’s last act, before being fired from my medical team, was getting me an appointment with a different doctor who, after my 6 month wait getting in, will hopefully get me a competent referral to Mayo. With any luck it will only take another 6 months for the doctors to catch up with me.

Rich, I totally understand what you are saying about Neurologist. Since being diagnosed with M.S. I’ve had a (very) few good ones and a few bad ones. It took over 10 years of going to Doctors with weird symptoms before an ENT specialist ordered an MRI. The MRI diagnosed it, spinal tap confirmed it. Being diagnosed with ANYTHING sucks but it beats the uncertainty of not knowing. @Rich Fiscus I hope that you get your correct diagnosis soon.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

Rich, I totally understand what you are saying about Neurologist. Since being diagnosed with M.S. I’ve had a (very) few good ones and a few bad ones. It took over 10 years of going to Doctors with weird symptoms before an ENT specialist ordered an MRI. The MRI diagnosed it, spinal tap confirmed it. Being diagnosed with ANYTHING sucks but it beats the uncertainty of not knowing. @Rich Fiscus I hope that you get your correct diagnosis soon.

Thanks! I’m lucky to have an excellent family doctor, not to mention my mother being a retired RN. Actually, a combination of a top notch neck specialist (who fused my neck) and a pair of physical therapists have been the most instrumental in getting the right tests, or even making sure certain symptoms make it into my record. I’ve often said I’ll put my physical therapists’s PhD up against my neurologist’s MD any day of the week.

What was actually eye opening was discovering how long I had been dealing with neurological symptoms without having any idea, or how many symptoms are common to numerous, unrelated disorders. Who knew something as mundane as swallowing could be one of the most neurologically complex operations in your body, and therefore prone to failure caused by half the things they test for?

 

[el jeffe bass]

Who knew something as mundane as swallowing could be one of the most neurologically complex operations in your body

I aspirate often, mostly crumbly stuff like chips or cookies or light liquids. Last month I aspirated on wine, coughed, choked, passed out, hit my head on the counter and spent the following day in the emergency department. My wife who is an ED (not ER) RN and retired cop found me on the ground. Even with her training and experience she freaked out. You are absolutely correct, the brain is a funky thing.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

I aspirate often, mostly crumbly stuff like chips or cookies or light liquids. Last month I aspirated on wine, coughed, choked, passed out, hit my head on the counter and spent the following day in the emergency department. My wife who is an ED (not ER) RN and retired cop found me on the ground. Even with her training and experience she freaked out. You are absolutely correct, the brain is a funky thing.

I’m lucky not to have aspirated so far, but sometimes food stops moving just past my throat. Most of the time I just have to wait a few seconds for it to slowly start moving again. Other times I have to stimulate my gag reflex to cough it back up.

Mostly it’s things like dense bread, but the worst food for me is steak. Unless it’s super tender, like high grade beef tenderloin, I won’t even attempt it. That’s not as big a deal lately, since my senses are all muted, and I don’t enjoy food that much. Every once in a while I really enjoy a meal, but it’s usually breakfast.

 

[el jeffe bass]

@Rich Fiscus if you need a sympathetic ear or advice please reach out here or P.M. me. I have many years of experience with crazy neurological symptoms.

 

[Rich Fiscus]

Speaking of neurological symptoms, here’s one that’s surprisingly rare, or perhaps not, the more I understand neurology. When I started having vision problems, I was calling it double vision in each eye, but in neurological terms it’s actually blurred vision. It’s an important distinction, because there are actually only a couple of disorders it fits. It also ties my vision problems to my brain stem, which I was already zeroing in on based on what my other symptoms had in common.

At least it’s given me the world’s most useless super power. When I had my doctor order an EEG (it hadn’t even occurred to him), I learned that if you flash a light in my eyes, I can feel it in my fingers and toes. Jokes aside, that proves there’s a problem in my brain.

 

[Five or Six]

I have Sarcoidosis. Causes pain, weakness and fatigue. Meds help but still a tough every day. Doctor claims I have PTSD, from my jobs but, I don't have an issue if I do.

Got hit head on by a drunk at high speed. Broke my back. Got hit on the expressway in the ass on my motorcycle by an inattentive idiot. Screwed up my back and neck. Posture sucks because of it. Skin cancer seems never ending. Had mohs surgery several times. I make kidney stones like most make their bed. Have my own aggregate. 24/7-365 allergies suck! Broke my right wrist 6 times while working.. Just a little stiff. My new thing is a freakin hernia, sheesh.Other than that stuff, It hasn't stopped me from playing. All of that is minor compared to others. Good luck to you all with challenges!

 

[Rich Fiscus]

I have Sarcoidosis. Causes pain, weakness and fatigue. Meds help but still a tough every day. Doctor claims I have PTSD, from my jobs but, I don't have an issue if I do.

Got hit head on by a drunk at high speed. Broke my back. Got hit on the expressway in the ass on my motorcycle by an inattentive idiot. Screwed up my back and neck. Posture sucks because of it. Skin cancer seems never ending. Had mohs surgery several times. I make kidney stones like most make their bed. Have my own aggregate. 24/7-365 allergies suck! Broke my right wrist 6 times while working.. Just a little stiff. My new thing is a freakin hernia, sheesh.Other than that stuff, It hasn't stopped me from playing. All of that is minor compared to others. Good luck to you all with challenges!

Kidney stones may not be a disability, but the pain they cause is a whole other level of suffering. It’s certainly the worst pain I’ve ever experienced. I’ve been told by women who have had kidney stones that it was more painful than childbirth.

 

[Five or Six]

Only one thing I forgot in my train wreck. I have a neuropathy in both feet. That can make for a long night. That's caused by the Sarcoidosis. Golden years, more like lead lately.

 

[G Aichele]

We need to break free of the idea that bassists in rock, blues, or r&b groups should always stand. If that's what you prefer, fine, but if others tell you you must, then screw them. Use a chair if you need to. (I can no longer walk and play from a wheelchair. I'm not the only one.)

 

[monsterthompson]

We need to break free of the idea that bassists in rock, blues, or r&b groups should always stand. If that's what you prefer, fine, but if others tell you you must, then screw them. Use a chair if you need to. (I can no longer walk and play from a wheelchair. I'm not the only one.)

After my crippling accident, I joined a costumed band and we used a wheelchair as part of my costume, which let me sit and play. I could walk on/off stage with my gear, but I couldn’t stand and play. Occasionally we’d hear people in the crowd say “he doesn’t really need that chair.” I never made it a point to try to justify my situation to strangers, but it did make me think about how the image was perceived.

Trying to think of iconic seated players and B.B. King is the first artist who comes to mind right now. I saw Les Paul in his later years and I believe he was seated at that show. I know Beaver Felton ended up in a chair, but he’s not particularly well known by the general public. Who else is out there that I’m not thinking of?

 

[Five or Six]

With all the bad crap I've read in this post, one thing remains true. We love to play and we don't give up. Good on all y'all! Play on!!