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Had an accident now I can't play

Simon Johns

Simon Johns

Guest
Nov 20, 2017
5
7
Istanbul
#1
Here's the story: I fell over and slashed open the heel of my right hand. I think I also damaged my shoulder and neck too on the way down.

Now I have almost no strength or fine motor movement in my right arm or fingers. I also find it very hard to type, write and even do up my flies! I sought treatment and got the all clear on nerve damage and disk herniation. Physio has done nothing and now I'm left scratching my head – with my left hand!

I can play slow, simple riffs for a short while but then my right arm just runs outta steam.

It feels like my playing days are over.

Anyone else experienced similar?
 
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#4
It can take a long time to come back from soft tissue injuries, and there is no guarantee you'll get back to 100%. Sorry this happened to you.

I was once shoveling snow and the shovel got caught on a crack. I hit it with enough force to my right hand that the thumb and large muscle went numb for a few hours. When it finally calmed down there was a mysterious lump in my palm, some kind of fibroma or ganglion (which is still there years later). My pick skills (which used to be pretty proficient on guitar, mandolin, and bass), and my fingerpicking on guitar (hybrid picking, classical stylings, and Travis/Atkins picking) have never fully recovered. I'll always be about 60-70% of what I was before the freak accident. And of course, medical science can only get you back so far.

Don't give up on the therapy and playing. Everyone's recovery is unique. My guitar player once lost nearly complete use of his right arm and hand from repetitive motion injuries. He was a monster shredder, had an insane practice regimen, and paid the price. Therapy only got him back so far, but he researched it and created his own regimen which helped even more. He may not be 100%, but he's back to being a damn fine guitar player capable of licks that will make your head spin.
 
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#5
electracoyote said:
It can take a long time to come back from soft tissue injuries.
Click to expand...
This.

I had a pretty serious spinal injury and felt the same about it being "over". It took me about a year of core muscle rebuilding to get back to basic normalcy, and about 5 to get it really under control.
Be patient and don't quit your therapy regimen. Buy a cheap synth or something to keep you from going nuts in the meantime.
Stay positive!
 
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#8
electracoyote said:
It can take a long time to come back from soft tissue injuries, and there is no guarantee you'll get back to 100%. Sorry this happened to you.

I was once shoveling snow and the shovel got caught on a crack. I hit it with enough force to my right hand that the thumb and large muscle went numb for a few hours. When it finally calmed down there was a mysterious lump in my palm, some kind of fibroma or ganglion (which is still there years later). My pick skills (which used to be pretty proficient on guitar, mandolin, and bass), and my fingerpicking on guitar (hybrid picking, classical stylings, and Travis/Atkins picking) have never fully recovered. I'll always be about 60-70% of what I was before the freak accident. And of course, medical science can only get you back so far.

Don't give up on the therapy and playing. Everyone's recovery is unique. My guitar player once lost nearly complete use of his right arm and hand from repetitive motion injuries. He was a monster shredder, had an insane practice regimen, and paid the price. Therapy only got him back so far, but he researched it and created his own regimen which helped even more. He may not be 100%, but he's back to being a damn fine guitar player capable of licks that will make your head spin.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that dude
 
#10
Talk to your doctor about a reasonable time table to return to normal. If he/she doesn't have an answer, get to a new doctor. Do exactly what they tell you to do - don't rush it. When I was in my 30s, I played baseball, and needed rotator cuff surgery. The doctor said there would be good days during recovery, but not to throw a ball for a year. I didn't listen. I used to be able to hit 80mph - when I came back, I couldn't hit 60 with a tailwind.
 
#11
buldog5151bass said:
Talk to your doctor about a reasonable time table to return to normal. If he/she doesn't have an answer, get to a new doctor. Do exactly what they tell you to do - don't rush it. When I was in my 30s, I played baseball, and needed rotator cuff surgery. The doctor said there would be good days during recovery, but not to throw a ball for a year. I didn't listen. I used to be able to hit 80mph - when I came back, I couldn't hit 60 with a tailwind.
Click to expand...
Cheers for the advice. Yeah, my doctor is very helpful and really wants to treat the problem, but I'm finding her regimen isn't doing much and it's costing me lots of money. I don't think she's diagnosed the problem fully, and is concentrating on my hand rather than the whole arm.
 
#12
Simon Johns said:
Cheers for the advice. Yeah, my doctor is very helpful and really wants to treat the problem, but I'm finding her regimen isn't doing much and it's costing me lots of money. I don't think she's diagnosed the problem fully, and is concentrating on my hand rather than the whole arm.
Click to expand...

Then get to another doctor.
 
#14
Simon Johns said:
Here's the story: I fell over and slashed open the heel of my right hand. I think I also damaged my shoulder and neck too on the way down.

Now I have almost no strength or fine motor movement in my right arm or fingers. I also find it very hard to type, write and even do up my flies! I sought treatment and got the all clear on nerve damage and disk herniation. Physio has done nothing and now I'm left scratching my head – with my left hand!

I can play slow, simple riffs for a short while but then my right arm just runs outta steam.

It feels like my playing days are over.

Anyone else experienced similar?
Click to expand...

How long ago? It might still be early doors...
 
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#15
Brother, I have accumulated a long list of injuries and physical setbacks, repetitive stress problems, ergonomic maladies. It just takes time, in my experience. And a reasonable expectation of how a setback will effect the end result with regards to redeveloping your technique. Having a dedicated body work practitioner is a major plus.
 
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#19
Simon Johns said:
It's been been about a year. Had about 2 months of physio, including electro therapy, dry needling, massage, some meds. No dice.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's pretty serious. This might sound crazy, but have you considered playing a Chapman Stick? It sounds like your left hand is still good, whuch covers the bass part easily. The right hand kinda hangs but supported in a natural position and the movements are very low impact. You may find you have just enough there to work with, but if not you still get to play bass, and potentially a whole lot more...
 
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