How would you cope with having to give up guitar

[coldshot]

8 months ago I was diagnosed with 3 protruding disc's in my neck, urgent surgery was required to save my spinal cord from being severed. At the worse location my spinal cord is now only 4mm wide, it should be closer to 20mm.

The only symptoms I had were pins and needles in my arms and legs, particularly when I walked down stairs, or stepping over objects.

Actually 3 weeks prior to being daignosed I was skiing back country in Japan without any issues.

When I woke up after surgery I had no movement on my left side and only partial movement on my right side.

My worse nightmare had become a reality, I couldn't sit up, move my left arm or leg and had no feeling in my right hand or fingers.

After 2 weeks in intensive care I was moved to a rehab hospital, all the doctors and physio would say was, I will recover but to what degree we don't know.

I spent 3 months of intensive physio therapy learning how to walk, wash and feed myself again, all with my left arm still not being able to move.

All this time, everyday and night all I wanted to do was move my left arm, because without that, I'll never play guitar again.

After just over 3 months at home recouperating I'm getting stronger everyday, still trying to move my left arm, although still can't even hold a guitar, let alone play one.

I've been playing guitar for over 30 years, like most of you guys I'd play at least 10 hours a week or more. I have an awesome music studio in my house complete with pa foldbacks and recording gear. Actually my last aquisition was a Tascam model 24 desk.

While I always said I'd give my recouperation 2 years, I'm seriously starting to consider selling some of my guitars. I have a few that are worth considerable money, they are all just sitting there detuned and not getting played.

So any advice is welcome.

[foxo]

I’m very sorry to hear this coldshot, I do hope you make a swift recovery.

Perhaps I am biased as someone with only one acoustic but I wouldn’t feel at all bad about selling some of the guitars you don’t feel hugely attached to. My unplayed Fender Strat and sole electric (impulse buy) is starting to irritate me, I am seriously considering getting rid of it for the mere fact I have played it maybe three times in the last six months.

As for your question how would I feel - it would be a massive source of frustration. I would still take pleasure in writing lyrics though and having my friend try setting them to guitar, if you are a fellow songwriter perhaps you should try the same.

[DenverSteve]

Glad to hear you're recovering/recuperating. While I enjoy playing guitar, I enjoy many things in life. The first, is life itself. After that everything is icing on the cake. If I were to succumb to something that would stop my hiking, biking, diving, guitar... I would be disheartened for a bit then I would celebrate being alive and look for the things I could do to keep me occupied and engaged. None of us were born playing guitar or anything else. We were born to thrive and we can do that with a wheelchair, cane, crutches, prosthetics..... Get well soon.

[jnidoh]

Coldshot...don't quit and don't give up.

If you're in rehab, give it a while and keep trying. Over the past 68 years I've never ceased to be amazed at what the human being is capable of accomplishing if they put their mind to it.

You want to give yourself 2 yrs and it's only been 8 months....don't quit! You've got time and if you have the desire and the will, then keep going.

You can do anything you want, if you want it bad enough. I've waited 64 years to learn to play and finally did it. Now I know all of 5 songs and I'm still amazed! All you have to do after thirty years of playing is learn to do one song again.........

Do your best Coldshot and let us know how it's going.

john

[zeeway]

Prayers sent for your recovery. I think that keeping your guitars would give you an extra incentive to work through to your new normal. At the same time, perhaps you can also explore other avenues to connect to your love of music, perhaps in production for other talent in coaching, or sound, for example.

I guess if your condition wasn’t diagnosed, you may not be here at all. So, big thanks are in order to your medical team.

In the distant past, I was a pretty good skier, and also a marathon runner (...a legend in my own mind). But age has removed those activities (along with some others), so like others before me, I have had to shift gear and expectations. But other things have come into my life to keep me busy and interested.

I hope you can recover your guitar skills, but more importantly, I hope you can keep a positive attitude, and appreciate whatever life and opportunities come your way, so that you too can keep busy and interested in the next chapter.

[raysachs]

It would suck, but you can find other passions, albeit less physical ones. I was about as passionate a bicyclist as anyone I knew for over 20 years, and over the course of a couple of years, health problems prevented me from doing any strenuous riding and I basically had to give it up other than the gentlest errand runs on flat ground around town. I was really sad to lose that, but OTOH, it’s part of what led me back to playing guitar, which I’d done a lot as a kid, but had largely given up for about 30 years of career and family. And, actually, I got into cycling when Jerry Garcia died and my previous Grateful Dead obsession ceased to be in a meaningful way.

Losing stuff sucks, sucks BAD, no denying it. But sometimes it forces you to find new stuff to keep yourself stimulated...

Good luck,

-Ray

[birdsong]

Well, I sort of feel your pain and I am sorry to read about it. I can't really advise on selling a guitar or two - that seems mighty personal and for various reasons. But I can share part of my story.

I was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer in early 2009 - they weren't sure I'd make it. And furthermore my oncologist said he doesn't really "commit" to a final outcome until 2 years post-treatment. They warned me it would be rough. That was an understatement (chemo and radiation). I could not do much for the first year. I was too up/down to play guitar for 2 years after the treatment. Before the 2 years were up though, I had to have a risky heart surgery (unrelated to the cancer; a byproduct of a somewhat failed surgery 2 years prior to the cancer). They told me the surgery could go either of 3 ways and 2 were not good! But it worked. (6 years later I had to have a 3rd heart surgery - due to a fluke blood infection that ruined my 'new' valve; today the heart is fine they say).

Finally in my 3rd year after the cancer treatment, I decided to try guitar again. It was hard. The chemo left me with some real neuropathy and the radiation/chemo left me with a lot of fatigue. I still deal with both 10 years later. I'd say it took me about 2 years of practicing, often only 10 minutes/night, before I felt like I was making music again. So overall it was about 4 years from when I began treatment to when I felt I could play a song and have it sound like a song.

Now I can play 45 minutes and it sounds pretty good. I can't play like I used to (a lot of bluegrass/flatpicking) but can play some of the tunes I used to play, almost to speed. I've grown to appreciate my new ways of playing my old tunes. I've had to come up with different plectrum and fingerpicking methods. But again it's working out.

What you have been through it a LOT. I mean good grief yours is quite the story. And my feeling is, to play again, you'll have to continue with that physical therapy for months. For me, I'm glad I hung there and waited. But we all react differently to these events. (btw I also had to re-learn parts of my speech and partly how to eat/swallow again; had a feeding tube for over a year).

I also did not discover AGF until the time I had the blood infection. My wife said "buy a guitar or two". I bought 6-7! But I've also sold a couple. I'm looking at selling a couple more. But I also now enjoy trying different ones. So I expect I will also buy a couple more in the years to come, unless my hands/arms just can't hold up well in a few years. We'll see. I have been to the abyss and back. And I am prepared to sell the guitars if I have to. I've decided I will at least try another type of instrument if I have to give up guitar - for example, I think I could play slide guitar if I can no longer comfortably fret. I've even told my wife that if things get really bad with my hands/arms, we're buying me a Theremin!

My Martin D-41 is a very nice instrument. It mostly sits now. and sat for those 4 years before I finally picked it up. I am now "ok" if I need to sell it. I don't have the flexibility I once did and the Dreadnaught is more difficult for me. But it sounds great so I wrangle with it now and then. Plus it has sentimental value.

Given what you've been through I don't think 8 months is all that long. I know it feels like an eternity - I was there. But for your body to recover, I agree it might take 2 years. I won't claim it was easy for me -- not at all really. I was angry and depressed for weeks at a time. Then happier. Then I'd cycle all over. I threw a variety of objects around the house when I got really mad about my condition - thankfully never a guitar.

I see no harm in either decision: to sell, or to keep, any of the guitars, for now. FWIW, soon after my 2nd heart surgery, I was felling sorry for myself and the unplayed guitars (and hadn't started to play again). I made comments to my wife about selling my Martin or Larrivee "I probably won't be able to play them again". Wisely she said "now isn't the time to make the decision - just let them sit a bit longer". She's such a good one.

I wish you success in any form, in your recovery efforts.

John

[LadysSolo]

I agree with those who are saying "wait and see how it goes." You can always sell them later, but if you get your mobility back, it might be hard to "unsell" them (get them back.) And you might want them all back. Now if you have some you wanted to sell anyway, fine. But don't sell any favorites just yet.

[Mr. Jelly]

Get some loops and get into Acid software. Reconceptualize music. Part of being into guitar is being into sounds and music. It could be a whole new paradigm for you.

[jklotz]

Hey buddy, so sorry to hear about this. I've got some injuries that have me sidelined at the moment, and I play as much as you do, so I can really relate.

I truly believe the answer is to keep a positive mental attitude. Try to focus on the positives and treat the rehab as a thing you need to go through so you can get back to playing again.

My thoughts are with you and I wish you a speedy recovery.

[boombox]

I went through a similar experience to you, though thankfully not as severe. I have a degenerative spinal disorder and had one discectomy 20 years ago. Despite forecasts from the docs that I had would have further problems, I went 15 years without anything major. Then, about 5 years ago, I was sat playing guitar when I had shooting pains in one side of my neck. I then lost the use of both hands. Specialist and MRI scan confirmed it was another disc gone, but in my neck, so they would only operate if absolutely necessary. It took about six months to get back to playing at any sort of level. Right now, I would say I am back to 80% dexterity, but it hasn't stopped me playing. So keep your chin up, it may take time to get there.

[RP]

I'm sorry for the OP's situation as well as those who responded with other medical issues that impede daily activities. The honest answer is that I don't know how I'd address an inability to play guitar any more except to offer the platitude, "One door often opens when another one closes." Good luck with finding that open door...

[Silly Moustache]

Hi sorry to hear of your problem. My advice is to keep your guitars and kit as a challenge - push yuor body within realistic limits to regain skills. Meanwhile develop other interests.

In 1983 I awoke effectively paralysed from the neck down - in that any attempt to move any joint was excruciating.
After two/three weeks in hospital they told my is was Sarcoidosis, and that there was no cure, go home, and here are some anti-inflammatories. it might go away.

Whilst I was in hospital I had my wife bring in magazines about photography as I was starting to become interested.

My instruments went up into the attic - for ten years.
When I could walk (or hobble) and lift stuff I'd take my camera into the woods.
There, if the pain got too much, I could sob myself out without distressing anyone else.

My belly swelled and was in constant pain until we discovered that they were over prescribing anti-inflammatory meds by 10 times which had compromised my digestive system.

I went back to work too soon, but was afraid I'd never go back if I waited. I could not perform well and that damaged my career and health progress.

In July 1993 I left my company after twenty years, and lost my darkroom so my photography ended.
That September I saw a guitar in a shop and asked my wife to get my gear down from the attic.

In December I did my first floor spot (It was terrible but I did it).

In about 1995 I recorded my first solo album, and was awarded the FIAP (International Photographers Institute) gold medal,
In 1996 I started a new job
In 1999 my second album.

Since then I've had pneumonia, with lung damage, heart failure, and throat cancer, but I'm gardening, attending the gym, cycling and still singing (after a fashion).

My point is, life goes on - if you have the will.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

Hi sorry to hear of your problem. My advice is to keep your guitars and kit as a challenge - push yuor body within realistic limits to regain skills. Meanwhile develop other interests.

In 1983 I awoke effectively paralysed from the neck down -0 in that any attempt to move any joint was excruciating.
After two/three weeks in hospital they told my is was Sarcoidosis, and that there was no cure, go home, and here are some anti-inflammatories. it might go away.

Whlst I was in hospital I had my wife bring in magazines about photography as I was starting to become interested.

My instruments went up into the attic - for ten years.
when I could walk and lift stuff I'd take my camera gear into the woods.
There, if the pain got too much, I could sob myself out without distressing anyone else.

My belly swelled and was in constant pain until we discovered that they were over prescribing anti-inflammatory meds by 10 times which had compromised my system.

I went back to work too son, but was afraid I'd never go back if I waited. I could not perform well and that damaged my progress.

In July 1993 I left my company after twenty years, and lost my darkroom so my photography ended.
That September I saw a guitar in a shop and asked my wife to get my gear down from the attic.

In December I did my first floor spot (It was terrible but I did it).

In about 1995 I recorded my first solo album, and was awarded the FIAP (International Photographers Institute) gold medal,
In 1996 I started a new job
In 1999 my second album.

Since then I've had pneumonia, with lung damage, heart failure, and throat cancer, but I'm gardening, attending the gym, cycling and still singing (after a fashion).

My point is, life goes on - if you have the will.

**** Andy that's harsh mate. And I think I have a problem with a bit of an arthritic finger! Stories like that of the OP and yours really put things into perspective-and I agree; willpower is a great psychological healer. I wish you well as always, and the same to the OP.

[Paoli]

I have to limit a lot my practice time to almost zero these days due a bad tendinitis that it isn´t getting any better and just that is effecting me a lot.I love playing guitar and it has been my only money maker for the last 30 years and still is .Just on the very basic surviving level my life would be turned upside down without playing.More then that I am sure that active playing is what kept me moderately sane the whole way through,I was into production for a few years but I couldn´t get to the same level of satisfaction then hearing the results of that alchemic process to learn a piece,from lead to gold,if you know what I mean. I quite like a few other things but I love playing much more.While writing this I am trying to convince myself that everything is going to be allright.I wish you a speed recovery and just sell ,in case ,what you don´t really love and bear in mind what can or can´t be replaced.You´re not alone,I will have to do the same.