Members FLYING V 83 Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Saw the specialist yesterday, he gave me another option besides a total fusion. Basically the orthopedist was right, my scaphoid bone is mush after 22 years of no blood flow. The specialist said he could do a fusion but I'd never play guitar again, so instead he wants to do a partial fusion and remove the mushy scaphoid bone and the 2 next to it. This would basically make the 2nd row of bones the 1st, as you can see in the pic: It will make my hand a bit shorter but still able to flex enough to play guitar. He said this would give me some flexibilty while eliminating about 85% of the pain vs. no flexibilty & 100% pain relief with a full fusion. He's done this procedure for laborers who need to retain lifting and flexing ability with much success. He gave me a cortisone shot just to try to relieve some pain until I get the surgery at the end of May. Told him I had a 1/2 dozen more gigs I wanted to do before the surgery, and he said no problem, it's as bad as it's going to get now. He said if the cortisone relieved the pain I could put off the surgery for up to a year, but what's the point? Also said I have advanced degenerative arthritis in the wrist too, and while he's in there he's going to clip a small nerve on the back of the wrist that will help eliminate pain further. So it looks like the week before Memorial Day I'll be going under the knife, and will need 4 weeks in a splint & therapy afterwards to regain my playing ability. Sorry for the wordy update..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lazy Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 serious suk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stereotypy Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 hy man! i wish you all the best and that it turns out to work again after "surgery"!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gethsemane Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 how did that happen to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members inscho Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 good to hear that you can still play the guitar, although thats still pretty crappy. I wish you the best! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FLYING V 83 Posted April 4, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Originally posted by gethsemane how did that happen to you? Broke it 22 years ago falling down a flight of stairs. Snapped it all the way back to where my fingernails cut my forearm. Broke both bones in the arm at the same time. Had to wait 3 days 'til the swelling went down for them to cast it. It's been sore ever since, but in the last 3 months has started hurting really bad. Probably the advanced arthritis kicking in on top of it. Doc said the scaphoid bone is just a mushy collection of bone fragments and cysts at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sir H C Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Glad they can save enough to keep you playing. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members papa taco Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Well, at least you don't need your head amputated or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jaymeister Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Again, I hope it all works out as best as possible for you. Don't listen to a doctor when he say's "never play guitar again"...it's surprising what a motivated human spirit can overcome. Heck, I'd just do left hand hammers and pulls if that's all I had, or develop an ebow technique and become a star. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ZJD Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Good luck man. I hope the surgery goes well. Post some pics of your new hand when it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members (((echo))) Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Originally posted by FLYING V 83 Broke it 22 years ago falling down a flight of stairs. Snapped it all the way back to where my fingernails cut my forearm. Broke both bones in the arm at the same time. Had to wait 3 days 'til the swelling went down for them to cast it. It's been sore ever since, but in the last 3 months has started hurting really bad. Probably the advanced arthritis kicking in on top of it. Doc said the scaphoid bone is just a mushy collection of bone fragments and cysts at this point. think imagonna throw up sounds like you're lucky to have survived that fall.. good luck with the operation, something is always better than nothing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Happy_Thom Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 {censored} mate that sucks - I missed the first part fo the story how did it happen again? Hope it gets sorted out no probs! edit: ignore all of that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paydirt Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 V, That beats the heck out of complete fusion. At least this way you can have use of your hand and can continue playing guitar. You'll learn to live with a little bit of pain. Heck, you've been doing it for 22 years now. If you have the surgery, hit physical therepy really hard as soon as you can after the surgery to maximize your flexability. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaSkip Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 Sorry man, the news is better than what your other doctor had said. I wish you the best. I know you must have alot of uncertainty and apprehension. Keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 5F1G Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 That is truly frightening, Flying V. My best wishes to you for a speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuyaGuy Posted April 4, 2006 Members Share Posted April 4, 2006 i imagine putting up with pain is worth it if you can keep the use of your hand--even if only partial use. hope everything goes well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FLYING V 83 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 5, 2006 Thanks for all the support, guys. Woke up this morning and can tell the cortisone shot is working, I'm in less pain now than I've been in months. Can move all my fingers again, and hold a cup of coffee. Sounds stupid, but even that has been a problem for me lately. Hello cortisone!This should keep me going 'til the surgery the end of May. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members henk Posted April 5, 2006 Members Share Posted April 5, 2006 Good luck! I reckon you need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zhivago Posted April 5, 2006 Members Share Posted April 5, 2006 good luck with the surgery. doctors work wonders nowadays...they are modern day heroes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fernmeister Posted April 5, 2006 Members Share Posted April 5, 2006 Originally posted by FLYING V 83 Thanks for all the support, guys. Woke up this morning and can tell the cortisone shot is working, I'm in less pain now than I've been in months. Can move all my fingers again, and hold a cup of coffee. Sounds stupid, but even that has been a problem for me lately. doesn't sound stupid at all. i went for three days without being able to hold a cup with my left hand and close to week more with it being a struggle. very scary stuff.will continue to remember you and hope that the procedure works out well. take care and keep your chin up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members freeRadical Posted April 5, 2006 Members Share Posted April 5, 2006 Best wishes Mr. V! Is that fall where the flying part of your moniker came from? Glad you will be able to keep playing. We need your dirt box expertise around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FLYING V 83 Posted April 5, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 5, 2006 Originally posted by freeRadical Best wishes Mr. V! Is that fall where the flying part of your moniker came from? Glad you will be able to keep playing. We need your dirt box expertise around here. Actually, that's where the V part comes from, as in how far back my wrist bent. Thanks for all the replies guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gethsemane Posted April 5, 2006 Members Share Posted April 5, 2006 Originally posted by FLYING V 83 Thanks for all the support, guys. Woke up this morning and can tell the cortisone shot is working, I'm in less pain now than I've been in months. Can move all my fingers again, and hold a cup of coffee. Sounds stupid, but even that has been a problem for me lately. Hello cortisone! This should keep me going 'til the surgery the end of May. doesn't sound stupid. ive had wrist surgery and it isn't very much fun at all.im glad to hear you'll be able to keep playing, though. it will take some time to adjust to the new and improved wrist, im sure, but, as you know, lots of amazing players have continued with far worse impediments. cheers for cortisone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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