Trigger Fingers Surgeries 2 and 3 - by Mickey Stein

[Shopfee]

I ask because I have trigger finger in both middle fingers. I am a musician and have been quite scared about this. I have had it for over a year now and as much as I hoped it would get better, it has not. Your videos have been a blessing to me as I am so scared about losing my abilities.

[hachamacha]

@Shopfee Hi Shop, It scared the hell out of me as well. I had hit the end of the line for playing though, and my fingers were perpetually triggered and in bad pain. There was no choice left but surgery that I could figure out and I liked the guy I'd already had a surgery with so went ahead. I don't think there's much to worry about. I had an oddball occurrence with anesthetic, burned some nerves, but they regrew. Do PT afterward for certain and it'll likely be a good outcome. You can email me.

[Shopfee]

How are things with the fingers?

[hachamacha]

@Shopfee Thanks for asking. Just the last few months, I'm back to whatever my new normal is and it is far better than I expected. I can play what I could play before, have almost no pain left and am flexible. I seem to have beaten the scar tissue back Physical Therapy, and my nerves regrew. I dreaded these surgeries and albeit a long time, turned out very well. Check out a video I put up a day ago or so (another you), because I at least feel like I can really play again. best wishes to you.

[hachamacha]

Update:

I'm in the midst of ~60 Physical Therapy appointments now (well, only 2 weeks in really) and they are helping quite a bit.

I'm beginning to have higher hopes of a full recovery myself now, but as before it seems 2-4 months in the future.

I can play (have played out with bands, etc) and it appears to sound OK to listeners, but to me, I dislike losing the ability to feel it all by touch (numb fingertips), so I'm waiting before recording more.

[jazzy1beme]

I am glad to hear you are on the mend. Problems with hand fingers and wrists for you is a major thing.

Question - Do you know any players in the NYC area that give lessons?

[hachamacha]

@jazzy1beme Hey Jazzy, Thanks very much. I know a couple. Let me contact them and see if they're teachers. I lived there awhile, and to my experience, everyone in town a) practiced, b) gigged, c) taught ;) Hard to make the rent at times.

Hashi.

[jazzy1beme]

@hachamacha Thanks so much. I look forward to getting any recommendations from you.

[jazzy1beme]

I wish you a speedy recovery...

[hachamacha]

Thanks, j -

This recovery has been pretty slow. I'm about 90% OK physically and have played out already, but I had a nerve problem after this one, so I can't feel some fingertips yet. Music just isn't right for me if I can't feel it before I hear it coming from a guitar/amp.

Prognosis is still good, and I'm in PT and hoping for the best within a month or two now.

Appreciate it -- H

[hachamacha]

Update: Stitches were removed yesterday. Much larger incision so longer to heal.

Hand is extremely painful where I can feel anything, but I can 'work it' (flex fingers, break up scar tissue) using my other hand now.

I did a test of my guitar playing (well, with no practicing), and it is ~70-80% there. It is just tough to get some things right with the total numbness.

OK, back into 'rehab' mode and I think this is headed in the right direction.

[hachamacha]

Quick update 2 weeks post-surgery. Had a bad reaction to local anesthetic used in large quantity during surgery. It is predicted I won't be able to feel my left hand for 2-3 months.

Other than that (right..) , I am actually OK with the surgery outcome, can bend the fingers, (couldn't before) and am looking forward to feeling them again.

I've been playing with 2 fingers but not sure it's worth recording. Back with an update in a week or so. Playing a lot of harp. Can't type well.

H

[abhikmazumder]

Hope you recover quickly! Best wishes,

[hachamacha]

Thanks, abhik. I just listened to a really nice piece of yours. Great work.

I just took my post-op bandage off and I can't yet feel the end of my 4th finger, so I'm kind of "shooting in the dark" and missing a lot, but this is only 4 days after surgery. The incision is also in a very difficult place for guitar playing for a right-hander.

Anyway, I can see that I will get past this eventually, and that I need to probably re-consult about the numbness, but I think I am recovering. Hashi

[crx1vtec]

I wish you fast recovery from surgery!

btw..., nice Steinberger on the wall ;)

cheers

[hachamacha]

thanks, c - someday i'll get back to the steinberger. i used to play that endlessly - great axe, h

[NevadaPic]

Hashi,

Hang in there! I would guess that previous success bodes well for this new challenge.

Pic

[hachamacha]

Hey Pic, thanks. I think the first was a good outcome for sure, and that helps. This time, I've got one finger doing well (seems to be) and the 4th finger still quite numb, so I'm talking to the doc about that today.

It's likely OK, but it's tough to know what's OK and what's not when it's all in a large bandage after a dual-surgery.

I'll keep posting as things move along,

Hashi

[useryug]

Sorry 'bout the pain and fright, Hashi.

5* for the weirdest vid I've seen....

..even weirder, I watched it muted, and read the notes while listening to Roberta Flack, then saw it again with the dubbed sound.!

Happy 2010, man... hope the recovery goes good... plenty of harp playin !

[useryug]

ps forgot to say, the house is nice an tidy!

[hachamacha]

hey -- it's probably best that soundtrack 1 didn't record, because i was far deeper into the painkillers when i did that.

thanks for all and as soon as i can, (well, obviously the house ain't getting any cleaner), I'll at least be back playing something, likely harp soonest.

my right-handed only guitar experiments have been a huge failure so far.. danke -- hashi

[useryug]

Right hand only guitar.. Lol!

[floridajazzdude]

Looks tough. I sure hope you're doing better soon.

fjd

[hachamacha]

thanks, f