Where I've been............

[Bluesberry]

Just a little note to say Hi everyone, and sorry for not being around much lately.
  
At the end of August I was over in PEI, and I started getting this extreme pain in my left shoulder/arm/chest.  I almost passed out, it felt like, dizzy, nausous, etc, scary stuff.  Trip to the Hospital, nothing obvious, pain still there, comes and goes.  Drove home, and went back to the hospital here at home, full check up, initial thoughts were heart related, full stress test etc.  My heart is 100% fine, what a relief.  I thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke.

That past me, but still getting lots of pain, tingling, shooting, sharp, down my arm, shoulder.  I have been getting thsi off and on, most mornings since then.  I finally had X-rays done couple of weeks ago.  I broke my neck when I was 17, so maybe related to that.  X-rays came back with nothing of concern.

And here I am.  It feels like nerve damage/nerve constriction in my shoulder/neck.  I can't play my guitar for more than 10 minutes a day or it will flare up bad the next day.  I was told that alchohol and/or coffee could contribute to make it worse (swelling effect), so I have quit all forms of booze and caffein, cold stone sober since Sept.  I just drink herbal tea now, lots of herbal tea.  It did seem to help with the pain, less severe for sure without booze/coffee.  I was desperate.

One outcome is my musical mojo has all but left me lately, so much of my recording/playing was fueled by beer and coffee, it just seems I can't get it together enough to record or even play lately.  I tried to record something, and payed for it the next day with searing pain, I am nervous to repeat that again.  I am trying to not go the pharmacutical route, I don't wan't to get hooked up on mind numbing pain pills, so it is totally natural coping at the moment.  Lots of heat and ice and Epson salts.  I have been lurking, but can't seem to find the gumption to do much more at the moment.  I am thinking of you all.  Cheers everyone, have lots of booze and coffee over the Christmas Season in my stead, get rip-roaring drunk for me would you.  This will be the first Christmas season in a very long time where I won't consume massive quantities of beer/wine/booze.  Its going be weird to be sober for a change this year, I am actually going to remember it this year.  Take care everyone, I'll still lurking around.  I have written 1 song since this all started, but I can't seem to get around to recording it.  Maybe 2014 will be the year.

[Blooby]

BB, I think I can safely speak for all of us by saying we hope you come through this soon.  We are thinking of you. What kind of doctors have you seen beyond the general practioner and heart doctors?

Bruce

[Bluesberry]

Thanks Bruce, the medical system is not the best here in Eastern Canada.  I didn't have a family doctor (I was kicked out because I didn't see him enough over the last 10 years) so initially I had to go the ER at the hospital for anything.  Luckily for me my sister is a ER nurse, so she got me in for the initial heart testing stuff.  I have finally been given a family doctor just a few weeks ago (waiting list for 6 months), so things are starting to move now.  That is how I finally gor X-rays of my neck.  I need to see where I go from here.

[SE]

Get well soon BB sorry to hear of your medical troubles, but let,s hope your on the road now, the booze it,s not all it,s cracked up to be, bet you don,t miss the hangover.
  Get well soon
                       John

[64Guitars]

Sorry to hear that, BB. I hope you feel better soon. As for the music, sometimes taking a break from music is a good thing. When you finally come back to it, it seems fresh and exciting again. I look forward to hearing what you come up with when you're ready to get back into it. In the meantime, maybe some one-handed tinkling on the keyboards would be less painful than trying to play the guitar? If so, this could be an opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills on the keyboards. Maybe explore some soft synths and midi software.

[Bluesberry]

If so, this could be an opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills on the keyboards. Maybe explore some soft synths and midi software.

Good idea. 

[IanR]

Hi BB, I had been wondering where you were.

However, I am not happy to find out the reason for you absence.  I hope someone can find a cure or something therapeutic for your condition.  I wonder if a physiotherapist would be useful?  Perhaps some massage - but I'm sure that you have thought about all of this over the past few months. 

I had a mystery condition once too and I found out it was nerve related.  A vertebrae in my back was pinching a nerve and I was getting referred pain in my legs.  I had to modify how I did a few things such as cycling and gardening to avoid the pain (which came on a day or two after the activity).  I still have it but I have mostly learned to manage it.  I don't take any drugs for it.

Anyway, I hope you feel better soon.  I'm looking forward to hearing some more tunes from you as soon as you can manage it.

cheers,

Ian

[Geir]

Hi Dave.

You know we love you!!

I'm so sorry to hear about your condition. I truly hope you'll find what's troubling you and find a cure soon. I sure miss your music and your cheerful presence here.

As the wise man said, some light keyboard work might be ok, maybe also writing some music (either by using the keyboard or the keyboard ..... (You guys really need another word for one of those ) and mouse). And I guess singing is ok, and can also be very therapeutical.

I wish you all the best Dave.

And merry Christmas to you and yours.

[Redler]

Hello Dave!

I'm sorry to hear about those bad news! I really hope you'll get well soon.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Kari

[Ferryman_1957]

Hi Dave, so good to hear from you but sorry to hear about your troubles. I can understand why your mojo has deserted you. Now there may be some positives to take from this, cutting down on booze is always a good thing to do, it's bad for your health and it's easy to get into the habit of drinking too much. You've got to look after yourself (I know it's not very rock and roll.....), I am getting a lot more aware of that as I get older. Perhaps go for quality over quantity?

On the musical front, how about a change of direction for a while? Keyboards may be the way to go but even playing keys for a while may aggravate your problem. Two other ideas sprung to mind straight away. First was the iPad. You can get some great music stuff on the iPad that will allow you to compose new material but it will be relatively easy to operate, just mainly one finger. And you don't have to "sit" at the iPad like you do a keyboard. Of course another (cheaper) alternative would be something like this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AVaVPE5odE

The mini Kaossilator and Kaoss pad are tiny, very light, operated with one finger and great fun. I just got a mini Kaoss pad and it's great. You'll have to go more electronica/house/ambient rather than guitar driven rock but it might allow you to have some musical fun while taking time off from guitar for a while. Might be some late Xmas present ideas?

Whatever you do, take care of yourself, have a good Christmas and do pop by from time to time.

Cheers,

Nigel