Musician's Focal Dystonia... Really?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
  • Start date Start date
Steve, I am really sorry to hear that. Guitar is your life and this is like ripping your entire life apart. I hope it get's better. I could not not imagine having this although I have hand issues (two surgery's on my right hand) that can effect my working on a computer/mouse, which also can effect my job.

Well us RT members will be pulling for you to get better!!
 
Man, I hate to hear this kind of stuff because, as some of you know, I have a similar issue and I know how messed up it is. I had a herniated disk in my neck that pushed against the nerves that control my left hand. I had to have a disk removed and a piece of my hip bone put in its place. I've got about 75% of my strength back in my hand but that's not nearly enough when you're talking about "fine motor skills." My left ring finger is way weaker than it used to be. This issue I have with it is keeping it out of the way. I have a difficult time lifting it up off of the fret board. The finer just wants to lay right on the finger board in way of fretting other notes. If I try to actually use that finger it's a total failure. It has no strength and the reflexes are way behind. I used play lead in a band the covered six Satriani songs...I can't play a single one any more. :doh:

But, I still write and record my own stuff. It may take 50 takes to get a single lead phrase down to where I can almost tolerate listening to it but I get there. I still love music but it's a hate love relationship. RAWK on!!! :rock:
 
Steve
Sorry to hear of your health issues and the sudden inability to do something that has
brought you much happiness through the years.....Even as a mere long time hobby player reading your post scares the hell out of me and the thought of not playing anymore is just unbearable......
I hope you can get around this one way or another and continue playing and making music that makes you happy........Making music is such good therapy for getting through the rigors of life and with your positive attitude and a willingness to fight you will succeed again....


Bill
 
Dude that is totally F'd up! I had my hands do that once during a long day of shooting handguns, like they were having tiny seizures or something. I'm sure the shots will work for you bro, and the universe will be as it should. Feel fortunate that there is a treatment, and that it can have positive affects. I had to start taking B12 shots a few years ago, because my hands were getting so weak that I couldn't even hold a piece of paper with my finger tips. Everything is good now though...

A close friend of mine, who is/was a smoking guitar player got arthritis in his hands, and couldn't play at all due to the joint near his finger tips being stuck at a 90 deg angle. He spent 7 years relearning how to play, and is out there doing it again. I think your situation is going to leave you in a much better place than what he has to deal with, once you get treatment.

I'm sure it's an ugly time for you now, and I'm not trying to minimize that, but I just know it will all pan out for you.

Stimpy
 
Sorry to hear that. I think about what I would do in situations like that a lot. I'd go full slide if it were me. If you get bored or find it limiting, move on to pedal steel, only heavy metal it up. That way you could play all the chords you want still. Look at it as a new adventure and challenge and blaze your own trail with it. I know it's hard, but keeping a positive attitude about things can do more than you think.
 
Don't take this the wrong way but perhaps you spend too much time on the computer ? That may exacerbate the problem. Jeff Waters from Annihilator, who is an absolutely killer guitarist, says too much keyboard and mouse action have given him problems in the past.
 
Very sorry to hear about this, Steve! I don't know what I would do if I had this happen. However, it seems like you are very aware of your condition and it looks like you have found some hope on this one which is great.

Do you know if there is a family history of this or can it simply happen to anyone? I haven't had a chance to look it up as of yet.

Keep your chin up and let's hope that the injections are successful!

:thumbsup:
 
Man Steve....thats terrible. Really hope it can work out in your favor over time.
I too have had something going on with my left hand. Like my ring finger and middle finger seem to lock up and "curl up"?
Hard to explain. Not very often. But its painfull and I have to physically take my right hand and straighten them out and massage them. After a few minutes ok. Like a Muscle spasm? Well I really wish the best for you in the future.


Dan
 
boost":kyq2nwi5 said:
Sorry to hear that. I think about what I would do in situations like that a lot. I'd go full slide if it were me. If you get bored or find it limiting, move on to pedal steel, only heavy metal it up. That way you could play all the chords you want still. Look at it as a new adventure and challenge and blaze your own trail with it. I know it's hard, but keeping a positive attitude about things can do more than you think.
Click to expand...
Yeah, slide would definitely be my direction.

Steve
 
thegame":ksjbn4za said:
Don't take this the wrong way but perhaps you spend too much time on the computer ? That may exacerbate the problem. Jeff Waters from Annihilator, who is an absolutely killer guitarist, says too much keyboard and mouse action have given him problems in the past.
Click to expand...
According to my doctor what I have is very specific to the repetitive aspects of guitar playing, although they don't know the mechanism. Using a computer doesn't make it worse once you have it... Whether computer use can make it worse or hasten the condition is unknown, but my day job requires me to use a computer all day, so there really isn't much I can do about that...

Steve
 
Rezamatix":1g39mw5g said:
FUCK. So sorry man. at least you rocked harder than most, played some rad shows most will never get a chance to, lived it up with your guitar and NOW make killer amps. it might not be the end, but its definitely not over.
Click to expand...
That made me feel a LOT better! Thanks for the post! :rock:

Steve
 
Zap":2d8dyxcc said:
I'm really sorry to hear that. What about slide?
Click to expand...
That's the plan if the shots don't work. Already been playing some slide with my resonator and it's the most fun I've had playing guitar in a year...

Steve
 
PBGas":1zfp0h4v said:
Very sorry to hear about this, Steve! I don't know what I would do if I had this happen. However, it seems like you are very aware of your condition and it looks like you have found some hope on this one which is great.

Do you know if there is a family history of this or can it simply happen to anyone? I haven't had a chance to look it up as of yet.

Keep your chin up and let's hope that the injections are successful!

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Thanks man - on your question - doesn't seem to be a family history thing. Can happen to anyone... There is a popular radio broadcaster in LA being treated at the same place as me. She has focal dystonia in her vocal cords and now talk in this raspy voice... Her whole life is her voice and this happened to her...

Steve
 
Well damn, this is pretty tragic and should make everyone think about the things we take for granted.

Hopefully the shots work for you and all is well, best wishes on that.

If it is worst case and you can no longer play you could still do slide like you said or maybe keys or even making songs with computer programs.

You also have the knowledge with electronics and the gift of awesome tone than most guitarists do not have!
 
Read a mention of this on the wrist pain thread. So sorry to hear about this, Steve. Always been wowed and inspired by the clips I've heard from you. You definitely have a gift. Hoping for a miracle.
 
scriptphase":1ohqfkrd said:
Read a mention of this on the wrist pain thread. So sorry to hear about this, Steve. Always been wowed and inspired by the clips I've heard from you. You definitely have a gift. Hoping for a miracle.
Click to expand...
Much appreciated and I'm still optimistic about the shots... Time will tell...

Steve
 
I can't believe I missed this thread a few years ago , it could have made me look into this and ask the doctors . I have been in and out of the hospital for nearly 4 years , tested for alsorts of things , even had an operation for cubital tunnel which wasn't the problem , but in the last couple of weeks been sent to a neurologist who diagnosed me with focal dystonia, after only a few minutes consultation .
After checking YouTube and other web sites I'm convinced this is my problem , when you described what you had and symptoms it seems pretty much like me , middle two fingers curling etc .
Just had Botox a week ago so not sure what to expect , this dystonia is devastating to any musician.
It's took away an important chunk of my life away .
 
sorry to hear that
I don't know if it'd apply to you, but you never know: chiropractic
for me it is keeping me from becoming crippled
I go once a month and it fends off that which would cripple me
I have both tendinitis and carpel tunnel
simply adjusting the neck = the body can heal itself with the extremities
I don't know about your specific case though
 
Believe me before I found out what it was I tried everything,,, I whent to a chiropractor thinking I might have a c6 c7 nerve problem but did nothing for me ... It's more to do with the brain than any physical thing that can be altered .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top