Guitar Habits That Can Destroy Your Playing Ability Forever - Repetitive Strain Injury

[@vince1229]

Steve Vai had surgery for a ruptured trigger finger and a torn rotator cuff (surgery performed by Dr. David Roth, David Lee Roth's uncle. Tim Pierce had numbness in his fingers caused by a nerve compression in his neck. After successful treatment he switched to a lighter Strandberg headless guitar for some of his work.

[@joehansonguitar]

Yep, two of my favorite players! While I know these sorts of injuries can be treated and even repaired, it's definitely a pain in the a$$! Thanks for commenting!

[@anthonydavella8350]

I started as an older guy, anytime I feel pain I shut it down. I do have numbness in my picking hand

[@joehansonguitar]

Just be careful!

[@anthonydavella8350]

@@joehansonguitar my numbness is the pinky and ring finger. Thanks

[@joehansonguitar]

@anthonydavella8350 yeah I had the surgery for that

[@anthonydavella8350]

Yea I saw that, hope you are all healed up@@joehansonguitar

[@Naturegirl1976]

Ive had carpal tunnel syndrome for so long i can't play piano or the guitar much at all anymore. Norhing works

[@joehansonguitar]

Yeah unfortunately I had to have surgery. Have you had the surgery?

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

Thanks for this video man. If I play my electric for two hours, I start to have severe pain in my fretting hand thumb of my left hand. Have you heard of this problem before? I’m trying to figure out the best way to alleviate this. Thanks

[@joehansonguitar]

I’m no doctor but I used to get a cramp in my fretting hand and then all of a sudden it stopped doing it after a couple years. If it’s a sharp pain or numbness I’d have a doctor look at it.

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

Thanks Joe. I will take your advice on that. That’s probably the best option for me at this point.

[@joehansonguitar]

@Taylor-kd6lr better safe than sorry

[@Ken-kb5fw]

I get it too, usually after about 30 minutes. In my case it’s due to psoriatic arthritis, so basically the thumb joint was damaged so it can’t take the clamping pressure between the thumb and the rest of the left hand when playing.

[@joehansonguitar]

@Ken-kb5fw that’s so aggravating!