Arthitus..
Creepin in to both me hands..
So the days of cumphy playin..
Are a little more..rare..
Enjoy playing..while you can..
I try to..
Sorry to hear that Al. Hope you get enough good days to keep playing.
Same issue here.
Same problem: arthritis.
I've found if my hands are warm that I can play better and longer. Soak your hands in warm water (do the dishes?) and that will make them feel better and work better.
Try practicing only 30 minutes at a time (if you can go that long without pain in your fingers), then rest and come back and try for another 30 minutes. I have to do that.
My back also gives me problems. Holding a 12 pound banjo in your lap causes shoulder and back pain. Yes, I use a strap, but there's still a certain amount of pressure on shoulders and back. Again, resting between sessions helps.
Stretch, Stretch, Stretch. Drink H2O. Go swimming.. get acupuncture. I’m not preaching though, cuz I didn’t do any of that stuff until I ran into arthritis and pinched nerves.
Hope you can pick the banjo for as long as you want, Al.
More than once, had I been told, you are what you eat. Not exactly an easy pill to swallow. That is, until tired of dealing with sleep apnea, type II diabetes, neuropathy, & acid reflux, among other common issues. Not to mention wearing Hawaiian shirts, in Oregon, 12 months of the year.
Sugars & carbs, disguised under various names, have infiltrated damn near everything packaged in a bottle, Jar, can, or box. Processed foods, once thought a convenience, have become a way of life. A lifestyle extracting a much higher price than ever imagined. Too many people have been led down this rabbit hole.
In addition to a change of wardrobe necessitated by increased girth, once minor annoyances can become serious problems. Prescription meds meant to "manage the issues" are just that, & nothing more. The answers are out there. It's just a matter of knowing where to look, the questions to ask, and never accepting defeat.
Stop eating that junk!
Clearing out the kitchen was a painful experience. However, after replacing that stuff with more healthy alternatives, I began losing weight, a lot of weight, effortlessly. Not only do I look & feel better, I was also able to eliminate many of the prescription meds I had been on for years. Those "issues" no longer exist. I found skinny clothes I had been unable to wear in years.
If you think arthritis is bad, neuropathy is worse -- no feeling in your hands and your fingers won't do what you want them to do. Bummer ... ...
quote:
Originally posted by heavythumbIf you think arthritis is bad, neuropathy is worse -- no feeling in your hands and your fingers won't do what you want them to do. Bummer ... ...
I hear ya...
I'll stick with me problums..
I sometimes say to myself that I have two or three decades left to master this instrument but then I wonder whether my health will last long enough at my current pace of learning.
I have an internal race going between improving, learning, and doing new things on clawhammer banjo on the one side and growing arthritis in my hands and declining attention span on the other side. I know the other side will eventually win, but I hope to have fun until that happens.
Emu oil capsules and learning clawhammer instead of 3 finger style helped me a lot. Also a couple years ago I purchased a hot wax tub and I soak my hands and keep them under wraps for 15 minutes. It does wonders.
Side note, the emu oil also cleared up most of my eczema.
I just turned 82 last Saturday. Whoopee, I've already out lived a lot of my friends. Many of those remaining either have one foot in the grave, & the other on a banana peel, or are of a younger generation. I suppose dealing with the generation gap just comes with the territory. Growing old is not fun. But it sure beats the alternative.
Slange Var
quote:
Originally posted by TexasbanjoSame problem: arthritis.
I've found if my hands are warm that I can play better and longer. Soak your hands in warm water (do the dishes?) and that will make them feel better and work better.
Try practicing only 30 minutes at a time (if you can go that long without pain in your fingers), then rest and come back and try for another 30 minutes. I have to do that.
My back also gives me problems. Holding a 12 pound banjo in your lap causes shoulder and back pain. Yes, I use a strap, but there's still a certain amount of pressure on shoulders and back. Again, resting between sessions helps.
Hi Sherry ! If I was having back or shoulder pain when I was playing my banjo while sitting at home or jamming, this is exactly what I would purchase. I have enough issues already with some arteritis setting in. I seen a post on another thread a couple of days ago, stating how they work really well.
companionbanjos.com/companionstand
Brian
Doctor prescribed Naproxen for me several years ago.
I don't use it every day, just as-needed.
quote:
Originally posted by OldNavyGuyDoctor prescribed Naproxen for me several years ago.
I don't use it every day, just as-needed.
I take Naproxen every night so I can sleep. My doctor said it was not healthy to take more than one a day. I can't tell whether it helps or not during the day, but at least at night I can sleep without aches and pains.
