[Loraine]

UPDATE 12.05.24

EXPECTATIONS VERSUS REALITY

Saw the surgeon for post op on my wrist today. I was very surprised to find out that there was a plate on the top of my wrist. The whole purpose of the second surgery was to remove the fixator plate. It went from my hand to the wrist. I couldn’t understand why I was in so much pain still.

They cut the cast off, took several x-rays, which is when the tech said you still have a plate on the top. My jaw hit the ground! After the stitches and staples were removed, I saw the surgeon. I was explaining how I’m still in a lot of pain across my fingers and the top of the hand outside of hand, inner part of thumb and on forearm, and I wasn’t aware they were putting another plate in my arm. And he said, they called my type of break a very unstable break, he says it’s one of the worst that I could have had. To help ensure that it’s being supported and being allowed to heal, they put the secondary fixater in just in the forearm, so it allows me to have wrist movement, but it stabilizes the forearm at the wrist.

So of course, my question was, when can I start playing guitar? I can’t do it currently because I can’t press the strings with my fingers from pain. So here’s the difference between a surgeon versus an occupational therapist who does physical therapy on you. He says, go ahead and start easing yourself back into it. Just don’t overdo it, and if there’s pain just stop, so I go across the hall to have my therapy and the therapist says she doesn’t want me moving my wrist at all for at least 2 more weeks, and they fitted me again in the wrist brace, which keeps my wrist straight and they actually tightened it down. So it’s more secure than even before. She said she doesn’t even want me to try playing the guitar for at least another 4-6 weeks. I nearly fell out of my chair 4-6 more weeks was not what I was expecting to hear at all.

I was so bummed, but there’s nothing I can really do.

Just pray that time goes by fast, because this has been the slowest three months, and Im so tired of the chronic pain. I was hoping to be back at it by the ti.e .y NC trip rolls ar o und 12.20– 12.28. I was planning on taking a guitar, but now I’ll just take my sketch pad, knowing that it will be 4 weeks at the beginning of January. >

[Loraine]

Jim, those are some great songs, and yes, with the F chord in Hotel California, it might be more challenging.

I think of these songs as more advanced beginner. For a newer person, it might help to focus on even simpler songs with 2 or 3 chords. Simply google beginner songs with 2 chords (or 3 chords) for acoustic guitar.

[Loraine]

Congratulations on your your 1 year milestone! That is such a great achievement, and I’m sure you’ll have many more of them. I’m very sorry you’re going through some difficulties and challenges. I hope you get a reprieve in the upcoming months.

[Loraine]

Hey Barbara, Tony is deadening the strings for the 2 notes. Simply use your fingers to put slight pressure on the strings, and he is picking eachmstring separately. Because you’re placing light pressure on the two strings, they’ll be muted when you pick them.

[Loraine]

Rick, that’s some pretty good finger work right there! Great job keep it up!!

[Loraine]

Glad to have you back Doug, and happy NGD. There’s never a bad day when there’s a new guitar!

[Loraine]

Ah man, I missed your songs. This was great. I loved how much fun you had. The tele sounds awesome! You probably could have pulled off the lead, but then we wouldn’t have your rhythm. It was great to see your daughter’s still performing with you. Corbin’’s a great player and must have done you proud. He’s also got to have the best hair I’ve seen in a while.

[Loraine]

Well it’s about damn time Terry! It’s really good to see you bud. You’ll have to catch me up on all the buzz in our guitar circles outside of TAC.

[Loraine]

@the-old-coach . @tommysg1 @Guitargeezer-Jack @TMutter @jumpinjeff Thanks for all the continued thoughts, prayers and well wishes. They definitely make it easier to move forward.

CURRENT UPDATE: 12.01.2024 — Apologies for the delay in responding. The surgery went well. I’ll see the doctor on 12/5 to have cast cut off, stitches removed, and to be refitted for a wrist brace and start occupational therapy. It’s tough not to be a little anxious and want to be further along. I am continually reminded through pain that I still need to be cautious and not push things. I was reaching for something at the side of my bed last night, when I realized I wasn’t going to be able to get back up. Several expletives were said, and then I had the brilliant idea that I would simply put my leg down and slowly slide off the bed to the floor. All was going well for about l2 seconds, and then whoosh … I fell. Of course, my bad arm went down to try and break the fall. I’m nursing a very painful hand and wrist today. Praying nothing bad happened, other than my pride being hurt and a slight strain on wrist.

[Loraine]

Thank you. I’ll be in Ocean Isle Beach.. My brother retired down there. I’ll actually be looking at real estate when I’m down there; Albeit not in Ocean Isle Beach. I am the poor family member that has a federal job. But I won’t have enough years in to get a good pension. I worked government contracts my entire career in the public sector. I’m only starting my 14th year on the government side. My brother on the other hand worked pharmaceutical. After working for 2 of the largest pharmaceuticals, he took a gamble on a smaller fairly new start up. That company was Moderna. His team actually worked the Covid vaccine. Suffice to say, he’s living very large in retirement. They just sold 2 houses, built a larger house in NC, bought a working farm, and they’re working on drawings for another house in the Poconos. My head spins thinking about it all.

I just want to live in a shack with a wrap around porch, but I want a large barn that I can convert into a woodworking workshop, art studio, Music room, and maybe even a portion of it for some horses and Alpacas and whatnot. I always thought I’d be in the mountains overlooking a valley with no direct neighbors. But realistically, my body won’t allow me to live so isolated. I need to be closer to where people can keep an eye on me.

On a side note, I did not know NC was known as the Tar Heel State or Wolf Pack. I’m not sure what a Tar Heel is or why it’s called the Wolf Pack. I’ll have to Google them. My nickname is WolfSpirit.

[Loraine]

Yeah, I thought so too. Funny story. I must have influenced the surgeon with my talk of getting to guitar. He told me he played some years ago, and he bought a new guitar this past week. He had found another site. I told him about TAC. The only thing I really had time to tell him was that this is where I learned to play, and agony’s a great teacher. Maybe he’ll join up here. I think he would like the forums. He’s got a great personality and likes to talk. Very down to earth for a surgeon.

[Loraine]

Thanks Jack. I’m. trying to stay busy and preoccupied with other things. That’s helping. I are was just shocked when I saw and heard everything. Thanks for the encouragement.

[Loraine]

At super cool Terry I’m really happy for you. You’ve always been so talented. Having 1000 listeners is very big you know I have a YouTube. I think I might have three or four laughing out loud here.!!!

[Loraine]

Mark, thank you for your friendship and being one of my biggest cheerleaders! I truly appreciate you. Yes, I’m in the 3rd month now. I thought I’d at least be able to start goofing around on the guitar – especially with Christmas coming up. I’m traveling to NC for the holiday, and I was originally planning to take my guitar. I think that’s simply wishful thinking. So, I guess I’ll have to stick to just my sketch pad. Not quite as hoped for. Maybe after the New Year.

[Loraine]

Thanks so much Jack. I tell my neighbor all the time, I’ll take all the prayers I can garner. It means a lot to me.