Returning to larger guitars after shoulder surgery

[ryler]

I have an OM that I rarely play because of shoulder issues.  The OO is very much more comfortable.  I hesitate to sell the larger one because I keep thinking that it will be my buddy again after I have surgery.  (The docs said they would do an arthroscopic procedure to scrape away bone spurs.)  My question is:  Has anyone had a shoulder repair done and gone back to larger sized guitars that they'd formerly given up on?

I haven't scheduled this surgery yet, and the shoulder pain is not so intrusive in my life (except when I play and do some other shoulder-raising activities) as to make it urgent.  Just wondering what people's experience is with shoulder surgery and guitar size.

[unclrob]

I was told by my doc that bone spurs will grow back and in general they come back stronger.Check this with your doc.I have spurs at my L4,5 and 6.Also have them in my shoulder/arm joint socket.I gave up my Larrivee jumbo because it was just too deep in body depth,were as my Guilds are both thinner.Good luck,good carma wish's headen to ya.

[mgbgt]

If you remember the line John Wayne (the Shootist) told the guy who tried to rob him, "you might want to find a different line of work cause this one isn't working out for you" or something close,is pretty much what my doc in other words told me after my 3rd rt shoulder arthro rebuild this spring. Next time is the ball/socket unless I seriously change the way I do things

If I am going to play guitar than .... He has worked with many musicians

#1 force my self to do the pt exercises daily NO EXCUSES

#2 If I want to continue to play guitar, find a guitar that does not cause pain to play, even if it means going (don't see the icon for hiding head in shame) electric

#3 find a position that allows you to play with your hand no higher than your belt line, lay on the bed with git laying on pillow or belly

#4 NO STRUMMING!! learn fingerstyle! That was the tip off he was the Doc for me

#5  IF IT HURTS, STOP!!!!!!!!

I have decided my P-05 and ovation legend ssb 12 string will be the two I keep, the rest hopefully will sell to pay for my roof and be fondly remembered.

Best of Luck!

[broKen]

I've been using #3. Playing in the classical position. Works great for the shoulder.

[Glennd]

Hey ryler, I sympathize with you. Had arthoscopic shoulder surgery on my left shoulder May 28 this year. I am a righty so I can't really addres the issue from that perspective. When my doctor told that playing guitar could be considered therapy I knew I would rehab well. Yes, I had bone spurs on the ball of my left shoulder. Surgery was 100% successful. Missed three months work but I am now back almost 100% movement and strength. My only regret was putting it off as long as I did. Playing my LV-10 causes serenity not pain. Hope you do as well or even better.

[SMan]

My physical issues are more hand/wrist problems but I have found the classical position easier when my condition intensifies.  The small bodied guitar I am having built will allow me to play more easily in that (or normal) playing position.  In the meantime my CS05 and Strat are the guitars which cause me the least pain to play.

[ryler]

Thanks for your replies.  Sounds like Glenn has the best result here.  I'm already careful with playing position (classical) and guitar size.  If and when I have the surgery, I'll let you know whether I can comfortably play larger guitars after recovery.  I'm pretty sure my overhead smash in tennis is a thing of the past.  (Or was it a thing of my imagination to begin with?)  But playing an OM again, which in my book is a larger guitar, would be great.

[leftync]

I was ready to switch from a dread to an L for comfort. And the L was comfortable. Then I found a dread with a thinner neck profile. That might help.

[pennerblue]

I had multiple simultaneous shoulder surgeries about three years ago.  the recovery was slow, but with regard to guitar, it was complete.  I could play a dread again.  With regard to throwing a softball, it was about 80% complete...enough to keep me playing...long eough to tear my shoulder AGAIN (last week).  Now it hurts to play guitar again...back under the knife, I guess.

Good luck.  I think you'll be fine.  Of course, ask your doc and get a second professional opinion.

[Danny]

    I never have had surgery, though I know both shoulders need it. I may be fooling myself with this Jumbo Taylor I have now. Actually an hour ago a friend asked if I would sell it and my first response was Yes, for the sake of my shoulder I would. Because I know as I age I can't keep playing this guitar.
    I will be 58 years old in a few days and that is hard working, with my hands years. So I have switched from strumming to mostly my own finger style pattern. It has helped my hands a lot.
     
      I wouldn't sell that OM just yet. It may be that you will be able to play it again. Just be careful and back off if you feel that joint pain starting to grow. Of course the Doctor may just say NO.   (That's why I don't ask them )

[sgarnett]

I've had various several long "breaks" from playing because I tried to ignore the pain in my shoulder and forearm. Ignoring the pain it makes it worse, and greatly increases the healing time.

I find it helpful to mix things up. I spend most of my time in a classical position, but will switch to the horizontal-on-the-wrong-leg "normal" position periodically. It also helps to play several guitars of different size or shape. Basically, repeating the same motion over and over in the same position is bad.

[dcarey]

Well, I had rotator cuff surgery, not bone spurs, so I can't help you there. I can say that I could no longer play my Lowden O12 or Larrivee L comfortably at all
before surgery and sold them on the advice of my Doc, who said that the larger bodied guitars would always be uncomfortable.

I'm not sure that that was such a good move on my part BUT larger bodied guitars (dreads for now) do make for discomfort after about a 45 minute session
and I'm three years out of surgery. I do find smaller bodied guitars much easier to play but I can play the big boys for now but I'll continue to see if that situation improves.

I'd like to get a Larrivee D-0x with a 1 3/4" neck and do some more playing of the deeper bodies before I make a final decision, tho'... or maybe a Taylor 12 string...

Dan

[ryler]

Thanks for sharing your experiences.  I will hang on to the OM for another couple of years and see if surgery renders it useful to me.  I can play it for short bursts...like about 15 minutes, but even then I feel the twinge.  But I so don't want to be out of commission that I keep delaying this.  Thanks again for chiming in.

[unclrob]

Maybe you should check into an LS of some sort.Lots of volumn and great tone and the lower bout is smaller then an OM.Don't put it off very long.I know that if I couldn't play guitar it would be best to shoot me and put me out of the misery I would cause eveyone around me.See if there are some exersize's that you can start doing now.

[alvinlam]

I believe that bone spurs will return after a few years. It occurs because of wear and tear.  My surgeon told me that it's a sign or early stages of osteo-arthritis. I don't have it on my shoulders but both of my ankles (doc calls it "soccer-players ankle" in my case).  I had one procedure done last month.  Thus the information is still fresh.  Perhaps to slow down the wear-&-tear process, stay with smaller bodied guitars than to return to bigger ones only have to switch again not too long later.  Just a suggestion. 

[ryler]

I believe that bone spurs will return after a few years. It occurs because of wear and tear.  My surgeon told me that it's a sign or early stages of osteo-arthritis. I don't have it on my shoulders but both of my ankles (doc calls it "soccer-players ankle" in my case).  I had one procedure done last month.  Thus the information is still fresh.  Perhaps to slow down the wear-&-tear process, stay with smaller bodied guitars than to return to bigger ones only have to switch again not too long later.  Just a suggestion. 

You know, that's what the wise part of me absolutely thinks, that no matter what, it will be risky for me to play larger than a 00.  But the less mature part of my brain entertains other ideas.  And seeks out forum members to give credence to those ideas.     In the end, I think I will stay small and likely sell the OM.  Can't make myself do it yet, though.  Both you and unclrob have been told that bone spurs come back often, so that's a strong argument to stay small even if the surgery is effective.

[alvinlam]

You know, that's what the wise part of me absolutely thinks, that no matter what, it will be risky for me to play larger than a 00.  But the less mature part of my brain entertains other ideas.  And seeks out forum members to give credence to those ideas.     In the end, I think I will stay small and likely sell the OM.  Can't make myself do it yet, though.  Both you and unclrob have been told that bone spurs come back often, so that's a strong argument to stay small even if the surgery is effective.

Well, the surgery is effective in removing the spurs, not to stop it from growing, unfortunately. :-( Having said that, I think you're making what a wise person once said, "a mature decision." :-)  All the best to you, may you enjoy as much guitar playing as possible.