getting old

Ray Mardin · Post by **Ray Mardin** » 23 Jun 2011 9:27 am

hey folks how many out here will be playing and your left hand start fallen asleep any good cures for this i am 60 so i guess i got to expect it

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 23 Jun 2011 9:30 am

It's usaly the audience that falls asleep when I play..

Glenn Uhler · Post by **Glenn Uhler** » 23 Jun 2011 9:50 am

Ray,
Your left hand falling asleep is usually a sign that your carpal tunnel is closing and pinching the nerves to your hand. The level of your strings might be too high. Make sure that your wrists are straight, your elbows are square (right angle) and elbows are close to your sides.

Try raising your seat an inch or two.

Good Luck! Glenn

Alan Tanner · Post by **Alan Tanner** » 23 Jun 2011 4:55 pm

I am past 60 for sure and also have this problem. When I sleep it is the worst. My hands will go numb and my arms begin to ache until I wake up. Usually make it a twofer....gotta go dribble anyway.....I still ride a big motorcycle and found some gloves that really help. They are made of spandex across the back and reinforced leather in the palm. Obviously, wouldn't be worth a dang playing guitar, but they sure helped with my hands going numb when I'm riding. I'd try them when I sleep, but my wife of 40 plus years sez "uh uh.. ..I've put up with a lot of you're silliness over the years, but that AIN'T gonna fly"....

Glenn Uhler · Post by **Glenn Uhler** » 23 Jun 2011 7:39 pm

Alan,
If she won't let you wear the gloves, how about the wrist braces that keep your wrists straight while you sleep. Don't know if you need a prescription in OH, but you can get the braces at most medical supply stores.

BTW, my son and his family will be heading back to Cincinnati on Saturday, after a vacation here in NJ.

Ernest Cawby · Post by **Ernest Cawby** » 23 Jun 2011 9:58 pm

At 81 I forget if I am on the verse or chorus.
Other than that it goes pretty well.
ernie

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 24 Jun 2011 1:07 am

my biggest concern is remembering where I live after the gig is over at 9:30...

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Jun 2011 2:07 am

I'm 73 and don't have that problem. It's not "age" that is causing it. I'm still fairly active, working in two bands.

Tony, 9:30 is "late" for gigs here in Florida.

Jerry Tillman · Post by **Jerry Tillman** » 24 Jun 2011 4:40 am

Tony I,m in te same bot with about forgetting were you live after a gig.Come to think of it I,ve never known were you live.I think I got off topic but I forgot what it was. lakeshrk

Leigh Howell · Post by **Leigh Howell** » 24 Jun 2011 9:58 am

Jack I understand that you work with Andy Rizzo occasionaly. I worked with Andy way back in the early 60's. I'd appreciate it if you could tell him that Johnny Moon, and I are trying to get in touch with him. Leigh

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 24 Jun 2011 10:09 am

All seriousness aside, those wrist braces would be a really good idea for you to try. Your doctor can write a prescription for them and most any insurance will pick up the cost. For some people, just keeping the pressure off that nerve for 8 hours a day is enough to diminish the internal swelling so that it won't bother your playing. In my case, I've gone ahead and had my left wrist operation done - the right needs it too, but not as bad. At least I found a doctor who agrees the reason to have the operations is so I can keep playing music. Some doctors will tell you that if holding the bar hurts, you need to stop holding the bar.

One exceedingly odd (and even good) problem with my hands is if the steel playing cramps them up - regular guitar playing uncramps them. And if the regular playing hurts - playing steel fixes it!

Shorty Smith · Post by **Shorty Smith** » 24 Jun 2011 10:51 am

well I'm 79, not problem so far, I kight feel it when I'm around 90, Earnest hope to see you in July at the Jam in Montgomery, Shorty

Mack Quinney · Post by **Mack Quinney** » 24 Jun 2011 11:31 am

Ray, I'm glad you posted this. I'm 48 and am having the same problem. Hand falls asleep when playing and at night when trying to sleep. I use the wrist brace at night. I also started taking vitamin B complex which is good for your nerves. (Carpal tunnel is nerve related being that the nerves get pinched)this has helped some. I also purchased a wrist support for the computer. This also helps some.

The one extream thing I have done is take acupuncture therapy. I'm thinking this is helping, but might just be in my head. I know that when I was going twice a week my hand was doing good. Now that I have stopped, my hand is starting to hurt again. I go back in July.

Good luck to you. It scares the h**l out of me. I would hate to lose my ability to play music.

Mack

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 24 Jun 2011 11:41 am

Around 2002, I had a serious case of "neck sitting on nerve" thing going on. The nerve rout was being crushed along one of those top c6 or C7..

It lasted 6 months , my left arm and hand were basically asleep for 6 months with severe pain. Massive meds and severe pain.

Just before they were thinking about surgery, it kind of relaxed and my left arm cam back around 50%. Today it's at about 80% strength but for sure after a any long stress related activity, even holding the bar, it gets weak. I changed guitar strings to 9's from 10's and my left hand still gets tired and stressed on gigs.

It's a bad deal, I hate it for those who have hand issues.

t

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Jun 2011 3:25 pm

Leigh, I sent you a forum PM about Andy.

Ray Mardin · Post by **Ray Mardin** » 24 Jun 2011 3:49 pm

Glenn Uhler wrote:Ray,
Your left hand falling asleep is usually a sign that your carpal tunnel is closing and pinching the nerves to your hand. The level of your strings might be too high. Make sure that your wrists are straight, your elbows are square (right angle) and elbows are close to your sides.

Try raising your seat an inch or two.

Good Luck! Glenn

thanks glenn will try that thank for info

Ray Mardin · Post by **Ray Mardin** » 24 Jun 2011 3:52 pm

Tony Prior wrote:my biggest concern is remembering where I live after the gig is over at 9:30...

i know what you me

George Seymour · Post by **George Seymour** » 25 Jun 2011 6:10 am

Ray Mardin wrote:
Tony Prior wrote:my biggest concern is remembering where I live after the gig is over at 9:30...
i know what you me

Ha Ray! You think you got it bad...came close to a moose just below Mel's place last Friday

Seriously, I've had carpel tunnel surgery done on both hands, much easier procedure than it used to be. Total cure.
Geo.

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 25 Jun 2011 7:47 am

George,
Glad to hear that. I have to have the right hand done.

The Steel Guitar Forum

getting old

getting old

Left hand asleep!

Gloves or wrist braces

Me To

forgot

Andy Rizzo

Re: Left hand asleep!