The Steel Guitar Forum

As I age, I'm finding that I'm having issues with my picking hand (right hand). Is there any hope for issues such as twitching thumbs, twitching fingers or the shakes? Left hand is no issue. Anybody out there with similar issues? If so, please free to suggest solutions. It may be a neurological issue (brain-finger nerve connections), so I will be seeing a neurologist for help also.

Your spine is like a tree, with branches of nerves squiting out the sides and running out to their various destinations. Unfortunately, those arm branches can get pinched, abraded, insulted all along the route. A neck disc, thoracic outlet, elbows, carpal tunnel, trigger fingers.... the neurologist will do a conductivity test, basically applying a little shock all along the nerves to locate specific pinches or blocks. Numbness and tingling when you put your arms in certain positions is a clue too - don't put your arms in those positions!

Unfortunately I know a lot more about this than I ever wanted to. You may want to ask the doctor about blasting 'em with a daily Vitamin B pill - the mixed ones. I'm quite sure it's helped mine, and it can't hurt. You just pee out any extrs. There are like, "B-50" pills and "B-100" one - as long as your pee turns flourescent green, you're gettin' it.

I'm already an "aging" picker (I'll be 79 later this month). I'm still working in a band that has weekly gigs. I don't have the problems you describe, my only problem is the weight of equipment. I've been "lightening the load" with a 2 piece steel case set, separate light weight amp and speaker cabinet with a neodymium speaker, etc.

I read the title of your thread, and this is what came to mind.