stroke(s) of bad luck - long post

[tommy p]

Before you see a slew of sale posts from me, I'll go ahead and tell you the reason this is happening.  I had a stroke at the end of January that paralyzed my left arm.  Over the next few weeks of hard work and therapy I was recovering enough to give me confidence that I would be able to play guitar one day.  Within a couple of months I was playing.  It was sloppy and clunky, but I kept at it and actually started practicing with my band again.  I was able to play a one-hour opening slot in mid-April and my confidence was soaring.  I was probably 95% recovered for everyday life and about 70% for guitar.  I really couldn't play solos or fast single note passages but I was definitely getting there.  6 months in I felt like I was really kicking ass.  I'm in an AC/DC tribute band and was playing things like Beating Around the Bush and Riff Raff at a decent level.  Then the unthinkable happened - at the end of July I had another stroke.

It paralyzed my left arm again.  The neurologist I saw said she has only seen the affected area be nearly the same for two strokes in the same person once before in over 20 years of practice.  I couldn't tie my own shoes for a few weeks and couldn't button my pants for even longer, and it now been almost 8 weeks and I can't even form a chord on guitar.  This time it has also left me with no feeling in the median nerve region of my left hand (see pic - it's the areas in blue).  I can move all my fingers but they're weak and the movement is inaccurate.  When I try to do something that requires any kind of fine motor skills it's a struggle.  My fingers will flit around like I have some kind of palsy.  Thus, guitar playing is "right out" as Monty Python would say.

Over the nearly 40 years I've been playing, I've put together a decent collection of nice instruments. I'm not giving up on playing and will continue to try forever, but there's no need for me to hold on 25 guitars and basses.  I'm going to sell off a few now and if things haven't improved in six months or a year, I'll sell some more.  Trying to stay optimistic, I will never sell them all.  I will keep at least three or four just in case a miracle happens.  I'll make another post in this thread with my full collection and my current Hamer family so you can get an idea of what will be coming up.  Don't contact me about anything or try to call "dibs".  When I'm ready to sell, you will see a sale post on the For Sale board.

I alluded to the first stroke in someone else's thread months ago.  Some of you picked up on that and sent personal messages which I really appreciated. There are a lot of really good people here and that really meant a lot to me.

 

[BoogieMKIIA]

Sorry about your health problems. Keep your great mindset.

[kizanski]

That sucks, @tommy p. Sorry this happened to you - twice.

 

[G Man]

Wow Tommy P, that really sucks.  As someone above noted, at least you have the right mindset. and good call on not selling everything, miracles do happen.

[bry4321]

Sorry to hear that but very glad to read this: "I'm not giving up on playing and will continue to try forever." 

[alantig]

Sorry to hear this, but glad to hear you have a positive attitude.

My buddy has heart issues (just had another surgery a couple weeks ago), but the thing that scared him the most was when they said he was a stroke risk.  Hasn’t said why, but there’s a definite difference with how he’s reacted to that as to other potential problems.

[hamerhead]

Stick with it, Tommy! You proved you could do it once already. You can do it again! Give it hell, buddy - we're all pulling for you!

[HSB0531]

Stay positive and don't ever give up Tommy!

[JPDIII]

 

Here's to a full recovery from this vascular setback. Age is a long slow march into enemy territory! The healing potential of the human body is incredible. Please keep all of us  updated as you continue to improve. You will.

 

Pete Davis in Virginia 

[Hamerica]

1 hour ago, hamerhead said:

Stick with it, Tommy! You proved you could do it once already. You can do it again! Give it hell, buddy - we're all pulling for you!

This^^^^ +1

Tommy, keep up the positive vibes.  You stay strong and optimistic brother. 
 

Best wishes 

Brian 

[Brooks]

So sorry to hear this, Tommy. My wife had a stroke in '23 but has made a ~97% recovery. Keep fighting!

[BTMN]

Saddened to read this news. Hope you can get back to being able to make some kind of music. Music is Life. 😎👍🏁

[burningyen]

+1 to the get well wishes. If there's a common element to the stories I've read about unlikely recoveries, it's that the patient didn't take no for an answer.

[a.bandini]

Wow. This puts lots of things into a different perspective.  

Good luck with your recovery. Given what you have already done, I won't bet against you!   

Wishing you the best. Hang in there!

 

[svl]

Echoing all the sentiments above. Good luck with the progress!

[Gabe]

Appreciate your honesty about this. 
Wishing you all the best. 
Feeling with you. 
(Partial) recovery is possible, but will take time. 
Make sure to take your medication. 
Keep on playing guitar, perfection is not necessary, only the fun of making noise is nice. 

Understandable that you’re selling some guitars, but make sure to hang in n to a couple also. 
 

Gabe 
 

 

[mudshark]

Hang in there -- I'm looking forward to the post where you tell us about how you're picking again. I admire the way you're dealing with it.

 

[LucSulla]

Your ability to drop a pun during something so trying is laudable. Seriously. I really look up to people who can take a sucker punch like this and still try to get at least a smile out of it.  

I hope that you end up an outlier and are playing again before too long. Positivity may not be a cure all, but I know giving up never got anyone anywhere. Best of luck to you!

[gorch]

Very sorry to hear this, @tommy p. Good vibes sent over the pond from Europe. Keep on going. 

[ArnieZ]

Wow tough row to hoe! Strokes can obviously be very damaging and discouraging. Don't let other's failures deter you. Only you can determine how much effort you are willing to put into your recovery. Give it your best and hope for the best. I wish you well and success on your joourney!

arniez

[BubbaVO]

Damn.   Tough row to hoe.   Keep battling.  Positive vibes & prayers headed your way.

[specialk]

Be good to yourself, sir!

[scottcald]

Oh, man, so sorry to hear that, especially after your first success coming back.  As everyone here has already said, keep working on it, don't get discouraged, clearly all of us here are pulling for you and sending good thoughts.  Sorry, I must've missed the first mention of it.  

[it's me HHB]

Man, tough stuff. Everyone is behind you brother!

[mrjamiam]

Twice in a row is adding insult to injury.  You have my very best wishes for recovery and my admiration for your attitude.

Serious question - have you thought about slide?  Playing on your lap a la Jeff Healey?  Making an accommodation in the face of fierce opposition isn't unthinkable, it can keep the music flowing and could be some degree of rehab to boot.