Donny, I was cut severely during a break-in, and have seen all available specialists, including a top sports medicine guy who treats tears, cuts and other debilitating tendon/joint/muscle problems. He's in contact with a guy from England who specializes in hand injuries to musicians.

As I do, however, I was impatient and pushed recovery pretty hard. The prognosis is pretty sizable limitations of the dexterity in my left hand. That's pretty bad for a guitar/bass player.


The only upside now is an arranger (serves me right for knocking them over the years), and I have had some luck in playing simpler
(less busy) bass lines on a B-3 or other keyboard.

Hey, worst case, I've had a 53 year run playing guitar and upright, which I really enjoy (lots of work around here, too). I've out-lasted lots of my friends. And, in some form, I can continue playing non-weighted keys. I'll just have to adjust the material and the schedule.

I had surgery the day of the incident to repair a cut tendon. That's what's causing the problem. There is a surgery which would eliminate the constant pain, but that would almost surely result in permanent weakness, making playing impossible.

This current "setback" serves me right for being so impatient.

R.