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#114114 - 02/19/07 06:49 PM Your worst nightmare...
travlin'easy Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 12/08/02
Posts: 15556
Loc: Forest Hill, MD USA
As a musician/entertainer the worst thing that can happen to you is damage to your hands. Sure, I still have a voice, but I depened heavily upon my hands to keep that keyboard humming and the dancefloors packed. It's part of the job.

About a year ago I developed what a couple doctors said was likely eczema under the fingernails of three fingers. It was fairly small areas that occasionally became sore and reddened, and at times small patches of skin would peel off. Seven doctors later, thousands of dollars in medications and doctors visits, and the disease continued to progress to where the sore area on the tip of my long finger advanced to the size of a pencil eraser--still not too big, but sore as hell, especially while playing.

Finally, after nearly two years, one of the dermatoligists said "I'm sending you to a specialist who treats this successfully using a treatment called PUVA. It's an ultra-violet light treatment that does a pretty good job of curing this"

The specialist said "I'm confident we can get this under control, but it will take about 20 treatments before you will be cured. And, it will likely take about 12 treatments before you see any improvement."

The first five treatments did absolutely nothing. Essentially, I took three pills that made me 10 times more sensitive to UV light than normal and my hands were exposed to UV light inside a wide box containing about a dozen UV tubes. Each treatment lasted about 2 minutes, and at the end of the third treatment they said they would be gradually increasing the intensity.

During treatment #6 my hands felt hot when exposed to the light source--very hot. At the end of just 2 minutes they were severely burned--appearing almost as if I were severely sunburned. This was 8 days ago, the pain is excruciating, the skin is beet red, and I believe there may be some tendon damage on the palms of my hands.

The doctors office called to find out why I had not returned for treatments. I explained what happend and they said "Oh, sometimes this can happen, and the problem you are being treated for can sometimes become worse before getting better." THANKS A LOT!

Now, I can no longer wear bandages on the affected fingers because when they're removed the skin often comes off with the adhesive. Consequently, I have to perform with a white, cotten glove on my right hand and take lots of pain pills a couple hours prior to a performance. It ain't easy typing this either. My wife says when I wear my fancy black outfit with that white glove I look like Michael Jackson performing--just a lot older and can't moonwalk.

The main reason I posted this was not for sympthy--I don't need it! I just wanted to warn anyone who may have a similar problem to beware of PUVA treatments and know what some of the ramifications are. Tomorrow I have to pick up a prescription for a nasty anti-inflamitory drug to quell the damage and pain to the tendons. I'll still be lurking here, but typing is difficult at best so you probably will not see many posts by me for a while.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy
_________________________
PSR-S950, TC Helicon Harmony-M, Digitech VR, Samson Q7, Sennheiser E855, Custom Console, and lots of other silly stuff!

K+E=W (Knowledge Plus Experience = Wisdom.)

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#114115 - 02/19/07 07:08 PM Re: Your worst nightmare...
zuki Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 09/20/02
Posts: 4716
Gary,

I'm sorry to hear about your fingers. Hopefully in time, the medicine prescribed will work and you'll be healed.

I'll get a 2nd opinion for you (wife is a nurse and works for 4 doctors) to determine if there's anything else you can do.

You're an inspiration to me. Thanks for your tutoring (for all of us) and contributions to the PSR forum.

Hang in there. I'll be thinking of you.

And don't type for a while

zuki
_________________________
Live: Korg PA4X/Zed 6FX/EV Everse 8s/Senn 935/K&M stand

Studio: Korg PA4X/Yamaha DGX670/Yamaha PSR SX900/Boss BR900CD/Tascam DP24SD/MTM Iloud/Senn 935/K&M stand/Shure SM57/Sony C80 (2)/Blue Encore 300

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#114116 - 02/19/07 07:40 PM Re: Your worst nightmare...
DonM Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 06/25/99
Posts: 16735
Loc: Benton, LA, USA
Gary, I know you will lick this problem, but it may be a battle.
In the meantime, maybe you could install a voice recognition system on your PC to keep from having to type everything.
The new programs are very good, or so I'm told by a couple of blind friends.
DonM
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DonM

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#114117 - 02/19/07 09:33 PM Re: Your worst nightmare...
renig Offline
Member

Registered: 02/20/00
Posts: 643
Loc: Canada
Very sorry to hear about this gary, I hope this really clears up soon for you.

Here's a link to some information on a couple of alternative treatments that may be worth mentioning to your doctor. Hope it helps.
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/98/104880.htmrenig

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#114118 - 02/19/07 11:56 PM Re: Your worst nightmare...
Nigel Offline
Admin

Registered: 06/01/98
Posts: 6482
Loc: Ventura CA USA
I am so sorry to hear about this Gary. It's the first I've heard of this type of condition. I just hope the treatment you are having does beat this in the long term.

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#114119 - 02/20/07 12:15 AM Re: Your worst nightmare...
Spalding1 Offline
Member

Registered: 12/14/05
Posts: 236
Loc: birmingham,england
wow mate that sounds really like the worst nightmare. I hope you recover soon. Shouldnt they have warned you about the possible counter effects of the treatment BEFORE recommending the treatment to you ?
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dont quit.......period

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#114120 - 02/20/07 12:30 AM Re: Your worst nightmare...
jamman Offline
Member

Registered: 08/24/04
Posts: 666
Loc: City of Angels in the golden s...
I'm really sorry to hear that Gary,I'm sure you'll beat it though.


Are you it's not psoriasis?


Medication will definately help.

Good luck.

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#114121 - 02/20/07 07:38 AM Re: Your worst nightmare...
tony mads usa Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 01/16/02
Posts: 14376
Loc: East Greenwich RI USA
Gary ... As we discussed when we spoke last week, thank God you've got your voice ... with the right backing tracks or midi files you will do fine until the hand heals ... just don't go adding "Thriller" to the song list ... ...
Praying for your quick recovery ....
t.
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t. cool

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#114122 - 02/20/07 07:42 AM Re: Your worst nightmare...
captain Russ Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 01/02/04
Posts: 7285
Loc: Lexington, Ky, USA
Damn, Gary, I was hoping for better news.

We're hanging in there with you, bud.


Russ

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#114123 - 02/20/07 08:19 AM Re: Your worst nightmare...
Stephenm52 Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 04/13/05
Posts: 5126
Loc: USA
Gary, wishing you all the best. I hope your recovery is speedy. Also thanks for the warning on PUVA.

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