I had to face up to my dreams of superstardom being wrecked due to acute tenosynivitis, a repetitive strain injury. I had large lumps on the back of both hands which were treated with steroid injections. Other failed medical "solutions" were quinine :confused: , ultra sound, a wider strap (duh), and just to pull myself together and stop whingeing. All these experts were right, however, in their insistence that resting it would make the pain go away. It took 6 years of not playing guitar, but they were right.

I put my malaise down to having too aggressive a style coupled with insufficient amplification, trying to be too clever, and band-practising with those damaging traits 3 times a week.

I'm getting back into playing now (wouldn't be on this forum else), but instead of attempting to be the greatest guitarist in the world I'm settling for attempting to be an adequate guitarist entertaining himself oo er occasionally and quietly in the house. Not a story on which Hollywood blockbusters are based.

My advice is stop when it hurts, have rest days from practice, and exhaust every route you can in the search for prevention or cure.

Oz.