I have carpal tunnel syndrome, so playing guitar used to hurt alot for long play times, but the trick to getting that pain to subside is just do a nice warm up. Nothing to strenuous at first. I have been building up to an hour work out. The trick is just to start REALLY slow and then it'll make the pain more bearable/almost completely gone.

Now, I am to the point where it only hurts when I don't play guitar. :rolleyes: