Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

A Prayer Request

#21

Please keep me posted! Praying for you, buddy.

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#22

Thanks brother!

#23

As a quick update. My appt isnā€™t until the end of April but in the mean time I have kept up with some practice. Usually I can play about 10 minutes before things seem to tighten up. It is most noted in the middle picking finger. When I do practice I do simple rolls and go slowly through Worried Man Blues. I feel this will at least keep my hand in shape and keep the fundamentals set. Donā€™t want to lose that. Thanks for the prayers. I wonā€™t give up. Weā€™ll see if God wants me to do something different. Maybe play a jug. Just need two hands and be able to pucker. :rofl:

3 Likes
#24

So here is the verdict. Many of you have asked and prayed and I appreciate it.

The doctor said I have osteoarthritis. There insā€™t any way to stop it or control it. He said it will only get worse the more you use them. Which I would think the opposite would be true. He really didnā€™t give me a lot to go on about this and playing the banjo in the future but being a preliminary meeting maybe he didnā€™t have a lot to add. He did say the more I drive myself to play the worse it will get. He did seem to indicate that what I had wasnā€™t a severe case, but I have no idea what that means when I really canā€™t play much now.

He is doing some blood work to check a few things. Really other than taking the aleve and those basic ideas he really didnā€™t give me much to go on. Kind of annoyed. I am a person who likes solutions and answers.

I will more than likely seek a second opinion depending on what the blood work says.

Thanks for the prayers and concerns!

3 Likes
#25

Well, knowing is the first step. If it really is osteoarthritis, there is no medical cure that I know of. That being said, I know more than one person that has turned around their osteoarthritis with proper nutrition and lifestyle changes. If youā€™d like to talk about it, shoot me a PM. Iā€™d be happy to share what I know.

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#26

Would love to hear it. Right in the middle of a super busy week. Iā€™ll get in touch soon.

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#27

I recommend Magnesium in a pure water solution and spray your hands every day and see if you improve ā€¦, Rub it in so it will go through the skin , Magnesium will remove the calcium and make it go where it is supposed to go . Of course discuss this with your Doctor as I want to make sure you feel good about it . Mag helps your body in more ways than one ,ā€¦ I will pray for you today also . One could take the pills by mouth but the rubbing it in will pin point where you need it . Most people have a magnesium problem by not having enough .

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#28

thanks for the advice!

#29

You might also consider plasma (PRP) and/or stem cell injection treatments. I had it done to my wrists, elbows, and knees and had good results. Problem is that itā€™s expensive and insurance typically doesnā€™t cover it. I lucked out and had a Gold Pick member doc in L.A. hook me up.

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#30

Thanks. Sounds like a potential but I need to make Banjo Ben friends first. Lol

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#31

Quick update. Miss being on here a lot. Havenā€™t played banjo in about a month. Finally got the doctor to refer me to a hand specialist. The stiffness in my fingers is still there which I expect but the real pain in my middle finger mid knuckle is still intensely there. GP thinks finally time to get looked at for real. Hope solutions come. I miss you guys (gals too) but mostly I miss my banjo. :stuck_out_tongue:

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#32

Mark 11;22-24 When you pray, believe that you receive Luke 11;5-13 Because of his persistence !!! Luke 18; 1-8 Yet because this widow troubleth me, i will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me !!! JESUSā€™s words. Not mine

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#33

Good to hear from you, Jason! Sorry youā€™re still battling this but youā€™re still in our prayers! Hope the specialist can get you some relief soon!

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#34

thanks!

#35

Thanks. I hope so as well. Progress is slow but I guess that is to be expected. He had to let me take steps to see if I was injured or just old. lol

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#36

Update: Went to sports orthopedic today. X-rays were great. Doctor said there doesnā€™t seem to be any issues in movement. He said really the rheumatologist saying I had some osteoarthritis was a stretch.

He really didnā€™t have any advice on the issue I am having. So I am not sure what to think. He said more than likely overuse. I personally would think after a month off Iā€™d feel pretty good if overuse. He recommended I ice and heat well and just take it slow.

So that is it I guess. I still need to look into the red light machine. But beyond that I am not sure my next steps.

Thanks for the prayers.

2 Likes
#37

Well, Iā€™m glad itā€™s not serious, but at the same time, Iā€™m really sorry thereā€™s no proper diagnosis.Sounds like youā€™re down to alternative therapies, which isnā€™t such a bad thing. A lot of actual healing happens in the alternative world.

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#38

Iā€™m on the stuff that was recommended by you and others as far as the Turmeric and etc.

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#39

Have you thought about giving GOD the glory ? Maybe a healing taking place !!!

#40

Good idea. You can never give God too much glory.