Guitar

Cora

Next Fri having single mastectomy on my right. My greatest delight is playing guitar, how long before I can play again?

arpie

It may take a little while as your range of movement may be affected ...... is it a full bodied big acoustic guitar?  The ones with the extremely deep body will be the trickier ones.  If it is a narrower body (or smaller guitar like Ed Sheeran uses) it may not be such an issue.   

I was playing my uke again within a week, after my lumpectomy - but they are much smaller & have a narrower body - but I could not play my guitar (a big bodied 60s Maton) as I couldn't put my arm over the massive body.

Just make haste slowly ...... if you like to 'pick melody' (rather than strumming) you can actually lay the guitar flat on a table & use your left hand on the frets & pluck the melody with your right .... just to get your 'fix' xx

take care & don't push it too hard, too early.  Your body will let you know when you can.

Julez1958

Hi @Cora
I am not a guitar player but did see a physiotherapist who specialised in breast cancer patients recommended by my breast care nurse after my mastectomy and she was a great help in recovering my range of movement.
You will need to be patient.

Cora

  

Afraser

Arm mobility can vary a lot depending on the precise nature of the surgery, but sometimes it’s really good quite quickly. Just have to do your exercises and see how thing go. Best wishes. 

Cora

Afraser said:

Arm mobility can vary a lot depending on the precise nature of the surgery, but sometimes it’s really good quite quickly. Just have to do your exercises and see how thing go. Best wishes. Thank you Afraser. Gonba play alot this week, but need new strings, lol

Cora

Thank you to all for wonderful folks on BCNA it has helped me with 
 encouragement, challenge & support. You guys have blessed me. (am I allowed to say that?) Anyway a very VERY big thankyou.