Forum Discussion
Cora
4 years agoMember
Guitar
Next Fri having single mastectomy on my right. My greatest delight is playing guitar, how long before I can play again?
6 Replies
- CoraMemberThank 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. - AfraserMemberArm 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.
- CoraMember:)
- Julez1958MemberHi @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. - arpieMemberIt 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.