I developed a simple aid for reducing the effect, just a surgical arm band/elbow support with the insert from a pair of old cycling shorts stitched to it. It cushions and spreads the load where my right arm rests on the lower bout. I know this is only partially the cause and that posture plays its part - but its really helped me - simple and cheap to try.

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Originally posted by Winfield:
Now that my friends is either one magnificent second opinion or some really deep "poo-poo"

Given that I've administered thousands of anesthetics over the last decade and that I'm intimately familiar with the conditions to which I've referred, I'd opt for the former.

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Originally posted by Kerry Krishna:
I developed Carple Tunnel Syndrome a few decades back and had to have operations on both my hands. Some of what you are talking about sounds kinda familiar.......Kerry K

Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve where it passes through the carpal tunnel in the middle of your wrist. The median nerve is one of the nerves that comprises the brachial plexus. Makes sense that you would recognize and identify with some of these symptoms.

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Originally posted by Phild28:
I developed a simple aid for reducing the effect, just a surgical arm band/elbow support with the insert from a pair of old cycling shorts stitched to it. It cushions and spreads the load where my right arm rests on the lower bout. I know this is only partially the cause and that posture plays its part - but its really helped me - simple and cheap to try.

Your solution makes perfect sense. Your intuitive device essentially offers a cushion between the guitar and the brachial plexus, which runs pretty superficially beneath the skin. In surgery, we use similar techniques to protect the brachial plexus (and other vulnerable areas) from compression injuries resulting from positioning.

Seemed common sense to me, I've cycled most of my life and had plenty of backside compression problems - mostly aleviated by expensive cycling shorts with good gel inserts - recycling one has done the trick here - now if I can only deal with my Dupuytrens problem in my little finger!

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Originally posted by Phild28:
now if I can only deal with my Dupuytrens problem in my little finger!

Aren't we starting to resemble the scene in "Jaws" where Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss' respective characters sit around comparing their scars! I'll see your Dupuytrens of the little finger and raise you a DeQuervain's of the thumb... Happy (and healthy) playing!

Comes with age, seems all my playing friends are getting on - before we start playing we make our excuses for our impending poor performance and blame it on various ailments - some physical - most real and a few imagined. A bunch of ageing ex pro's trying to stay young. What with the reminiscing and the scar comparison - not much time left to play!

I'm now pretty sure this is being caused from my forearm resting on the front edge of the lower bass bout on my dread. My inner forearm lays across that edge an inch or two below my elbow joint. I'm having some success just not pressing as hard with my right arm. At this point, this doesn't constitute any kind of medical condition for me, but I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks for your suggestions.

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I got that brachial plexus' the other day. I stuck my head in a vice and tighten it down a little to much. A little while later i noticed my head was going numm. I'll try using a cushion next time.

Now that's FUNNY!!!