Hi folks,

I just hit my 51st birthday . . . and I've been playing guitar since I was 15. That makes 36 years of fretting chords.

I'm starting to experience joint pain in the top joint of my pointing finger on my left fretting hand. (It's the joint nearest the fingernail.)

For most of my 36 years, I've played guitars strung with light gauge strings. Over the last year, I've played my Collings D1A Varnish dred strung with medium strings.

Has anyone else experienced finger joint pain when switching to heavier strings?

Is it simply old age creaping up on me?

Is Arthur-itis in the house?

PS- I LOVE my D1A! Should I try lighter strings? Would a D1A sound as good strung with less than medium gauge strings?


"louisiana"

I recently turned 50 and have started to have trouble with my right wrist. [I believe it is the result/reward of too many years of playing contact/collision sports in my long lost youth.] I think/assume that it is arthritis.

At first I started to try to wear braces a lot and keep it quiet. It seemed to only get worse. I am now trying to excercise it more and that seems to be working better.

My guitar playing hasn't yet been an issue with it but I assume some day it will.
I'd try more exercise and see how it goes.
Good luck. Paul