Wednesday, December 5, 2012

#4: Moving Ahead with Treatment - Hope for the Future

As mentioned in the last two posts, I began looking elsewhere for treatment. I  have finally decided on Dr. Joaquin Farias in Sevilla, Spain. He has already scheduled me and believes he can help. After 2 weeks of research, I believe there is no one more uniquely qualified and experienced with my condition and I totally agree with the philosophy behind his treatment. I'm reading his book which is basically histories of various dystonias and their causes and treatment, as well as doing exercises with his DVD "Playing without Practice".

The bummer is, I cannot see him until the Botox is out of my system. My treatment will start the end of January. If you are a guitar player considering Botox as a place to start, I cannot discourage you enough. It is too risky and difficult to get right, and has now put me back 3 months. 

I have been given the ok to keep teaching, and play to softly as long as I am not fighting the dystonia in any way. Easier said than done. But at least I can continue pre production for the new CD and keep moving forward in some way with the great artists we have to work with now.

This is the first day I've felt any significant emotional relief, and for that I am very grateful. I can still play in some manner, and I will get treatment with someone I believe is totally ahead of the curve, and has a solid track record of full recoveries with top level professional musicians. Being diagnosed with Focal Dysonia already, what more can I ask for?