I have a problem I was hoping someone can help me with. Fifteen years ago my picking thumb developed a serious tendency to tense up, over extend and pull back, causing it to whack the head harder and harder each time it would go to strike the fifth string. This got progressively worse over time until I eventually had to reluctantly give up playing since it became pointless to even try. I cannot begin to relate how many different things I have tried from creams, stretches, splints, and even acupuncture! Nothing worked! A doctor told me that he couldn't see anything wrong, and that surgery would probably not help. I do have fairly advanced arthritis in that thumb, but I don't think that is the problem since fifteen years ago I did not have arthritis.
Over the last year, after fifteen years of wishing I could play, I tried again, and I thought I had overcome the problem. For the last four months or so I have been rapidly improving since the problem seemed to have been remedied through a new stretch. Unfortunately, the last couple of weeks the problem has returned and seems once again to be getting progressively worse no matter what I do.
Has anyone else ever had a similar problem? If so, how did you fix it? Any advice or ideas would be highly appreciated.
Thanks!