To Art and Don...Thanks for the encouragement and input. I'm in no hurry to have surgery...at least I CAN still play now, whereas doc could not assure me I'd be able to after surgery, so surgery would be last, last resort for me. Don, I will look for a PT to work with, just difficult, out here in the hinterlands, to find one (or doc either, for that matter) that is a cut above, in that they are willing to try out different things. Will also keep my eye out for an autoharp. Tho I'm not clear on why they would be helpful I've always wanted a good excuse to have one.

JR...I agree re changing hands on guitar--gad, after playing right-handed for nearly 50 years (and still cant make a decent bar chord) I can't imagine switching!

I have lupus, also hypothyroid, both conditions that make me susceptible to tendon/joint problems, so will continue w/anti-inflamatories, good diet, etc. etc. and stretching exercises to try and keep as limber as possible for as long as possible. And I still play every day, am looking forward to exploring open tuning and capo-ing up. Tenor guitar a good idea too...I've got a lovely little parlor Martin, but the fretboard is nearly as wide and deep as my classical.

Thanks again, all...