First, let me take this moment to thank you for your many suggestions and advice. These opened my thinking into new directions. Thank you also for the encouragement both here and by way of PM's.

This has been what seems to me a long and troublesome road. I can scarcely think of any time in my life when I have felt so low. In the meantime, while I was so absorbed in my pain, I failed to notice the effect my condition was having upon Carmen. As some of you may know, the music Carmen and I play together constitutes one of the great joys of our life together. Not only was the music taken from me, but it was also taken from Carmen. At various points things were looking so bleak that we each wondered if we might ever share our music again.

I am pleased to be able to tell you that the potential spinal stenosis diagnosis fell flat when the previously mentioned conductivity test failed to show any significant abnormalities. BTW, I was only partially correct in my guess as to what that test might entail. What it amounts to is the measurement of how long it takes for an electric impulse to travel from point A to point B. This is accomplished through the use of adhesive electrode patches, just like the ones used for cardiac monitoring, as well as by way of tiny needles that are just barely inserted into the skin. Anyway, the result of that test was encouraging.

Once the spinal stenosis was pushed aside an MRI of my left shoulder was accomplished. The result was (at last!) a more concrete diagnosis. It showed a couple of torn tendons.

During the two months it has taken to arrive at this conclusion I was on heavy doses of codeine-laced Acetaminophen to which, I think it is safe to say, I became addicted. Just a few days ago I was finally able to wean myself off that stuff, after which I discovered that my pain level had decreased immensely! In fact I am happy to report that I have been functioning without any manner of medication for the past five days.

Yesterday Carmen and I played music together for nearly four hours straight! I can't say that I am not currently feeling a wee bit of pain because of that. But I seriously doubt that the pain will last very long. It is well worth it!

Thus, life is beginning to revert to some degree of normalcy. I am scheduled to return to work on December 7th. But best of all, I no longer need to contemplate whether there is life after guitar!