I am wondering if guitarists who are afflicted with Bouchard's (middle joint) or Heberden's (smallest joint) nodes on their chording hand can be treated successfully by surgery to remove the nodes.   I'm sure the nodes could be removed surgically, but I'm not sure how long-lasting that remedy would be, especially if you keep using that hand for playing guitar chords.   I'm also not sure whether less invasive methods of removal might be available, such as with lasers.    And I don't know whether the nerves and muscles involved in using that hand would function as well after the surgery (or how soon).

I have basically lost my ability to play most barre chords because of a Bouchard's node on my index finger, which is painfully positioned against the fretboard when I play a barre chord using only that finger for the barre. (Barre chords that let me use two fingers for the barre are still ok.)

Anti-inflammatories help a lot with most osteoarthritic problems, such as stiffness and joint pain, but they're not much help when you've got a bony protrusion hitting the fret or fretboard.   So I'm wondering if anyone else has had to deal with this and what sorts of remedies might be available.

Genie