But it didn't.
The thing just kept growing and growing, making basic techniques like barre chords all but impossible. So after some prompting from my wife, I made the doctors appointment, and my worst fear was realized... they recommended operation.
Look, I know where my bread is buttered. I work in the tech field and guitar playing is very much a hobby and secondary to the important things in my life, like family and paying the bills. That being said, I've played since I was 15 years old, over half of my life, so the decision was hard. So sometime in August, I had the procedure done.
It didn't hurt all that bad, the meds they selected for me did their job quite well. When the time came and I took off the bandage, I got as close to fainting as I think I ever have.
My main fretting finger was a horror show.
After a few days, when the bruising started getting better, I got a bit more optimistic. There was very little pain, more of a dull ache, and I had the use of the rest of my hand.
Now, for the last year or so I have become obsessed with a lesser known genre of guitar known as "percussive fingerstyle". It has reinvigorated my playing and made guitar new for me again. I am but a child toddling in the world of percussive fingerstyle, but that doesn't matter, each week brings something new to me and I am always learning.
Until the finger thing.
So, after a week or so past, I came up with an idea. An arrangement that needed the index finger as little as possible. I practiced it daily, tweaking the tune and honing it as I healed. It gave me a guitar based goal to keep focused on.
Well, my finger is pretty much fine now... a little stiff at times but all in all not too bad. And I have this song to show for it. I play it with all ten fingers now, but nine-tenths is what I called it initially, so it stuck.
Here it is:
