Operation Recovery!

Deskies reunited!!

“Yes, your wrist is definitely broken,” is one of the scariest statements a musician can hear!
It’s a common ailment. Millions of people have experienced such an injury. It’s fixable. So why the drama?

It may not be life threatening in the normal sense but for a musician, it is just that.
The feeling that I physically could not play my double bass was one of the most terrifying situations I’d ever found myself in. Even more unsettling was feeling a huge part of me was missing. That old cliche of not knowing what you’ve got till it’s gone had never rung so true!

However, surrounded by an incredibly supportive family & friends, those feelings were quickly kicked into touch and replaced by positivity and determination. Several musician friends who had experienced similar and more severe injuries got in touch with helpful advice and reassurance. This made a huge impact on my recovery. I felt I had been welcomed into an extended family who knew exactly how I was feeling!

The surgery was a success! I am so grateful to the incredible team at RIE who put me back together. A thin, neat, barely visible scar hides the plate that was so expertly fitted.
The power of EMTT therapy, administered by the amazing Helen How, kick started the rehabilitation. I knew it would. I had every faith that this magic machine along with Helen’s expertise would fast track me back to the concert hall. Even before the session ended, my wrist started to feel like it belonged to me again!

I took my rehabilitation exercises seriously. Therapy putty is my new favourite thing! Such satisfaction, squeezing it in and out of shape! I’m very proud that I’m now on strength level 4!

As my confidence grew, I tentatively took up my bass. To be honest, I had shied away from Bessy as I was scared.

“What if I was never going to be able to play again? How can I teach and inspire kids to learn the double bass when I can’t play it?”

I wobbled momentarily, but my students needed lessons and for this I am really grateful as this kept me going. I would demonstrate with a smile on my face masking the panic inside as the pain shot through my arm. My over enthusiastic chat about sound and pieces and music in general was as much for my benefit as my students’! However I’m a true Taurean, stubborn and determined…just ask my family! I gradually built up some strength on my solo bass which has a nice light action and called my personal trainer who, fortunately for me, is an expert in rehabilitation!

Four months & three days after “the fall” or three months, two weeks & 6 days after the op, saw my return to the concert platform. I had moved onto my beloved orchestral bass in anticipation, which called for a little more strength. The concert had been in the diary since just after “the break” and I could scarcely believe it was here! This was the long anticipated test! I owe a great deal of gratitude to Scottish Sinfonia for their support… and trust.

As I took my place in the double bass section, all nervousness and anxiousness evaporated. The smile on my face told all. I was home.

Two concerts with the BBCSSO unexpectedly arrived immediately after this. It felt like my road to recovery had suddenly been fast tracked! A third concert and then a fourth quickly followed…all I had to do was stay clear of Covid, practise, resume the sessions with my personal trainer and rebuild my strength! Fortunately I achieved all the requirements!

It was uncanny but very fortunate that the concerts seemed to gradually call for more and more strength, with each programme demanding more than the previous. I could have really struggled had they been in a different order!

In 4 weeks I played 5 concerts…this was like the preCovid days! My wonderful colleagues provided fantastic support and I was heartened by the enthusiasm of my students and their families who happily rescheduled lessons and even tuned in to hear the live and recorded concerts on Radio 3. It was hard work and my wrist was very aware of the strain but I couldn’t have been happier (or more relieved!). I started to feel like me again.

Falling back in love with life is an amazing gift. My outlook has changed. It’s been a difficult time but I now really understand how important it is not to lose sight of your passions.

I don’t work as a musician, I live as one. It’s not just something I do, it’s who I am.