Tomorrow's the day

Good luck and the best of wishes! I think your playing will be just fine!

Thanks for your kind words Bayoubill and John.
 
The surgeon said that I shouldn't play for six weeks, and it would take three months+ (and a lot of physio) before I was anywhere back to full speed.
 
When I first saw him, he said he said that treating professional musicians was always difficult, and I should rest if he told me to.  His words were - "Rest, to a professional musician, is only playing five hours a day instead of seven."  Made me smile.
 
I assured him that I would not be like that..
 
I have only taken seventeen days off from the Music Academy where I teach (Xmas & New Year, basically), so it didn't take me long to ignore his advice. 

Good luck! 
 
(I was going to say that actually next Tuesday is the day, since that's my birthday, but the internal topic was too serious so I chose not to mention it.  )

I'm pretty sure it's due to damage caused by diabetes, but I'm getting an increasing numbness in my little finger (fretting hand)
 
It's not hampering my playing yet but I do worry what happens if it spreads.
 
Best wishes JB, hope you make a speedy & sustained recovery.

Our human nature has a good built in mechanism to adjust to circumstances and various situations.....with a little time to recover, you'll be back to your keys and guitars. Best of luck JB.

Ditto to ampfixer's recommendation: start exercising that hand as soon as possible. Don't wait until the pain goes away completely. It'll be rough but you'll be glad you did this in the end.
 
Les Paul could still play rings around most people even while suffering from extreme arthritis that took away the use of 3 fingers on his picking hand. Earlier in life, when he'd severely broken his arm, he had it set at a 90-degree angle so he could play the guitar. It took him 2 years to get his chops back, but then continued to perform as one of the all-time masters of the instrument for the next 60 years.

Good luck!

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and advice.
 
The operation did not go according to plan.  They were wiring up the joint, and, due to my osteoporosis, when they tightened the wires the bone collapsed.  They had to fit a metal plate.
 
The upshot of this is that I will be in plaster for at least six weeks.  There is also some concern as to how long the bone will take to heal, due to the treatment I am receiving for the osteoporosis.
 
Playing is pretty much out of the question as the plaster prevents me from moving my wrist and thumb, and I cannot touch my thumb and fingers together.  I have tried to play (contrary to surgeon's advice) but it is almost impossible.
 
I see the surgeon on Tuesday, so may know more then.  I cannot even drive, so even the school run is out of the question.  I intend to start back teaching at the Academy on Wednesday, and am not sure how that will go.  Even getting there will be an issue, let alone teaching when I can't play.  I guess my students are in for a lot of theory over the next month. 
 
Anyhow, wishing I hadn't had it done now, and feeling really low about it.  I guess things will improve, but just seems crap at the moment.  I know many people have overcome greater issues, so I hold on to that.
 
Anyhow, thanks again for your kind words.

I am sorry to hear the bad news but I am sure you will find a way to reach your goals somehow and I hope you hear good news from your surgeon! Maybe you could use an assistant if you can't play? Also perhaps there are specially made guitars that are easier to play? I found this but it may not help:
https://www.galaxyguitar.com/ft1.html
(Sorry for being too intrusive)

kakku
I am sorry to hear the bad news but I am sure you will find a way to reach your goals somehow and I hope you hear good news from your surgeon! Maybe you could use an assistant if you can't play? Also perhaps there are specially made guitars that are easier to play? I found this but it may not help:
https://www.galaxyguitar.com/ft1.html
(Sorry for being too intrusive)

Thanks for the thought, kakku. It is my right hand that is injured, but it was kind of you to offer suggestions.

I guess I will be doing a lot of legato playing for a while. I have considered getting one of my advanced students to help out as an "assistant". Perhaps that will be a way out in the short term.

I really wish you all the best in your recovery. It's tough when things go south, been there man. On the plus side it's winter, the perfect season to be laid up. They can do some amazing things with newer tech and rehab options.
 
Keep us up to date. As Bit said, we're all rooting for you.

ampfixer
I really wish you all the best in your recovery. It's tough when things go south, been there man. On the plus side it's winter, the perfect season to be laid up. They can do some amazing things with newer tech and rehab options.
 
Keep us up to date. As Bit said, we're all rooting for you.

 
Thanks, John.
 
I have been kept busy over the festive season with my family - a 7 year old and a 18 month old, which has been lovely, but frustrating - not being able to build the toys Santa brought, or play with them as much etc.
 
I am pinning my hopes on some good news on Tuesday, but think I am fooling myself.
 
Thanks so much for your king wishes, and Happy New Year to you all.

I echo all here that want to see you back here in great health. You've been through some tough times but we are all pulling for you. Do what your Doctor says and don't be impatient. Even when you feel better don't push yourself. Time is what is needed, take it.   

@John - Thanks, John.
 
@ston
 
They have fused the metacarpal phalangeal joint of my right thumb, so it sounds like the same one.  They were setting it into a fixed 'pinch' position so that I could still hold a pick and fingerpick (I trained as a classical guitarist originally).
 
It will mean I lose some of the reach of my right hand on the piano, which is a pain, but luckily I have quite big hands so should still manage octaves, hopefully. Gone are the days of playing tenths..
 
Slap bass had not occurred to me.  I do teach bass, so that may be an issue.  I am reminded of the line in Mike Senior's book (I think) - the best mixing strategy for slap bass is the mute button.. 

tbh, I couldn't play slap bass before, so not a huge loss for me ;-)
 
I guess if you can slap using the wrist only (rather than relying on free movement of the thumb), then things should be OK.
 
Best wishes for your recovery!  I may need to have mine fused at a later time, similar to you, depends on how vigorous the onset of early arthritis is in that joint.
 
p.s. on the subject of guitarists coming back from injury, check out Julian Bream's recovery from his car accident.  Quite remarkable.