Guitarist needs help with tendonitis treatment

Hello music lovers! My name is Tom Reddick and I've been a performing solo guitarist for over 40 years. I recently have developed tendonitis in both my right and left forearms from performing too many gigs in a short time period this past fall. I have chronic soreness, burning sensations, and weakness in both arms. I need to get back to playing for my mental, spiritual, and financial health. 

As a result, I am requesting donations of any amount to help pay for cortisone therapy. I have had cortisone injections twice in my life and both times they worked extremely well, in fact they were curative. My fundraising goal is $2500 to cover cortisone therapy and living expenses while I heal, which I expect to take 8 to12 more weeks. I'm grateful for any help and donations over $5 will be rewarded with complimentary solo guitar recordings this summer from my YouTube channel.  Leave your email address so I can notify donors of details in June. My channel will be active this summer. 

For those who are interested and would like more details, the next 3 paragraphs will explain the following:

1) a detailed description of my condition and what caused it.

2) a short bio of my music career 

3) a word about the video on this page and upcoming recordings I will make available to all donors once I am playing again. 

This past autumn while in the beautiful town of Ashland Oregon I was doing several gigs a week and practicing daily. I had some warning signs that I might need to back off and rest a bit, but I was playing at a very high level, and it was difficult to stop. I was having a great time and my playing was extremely rewarding! In November I worked my way down to Tecopa CA where I spend the winters. I travel full time in a custom high top camper van with my dog, my guitars, and a killer solar system. I began performing in a nice little dining room in Tecopa called Steaks and Beer (thanks Eric, best Steaks in the west!!!). Just before Christmas, both my forearms began to get very sore. It rapidly got worse and I had to stop playing. Tendonitis is very painful and debilitating, and the damage was done. Since then I have been soaking in Tecopas world famous mineral baths 2 to 3 times daily. It has helped, but after 2 months of self treatment my progress has been slow. So at this point the need to play again has become critical and it's clear that I need to do the cortisone therapy. Cortisone works! It will knock out the inflammation and allow my tendons to heal, but it still takes time. Returning to 3 hour gigs of solo guitar will be a gradual process. It's a tenacious condition that is susceptible to re-injury. It's also important to not have this condition reappear in the future, and I am planning for that as well. This includes better hydration, diet changes to food with anti- inflammatory properties such as avocado, tuna, etc. Also avoiding foods that can exacerbate inflammation like processed carbohydrates etc. There is much to say about all this, but the info is readily available. I am not able to work as the pain in my arms makes it difficult to pick up a coffee cup let alone a guitar, tools, or even a pen. Typing this on my phone is painful. If you've ever had such a malady in your forearms, you understand what I'm talking about. I intend to make this the last time I have to deal with 'guitarists elbow'.

I fell in the love with the guitar at around 14 years old and never looked back. In 1988 I earned a Degree in Music Performance from Southern Oregon University under the tutelage of Joseph Thompson. I've always played solo instrumental guitar gigs, but at various times I also played in rock, country, and jazz combos. 

My ideal donor is one of the literally hundreds of people who have heard my playing over the years and appreciate what I do, or anyone who just wants to support the arts on a more granular level, in real time so to speak. I truly love the beauty and elegance of the guitar when played with soul and competence. It is a trial to be playing the best music of my life and then have it taken away by an injury. Any amount contributed would be hugely appreciated and I am grateful. I have put much beautiful music into our world over the years, and now I'm asking for a small donation so I can soon continue to do what I do best, and love so much.

A word about the video. I don't remember when I recorded it, but it was in the last two years, as I am in my camper van which I have built out and live in full time. It's improvised, and I chose it because it shows a little of the variety in my playing, and because Greensleaves is a tune I love AND is in the public domain! I am truly living my dream of traveling and meeting awesome people all over the west. Hopefully soon I'll be playing the music that defines and expresses who I am once again. After this episode is resolved I will be doing some recording on the road in my mobile studio and sharing that on my YouTube channel. The music will be for sale thru my channel, but all donors who contribute $5 or more will get complimentary access to my collection of solo tunes. Leave your email when donating so I can notify you of details in June. Hope all is good in your world!

For those who don't like to donate online my address is PO Box 645, Springerville, AZ, 85938. Thanks!