Question
Hello,
I was curious about Dave's injury. I've never seen much information about it, and was curious what type of techniques the doctor recommended to overcome it. I'm glad to see he is back at it full swing, and it is very reassuring, for I too suffer from injuries which alter my ability to play for extended periods of time.
Thank you for your time,
justplainpaul
Answer
I believe the injury you are referring to is a condition Dave Mustaine suffered with back in 2002. This condition is called "Saturday Night Palsy," which is a nickname for the compression of the radial ulnar nerve in Dave's right bicep and occurred after ha fell asleep with his arm draped over the back of a chair. The doctors said the possibility of recovery at the time was not favorable, and that Dave would only be able to gain up to 80% of the usage of his arm, if that, and never play guitar again. But this grim prognosis was simply not acceptable to Dave.
He visited his doctor in Scottsdale, AZ at the time, Raj Singh, and was referred to four months of rigorous physical therapy at the Spire Institute, which included acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and weight training. Finally, after this intensive therapy, Dr. Singh pronounced Dave to be fully recovered and ready to play again. Dave essentially had to relearn guitar, with the assistance of teacher Ric Flauding. During that time, Megadeth was on hiatus, but after Dave's recovery, they returned, bigger and better than ever with the release of The System Has Failed. And the rest, as they say mate, is history. So hopefully Dave's story can provide some inspiration for you to overcome your injuries and continue to rock. Until next time, keep those questions rolling in and I'll keep those answers rolling out!
