FATES WARNING Bassist JOEY VERA Suffers Frozen Shoulder
July 24, 2014, 10 years ago
Fates Warning bassist Joey Vera is "not looking for any sympathy or well wishes here, but wanted to share this in hopes of any similar experiences. First off, I realize there are far worse situations for some of us in every part of the world and this little sitch of mine is but a small wart on the universal being.
A year ago I was snorkeling on vacation and upon exiting the ocean I sprained the tendons in my right rotator cuff (shoulder). In September I went thru four weeks of physical therapy and then did two tours with Fates Warning. This past January the pain came back in a big way.
This led to two MRIs and thankfully they ruled out a tear. But after doing the two tours, a gig in January, played on a record in February and another tour with Fates in April, it was ruled I acquired frozen shoulder.
By May I lost most of my range of motion and was in severe pain. I'd gotten two cortisone shots right in the joint (fun) but all it did was dissolve my muscles in the area.
So since then I've been in therapy twice a week and have to stretch and ice daily. Happy to report I've gotten about 90% motion back and the pain is tolerable for the most part. I haven't been able to play bass for three months but picked it up this week. Felt good."
