If anyone knows.

Prince is a fierce guitar player, and just today there were a few carpal tunnel sufferers talking and it got me thinking how someone like Prince doesn't suffer from it.

It ain't no joke from what i hear.

some players are lucky and just never develop it while some can do everything they can to avoid it and still end up getting it. its just one of those things.

He may very well have it, we don't know.

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Ani DiFranco reportedly had reconstructive surgery on her hands from guitar playing.

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It certainly seems plausible that he would this or arthritis to some degree, both of which SUCK!

Ani Difranco plays mainly an acoustic guitar and she plays pretty weird stuff as far as her voicings and picking are considered, so I'm not that surprised something like that has happened to her. It's very unfortunate, of course.

Prince doesn't necessarily practise that much these days. I believe he really just does the soundchecks and the live shows. Using lighter strings and just trying to adjust your guitars to be sensitive to a "lighter touch" should help a whole lot. The problem tends to be that funk style playing as well as "Hendrix" style solos require a guitar with the strings set pretty high - that increases the risk for developing problems with your hands.

I believe genetics influence these matters too.

I've had tendonitis resulting from keyboard playing and using the computer too much. It is a different thing, but feels pretty much the same. It went away with rest and regular painkillers, but my hand hurt so much that I literally couldn't move my entire arm more than a few inches. I couldn't even get out of the bed for a few days. My family members wouldn't even believe me when I called them asked for help ("how can your arm hurting prevent you from getting out of your bed?") - they only believed me when they saw me with their own eyes.

I have been playing music for 30 years and working with computers for 20 years. I developed horrific carpal tunnel syndrome around 1999-2000. I did not/do not trust the various surgeries or medications offered. A friend recommended I try Bikram yoga and after much skepticism, in 2003, I took my first class. After practicing 3-4 times per week, my carpal tunnel was mostly healed. I've been practicing this style of yoga for 11.5 years now and not only do I not have carpal tunnel syndrome, but many other aspects of my health & well-being have improved. HIGHLY recommended to all!

Ugh, it hurts! Maybe he gets lots of B6 which helps you to not get it.

I'd like to do some grumbling about what my company's worker's compensation insurance company is doing to me but, I'm enjoying the 'vacation' so far. Lucky me.