So, with my ever expanding finger slowly making itself known, I got through a few gigs in November and December, notably our Christmas show at The Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham-by-Sea when we had two extra special Bonzo guests and it was professionally filmed for a forthcoming DVD. This would be the last time I used MY LEFT HAND to play piano ‘normally’!

Early in 2013, the index finger had not only grown even bigger but had become rigid – all I could do was point with it! Then, alarmingly, the skin at the base of my finger started to split (see photo):

What was going on?

I made an appointment to visit my excellent GP surgery once more and got an appointment in 3 weeks time. However, one week later the finger was now becoming painful, with sharp stabbing pains and a burning sensation – so I booked an emergency appointment –  this time he was in no doubt that it was GOUT.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Gout/Pages/Introduction.aspx

This was not good news – I really didn’t want to have an old person’s disease, especially as it’s often related to an over-indulgent lifestyle and heavy drinking, not to mention Henry VIII. To reduce the swelling I was put on a 3-day course of strong anti-inflammatory pills for gout but they had no effect – the swelling continued unabated. I returned to the surgery and on learning that the gout pills had not worked, the doc put me on a 7-day course of anti-inflammatories – but still no result!

NOW IT REALLY BEGAN TO HURT!!

So, it wasn’t Arthritis, it wasn’t Dupuytrens, it wasn’t Ganglions, it wasn’t Gout … what on Earth could it be?

On returning to the surgery for the umpteenth time, the doc was at a loss and made the wise decision to phone A&E at the Royal Sussex County Hospital there and then and book me in. One hour after leaving the doctor’s on 31 January I was being seen by A&E, who called in their Orthopaedic specialist for an expert opinion. Blood tests were taken as well as all the usual physical and health checks (I’d had blood tests a week earlier at my own surgery but there was no sign of infection).

The conclusion drawn was, that if it wasn’t any of the above, it must be an ABCESS ON THE BONE

By the way, this looks nothing compared with what was to follow – not for the squeamish!