Hey everyone,

Jeff here to tell you I have some bad news... I got injured at my job and will be needing to take some time to recover. I have been working as a barista for 5 years now, and at this one job for 3 years and have been loving it. I really love making coffee. About 3 years ago I started feeling a lot of pain in my wrists and elbow... Being a barista requires a lot of physical, repetative work and over time it can be really tough on your body. After working at this job for about half a year, it started getting worse and I eventually took time off to rest up. I left on tour about 2 months after I stopped working. This was a great time for me, but I still felt the pain.

The people who came on tour with me understood what I was going through and helped carry heavy gear throughout the whole tour... Our old bass player, Mark, Alex, Troy and Evan (our best buddies) helped out in every way they could so that I could play for that tour, every other night. I wouldn't have been able to do it without their help. The touring aspect wasn't ever painful for me because I didn't have to play guitar for 8 hours straight, like I do when I make coffee at the coffee shop. I had good stretching habits and was eating well, so by the end of the tours I was feeling pretty good.

I returned home from tour in mid-November, 2008. Since then, I started working at the same job, but for only 4 shifts a week. The reason I wasn't working 5 days a week is because I needed to take that extra day in the week to rest my arms. Things just kept getting worse and more painful. I had to stop playing guitar for a while until this got better.

Just 2 weeks ago, I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tendinitis in both wrists. I have been seeing the doctor for a while about this and I have had Tendinitis for the last 2.5 years.. but this time, I need to stay home and ice my wrists like crazy, not work or do any strenuous physical activity. I've had trouble brushing my teeth, tying my shoes, putting on socks... its been pretty rough.

Alex has been a great friend through this whole injury. I would be having a really tough time if it wasn't for that dude.

I need your support through these crazy times!!
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Thanks for reading my blog,
We'll talk soon.

- Jeff
Melody Unwinding