And every time I read it I have to grimace. I cannot recall ever playing with that much pain.
Blisters - getting common for me these days since we play fewer and fewer gigs. This year I believe, actually I'm sure, I went the longest without playing in my life.... I knew blisters were on the agenda. I prepared... like you, I'm sure, I know precisely where I'm most vulnerable and prepared with some duct tape. It worked. Didn't get a single blister. But not rarely I will get a blister in a place I was not expecting.
I think it was two years ago I had some pain in my right wrist, nothing serious... but without thinking, and to alleviate the pain, I placed the stick in my right hand between two fingers.. hard to explain, kind of holding it from the top. it relieved the pain in my wrist.. BUT.. by the end of the evening I had two blisters between those two fingers that were like blimps.