Eddie Van Halen is recuperating from hand surgery that was needed to alleviate increasing pain in his left hand. The world famous rock guitarist reveals he began to sense pain in his pinky and thumb on the final dates of Van Halen's 2007-2008 tour, but after an initial treatment for arthritis, the operating table was deemed his only option.

"It got progressively worse to the point that about three months ago I wasn't able to play at all," Van Halen told Rolling Stone. "My pinky and my thumb were totally locked up and felt like there was something broken."

Specialists in Düsseldorf, ruled out arthritis after discovering a bone spur, twisted tendon and a cyst in the joint of his left thumb. Van Halen -- who had hip replacement surgery ten years ago and also had a portion of his tongue removed being fter diagnosed with mouth cancer -- says wasn't exactly stoked to go under the knife again. "[It] scared the s--- out of me," he said. "But I was told it was the only way to fix it."

Doctors tell Van Halen -- who's made a living with his finger-tapping guitar-playing technique -- that the surgery is a success. Once his stitches are removed in a few days, he can resume playing the guitar. "I am totally jazzed that they found the problem," he added. "In about four months my hand will feel like I am 18 again."