Raindrops on Roses, and Whiskers on Kittens…

[storytimewithjoe]

I won’t lie – the past week or so has been stressful. My work has been kicking into high gear as I have hit a particular milestone with a rather lengthy, involved, and complicated process. The process is made even more complicated by individuals who really shouldn’t meddle in it, but happen to be high enough in the chain of command that they can (and frequently do). So far, so good. But still, life has been stressful. Add on that I seem to have hurt myself. My right hand (aka my drinking hand!) has just been killin’ me this week. Let’s see… I’m 40, have typed since I was 16, and spend my spare time either doing calligraphy and illumination, embroidery, or gardening. Gee… I wonder why my hand would hurt? Add on some strenuous yoga, and…

 

… ouch!

 

I’m taking it easy on the hand this week to see if the swelling chills out. Otherwise, yes, I’ll be visiting the doctor.

 

In the meantime, I need to concentrate on the more joyous things in life. After this past weekend, we now have about 16 different types of roses in the front yard. I can’t wait to see what they look like in the late Spring! The new hydrangeas and azaleas seem to like their new homes as well. Fingers crossed, the sweet peas will all sprout, giving us a scented vinework of fresh flowers in a few months. Time will tell.

 

 

Comments

[acdntlpoet.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with ya. Mild carpal tunnel/ tendonitis for me too. Got to the point where I couldn't ride my motorcycle over 100 or so miles a day. Actually ended up trading in my old bike for the new ST1300 so I could continue riding (the ride position is less aggressive so there is less weight on my wrist, etc. )

Only thing I can do for it at this point is brace it when it gets really bad and take a flexoril and/or aleve depending on availability. It usually will subside after a day or two if I really take it easy.

My sympathies are with you. No fun at all. (and look! I didn't even make the requisite self-pleasuring reference that others would have!... oh wait, damn!)

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

Flexoril? Tell me more. What is it?

[acdntlpoet.livejournal.com]

Prescriptive muscle relaxant. Which I just recalled that I only used once or twice and it was more so I could sleep more easily than anything else (it was Jean's prescription for some back pain ages ago. ) So I'm not sure it would do your wrist any good.

When I had the doctor look at mine, he prescribed ibuprophen and a brace. It helps, but isn't a cure. You, as I, need to change how you work to really stop the damage and have any hopes of reversing the damage.

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

OK, dorky question - how can I change how I work when I type for a living, and love to do C&I and fine embroidery?

[acdntlpoet.livejournal.com]

I don't have THE answer.... but my doc told me to wear my brace as much as I could. Beyond that he also suggested I look into some ergonomic keyboards/rests as well.

I'll be honest, the only thing _I_ actually changed was to buy a writs rest for my 'mousing' hand. I only wear my brace when the pain gets bad enough to actually inhibit use of my right hand. For the most part I pretend I am fine (which is NOT what I, nor you, should be doing of course)

So... here's your dorky answer: go to your doctor and get checked out. Ask him what you can do.

*gigglesnorts*

[tropicstyle.livejournal.com]

use the other hand!

(runs and hides)

Re: *gigglesnorts*

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

And with that other hand, I will SOOOOO slap you!

[cogitoergozoom.livejournal.com]

Are the joints what hurt? Even a little Aspercreme or >>cringe<< Ben Gay may help.

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

A little of both, actually. The joints hurt, but either the tendon or muscle running up the arm hurts.

ache in the wrist

[(Anonymous)]

I have that. I do stretching exercises. I also have arthritis in my hands that aggravates it.

Re: ache in the wrist

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

Oh for cryin' out loud, will you just join LJ as a user, and become one of the cool kids?! :-)

[redsquirrel.livejournal.com]

Might be carpal tunnel, might be tenonitis. For some people Vitamin B₆ is very helpful with carpal tunnel. In both cases, rest and anti-inflammatories. If you take a lot, the latter can bother your stomach - try Prilosec or Pepcid with it - but it works better if you take the anti-inflammatories regularly for a while, so that they stay in your system.

Also icing. Cheap, non-invasive, calms the inflammation. Just make sure it's not directly on the skin and don't leave it on too long. (About 20 minutes max.) I hate icing. It hurts in and of itself. But it can be very effective so I suck it up and ice when needed.

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

I should do the icing. The "rest" part is just KILLIN' me! I skipped yoga last night, and will be skipping it again tomorrow night since my Wednesday night instructor loves doing plankwork (aka Wrist-Killing Crap).

I'm doing fine with the aging thing - I just need most of my hinges replaced. :-)

[takadai-no-tora.livejournal.com]

You need to talk to my daughter about massage techniques for carpal tunnel; I know she was doing a lot of that for a while and that the doctors recommended it as a way to deal with the damage and discomfort

[joeguppy.livejournal.com]

OK. Time? place? Gods only know, this SUCKS!

[takadai-no-tora.livejournal.com]

You know, she works in Santa Ana...I need to call her tomorrow anyway, I'll give her your phone number and you two can figure it out.