There are many things I like about being older. More self-acceptance, as well as respect for other people. An understanding of priorities. A sense of understanding how the world works.
It’s shit though, when you are in a creatively fervid period and your physical apparatus declines to meet the challenge. I am fine, but all the scribbling on paper, typing, marking, propping up of books, praying of perfumes into vials for Hawaii (even garlic chopping and cycling), has left me with some kind of tendonitis in my right hand from my fingertips down to my upper back (one finger typing on my phone is the most painful) that is restricting my movements a great deal this week. It is not excruciating, but I don’t want to push it. There is tons I am dying to write about on here but even doing this is straining the ligaments.
I tend to heal quickly, though, and ginger in coconut oil smoothed over the entire area eased it slightly yesterday.
I am going to take it easy today and will hopefully be back soon.
Any advice on tennis elbow/repetitive strain injury/inflammation you can give?
(I might just read any replies without answering, if that’s ok)
Tedious!
The Black Narcissus 
I had it once but it was so long ago I hardly remember. But back then, the cure was a black strap that you put on your arm, which was the main thing. It all was based on some athletic treatment that was actually given to athletes. However, it did work for me, but it was so long ago, I do not even remember what the treatment was except that it was very simple. It was before Google was around when I had it because I was actually playing tennis and racquetball at the time and it completely worked. However, I do not know if they are recommending the same thing now. All I know is tvaf whatever was recommended at the time (I had to go to a professional) worked for me and did the trick.
The company I have worked for for 36 years asked me to retire two months ago, but then kept postponing it. However, last Tuesday was my last day. I never got any explanation as to why they asked me to retire as I thought that retirement was the the decision of the retiree. So I now am jobless because a younger person who has absolutely no knowledge nor experience regarding my former job is going to take over because she is canoodleling with my former boss. Since the company is not a large corporation, but a family business, they can get away with this. It brings back to my mind my saying when I was sixteen years old: “Life sucks and then you die”. However, I did not know that saying would come true. What a miserable world we live in.
Very sorry to hear this.
May things turn around soon x
Thanks, but nothing is going to turn around. I I hate to say it but I have lost faith in some people I thought were my friends. However, my true friends still exist and I am thankful they are not my former co-workers.
Oh my gosh Neil! I’m sorry to hear you’re going though this.
Normally I don’t write much here (or anywhere) but have suggestions based on my very weird profession(s).
Anyway- I spent the past 10 years doing insanely detailed illustration work, coffee shop lettering, fashion week set construction, assistant “ghost painter” for very famous artists doing their realism paintings on scaffolding plus live speed drawing of portraits at corporate events. Ghastly tech bro type things. Working constantly. I’ve sustained the types of injuries only construction workers get from holding a heavy piece of equipment static for too long- in my case averaging 40 portraits per hour for 13 hours with few breaks (for freaking Salesforce)- and wound up in the ER unable to move my non dominant arm that was holding the iPad. This specific injury lasted months too. Those situations are deceptive because the blood clots that develop during extended time holding a heavy object present as just extreme pain/immobility. But this can be deadly. That’s where a CT scan is needed. I remember the doctors telling me to look into the exercises or things musicians like viola players do to avoid these injuries/clot risk in the future.
Anyhoo! My dominant left (drawing) hand has consistently required versions of compression wrist wraps or even a light compression fingerless glove. And I noticed many of my artist friends (over 35) regularly wear them too. It’s just par for the course I guess. Its predictable that our wrists & hands crap out after insane deadlines. So start collecting compression wrist doo dads in the orthopedic section. Always have a few around.
A year ago based on doctor’s urging- I began daily reformer Pilates to help prevent future injuries and the difference in my strength is remarkable. I can stand painting a giant canvas all day and not feel strain anymore.
I knew I was in the right place when I was surrounded by happy, fit 40-80 aged folks. No longer feeling like a superannuated loser amongst the rise & grind types in most nyc gyms. I don’t know what the Pilates scene is like in Japan but it’s basically physical therapy.
If you can find a way to incorporate at the very least some compression wrist sleeves that should help some. See if there are Reddit forums where musicians discuss hand & wrist strengthening tips?
Again- I’m so sorry you’re injured.
Thank you for your beautiful writing and hope you feel better soon.
rest, ice pack (several times a day), ibuprofen, gentle stretching exercises
And the compression thing mentioned above! (I have
just read about them)
What tonkabeany said! Xx
Sorry to hear this. I have to tell you this story in case it helps. But a disclaimer first…seek medical advice first?
The year before last in the Scottish Highlands, I reached around to adjust my backpack and all of a sudden, my right index finger was excruciatingly painful, for no reason at all. I had just walked into a café and couldn’t even take my wallet out. I couldn’t brush my teeth, type anything on my phone, hold anything at all, undress, etc. Luckily I had family with me. After a day I remembered something similar at least a decade before, with my thumb; the difference with my thumb was that the pain came on progressively over six months. The salvation this time was remembering what helped me with shockingly immediate effect the last time after fruitless splints/ice/heat/exercises/investigations the last time: Diclofenac, an NSAID. I found a pharmacy stocking it in the Highlands village, and a kindly GP to prescribe it. The finger took just a little longer to get better than the thumb, but within a few days I was back to normal, after quite a lot of pain (preventing sleep). So now, I’m never without diclofenac in my bag, as I don’t know when some weird (arthritic?) hand pain is going to strike again, and my hands are my living. You may wish to read about any side-effects (I had none). Sending all my best wishes your way.
A wrist/hand brace. Position keyboard lower. Stretch hand out and pull fingers up with other hand to stretch wrist. Then push down the other way. Take frequent breaks. Massage hands, wrist and arms. Rotate wrist. Finger exercises. Manicure….. 😉
So sorry to hear this bit of bad luck. I have encountered the same every now and then; the tips mentioned above were what I did, and in the end I was okay. In the meantime thanks to the mobile dictation function—not elegant, prone to mistakes, but still a life saver in some situations! Speedy recovery!
I had a case of rotator cuff tendinitis a few months ago. It was so bad I couldn’t raise my arm over my head or even peck at my iPad. Immobilizing the entire arm and trying to take down the inflammation with non steroidal anti inflammatory medications (first ibuprofen then heavy duty piroxicam) for 2 weeks didn’t work. So, I blasted myself with a 7 day prednisone taper. Worked a treat! No pain and completely mobile now.
Better living through chemicals.
Oh the perks of being a pharmacist 👩⚕️😂
Ouch! I’ve had tendonitis in wrist and hand before. You’ve gotten great suggestions above. I found that a compression fingerless glove, and also a sort of glove/wrist splint, bought at a drugstore, helped a lot, plus anti-inflammatories. Reading up on ergonomics and positioning my keyboard better also helped a lot, and I haven’t had the tendonitis since (knocking on wood). I got a separate Bluetooth keyboard for my laptop, so that I could position the keyboard lower. You really do need to let the arm rest, though. Have you ever tried a dictation program, that would at least let you get some words into writing that you could tidy up later if you want? Feel better soon!
I’m sorry to hear that. My friend had tennis elbow over 15 years ago when she was 30 something. It’s something to do with using the computer if you’re not a tennis player. I type a lot with my computer everyday. It’s the nature of my job. I bought a chair with the right armrest and installed a keyboard tray with armrest too under my desk. It makes a big difference. For the pain, my friend was wearing an elbow brace for a long time. As I know, it took years for her to recover.
Oh no, this sounds terrible. Everyone has given such wonderful suggestions, there is not much more I can add. I hope you will heal up soon.