Tendonitis starts out like a minor wrist cramp and swiftly develops into agonising pain, the likes of which would make you whimper. After a few days of whimpering (which fell on deaf ears, I might add), my loving husband packed me off to the doctor, who in turn confirmed my suspicion: I'd wrecked my hand.
"Do you write a lot?" he asked.
"I do," I answered with alacrity. I not only write more than most people do - yes, with real pens. Often with ink pens, too - but I'm also famed for my ability to demonstrate complex grammatical concepts with stickmen pictures on the blackboard. My students have even occasionally given me a round of applause for same.
The doctor noted this down and asked if I used the computer a lot.
"A little," I said, lowering my eyes modestly so I could admire my freshly-cut fingernails (all the better for tapping the keyboard.)
"Do you use it for work?" he said.
I'm not sure if intrepid blogging counts as work, but I do take it seriously. I confirmed that yes, my laptop and I are close friends.
Anything else I was doing that might strain my hand?
Phew. Where to begin?
"Well," I said, "My husband and I are renovating an old house, so we often do things like... stripping wallpaper, priming walls, painting, plastering - oooh, lots of plastering - and we put down laminate floors. And tile bathrooms..."
He was impressed. Rightly so. And even more so when I told him that I'd acquired my professional tiling skillz from watching a DIY video on YouTube. Yup. I have broadband and I'm not afraid to use it.
Shaking his head in admiration (I like to think), he asked me if I did anything else that might be a strain on my poor little hand. I stared him down for a couple of seconds, but he returned my steely gaze - and finally I admitted to occasionally doing handicrafts. Just a little. It's not like I have baskets of yarn stashed all over the place. And I don't have a hook in every handbag. Or attached to my keyring. And the fact that I'm practically on first-name terms with the lady in the local yarn shop (a big step in Germany) is no reflection on the frequency of my visits. It's just a little crocheting and I HAVE IT UNDER CONTROL.
The upshot of this is that I'm wearing a wrist brace and I have to take it easy. So I'm trying - but what do people (normal people) actually do when they watch TV? What do you do with your hands? I'll have to find a hobby I can do left-handedly for a while (finally learn to knit properly?) or I'll end up going crazy...
PS: Dr Schmidt: if you're reading this, I am being good, honest. Haven't touched a hook in days.
xxx
Oh that sucks!
ReplyDeleteYes, I know. And I used to think people with tendonitis were just exaggerating ("Look at that great big bandage! Wussie!") but I take it back. I got my comeuppance: it's really, really sore. And all the worse for being a self-inflicted injury... (rolls eyes)
ReplyDeleteOuch!!! Sorry to hear this, hope that it goes away (??) quickly! I can't imagine not being able to crochet.
ReplyDeleteI have something similar, DeQuervain's tenosynovitis. It's in the tendons of the thumb rather than just the wrist. I knit. I work in a print shop. I, like you, have to be careful what I do now. My knitting has been severely cut back and there are things here at home and at work that I simply can't do right now. I was told it will take about 6 weeks to feel better. Do what your doctor says or you may end up having to go the surgical route and that means a cast, not just a brace, for 6 weeks. At least you can take the brace off now and then.
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself! :)
Well, based on my own personal experience, the cat that sits on my lap while I watch television would be actually petted instead of having her head swatted by turning crocheted items-in-the-making.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. Been there, done that. Only I did it up right. Crochet (mainly, there was a good bit of knitting in there, too) was the genesis of my hand surgery for trigger finger last summer. Never has a surgery been so delightful. My hand felt better immediately!
ReplyDeleteCame upon your site while looking for a tea cosy pattern...thanks!!! I hope you are putting ice on your wrist to east the pain and inflammation of your tendonitis...this may help :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Lou! It's much better but my thumb still isn't as mobile as it was. I've bought rubber pencil grips for my hooks and that really helps. I probably shouldn't do anything at all ... but honestly, I don't know when I last did nothing at all ... I'm a tad hyperactive :-)
ReplyDeleteI too found your site looking for a tea cozy pattern. Love yours. I had the same problem last year, except it was tennis elbow. I used to think that people who complained of this were just a bunch wussies - boy was I wrong. Hurt it so bad that I had to take physical therapy once a week for 3 months! Doesn't help that I'm an Exec. Assistant and I type all day! Couldn't pick up my crocheting for nearly 6 months - talk about withdrawal! I'm back at it again, but I've leaned to take it easy and know when to stop. Some days I need to wear a brace near the elbow.
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