hand in hand
Our relationship with our bodies seems like it should be natural and instinctive. Who knows best how to take care of ourselves, if not ourselves? But if that were really true we wouldn’t need doctors. Even habits and occupations that bring us joy can also wear us out if we don’t practice awareness of our bodies’ capabilities and limitations.
Some time back I was diagnosed with repetitive strain injury (RSI) from putting too much pressure on my right hand: drawing several hours a day without rest, writing three pages nearly every morning, and doing some heavy manual work in the bookshop, without a proper program of stretching or strengthening exercises.
Turns out that the RSI is not severe, but long-lasting: as far as it affects the tendon, it’s as if I have both golf elbow and tennis elbow, despite never having played either sport. The recovery process is a painstaking journey — it has its frustrations that require loads of patience.
One of the things I’ve done to take the pressure off my right hand is learning to draw and write with my left. My left-hand drawing is very slow and clumsy and I can only write backwards, Leonardo da Vinci-style — new skill sets I enjoy and value greatly.
Another thing I learned is how to hold my pens and brushes so they put the least pressure on my strained muscles but provide me with more control. In art school our teachers always emphasised the importance of drawing with the whole arm, to prevent small movements with the elbow or wrist that would make drawing taxing or awkward.
Draw Stronger by Kriota Willberg is a helpful comic that provides artists with stretches and exercises that help immensely when you spend all day working at a desk. Back, shoulders, elbows and knees — there’s a solution for them all.
Recently my uncle sent me an amazing “intelligent” hand massager, which looks alarmingly like the pain box from Dune — it even has a heat mode! Providing the opposite of pain and very relaxing after a short period of work or exercise.
Of course nothing beats licensed physiotherapy for RSI recovery. I’ve been attending sessions with Spectrum Physio for several months and following their prescribed exercises, so my arm is greatly improved. I’ve also benefited a lot from the advice and services of National Health Service [NHS] physiotherapists, which the UK provides for free.
Spectrum also practices dry needling, which has been really helpful in relaxing the tightness in my elbow and wrist.
It’s a long slow road, but we’re getting there. I appreciate what my body does for me and am learning how best to take care of it.
Originally published at https://wonderwanderwomen.blogspot.com.
