I’m writing this particular post in a grumpy state of mind.
I’m not happy at all. The reason? Typing is causing me a great deal of pain at
the moment.
This is a writer’s nightmare and unfortunately it is
happening to me. Shooting pains in my arm, elbow and a throbbing aching neck. I
was at the doctors for another matter and mentioned my painful arm. After some
prodding and pulling, she concluded that this was some kind of wear and tear
from writing. Bad posture, wrong seating position – all the things that could
make the wires inside my body scream out in protest.
In between swallowing pills and applying heat to my sore
parts, I‘ve been reading up on RSI and neck conditions. It’s alarming just how
many suffer. Even more concerning is the fact that so many writers are affected,
the scribblers at home, who have no-one at work to ensure we are sitting
correctly or have an adequate workstation.
I’m researching a lot now and trying to be kind to myself as
I don’t want years of discomfort. I know that this is not as advanced as some
people’s RSI – which causes numbness in fingers, loss of grip and long-term
pain. My problems probably aren’t even proper RSI – more likely it’s the fact
that I sit at my desk at stupid angles. That I cross my legs. That I can’t
touch type, so my neck is always bent forward, looking at the keys.
But this whole situation has made me realise how carefully
we must treat our bodies. How we must be kind to ourselves and respect our own
limitations.
I don’t ever want writing to be a pain again.
