That's ergonomics. I used to get my left trapezoid muscle so tight it felt like someone was stabbing a hot needle right into it because of my tablet on one side and my hand on the keyboard for shortcuts on the other side. It got so much better once I got a tablet PC, and now a Cintiq. It might be worth looking into.

(And if you can't afford the Cintiq, look at the Yiynova -- a cheaper alternative that's getting pretty darn good reviews...)

I'm afraid I have nothing to offer but well wishes. However, in dealing with my back pains I get due to inflamed things in my back, I've found that sometimes the simplest things work best (at least for a little relief) Soaking in a hot bath helps my back a lot when things are inflamed and on the fritz. dunno how much good it'll do you, but mayhaps is worth a shot?


Otherwise, I wish you a speedy recovery!

Thanks!

With inflammation, you want to avoid applying heat. Cold is a better option. Much as I hate the prospect of dipping my arm in ice, this little bit of typing is telling me computer use should also be to a minimum (or do it slowly, left handed only, UGH) and ice will be needed.

Ah, well if nothing else it helps stop the spasms that come with. I'll keep the ice in mind myself next time!

Next time, listen to your body.

Um, I did? which is why I have a dx?

Wrist brace, I heard they have an artists version of it. sounds weird but even that little over movement at wrist can aggravate it.
Also don't try pushing through the pain, it can hurt you worse.
Hope it flares down(gets better) just don't push it as you are susceptible to re-inflaming it

Good suggestion! Typing has renewed the strain on my arm this morning so I'm doing the left hand only thing now. I'm going to look into wrist braces too. Thanks!

I would recommend taking a break from drawing until you're fully healed

yup, I should, I just need to send a note to the people to whom I owe commissions that there will be a delay. Thanks!

np, hope you feel better soon. Asides the arm how's you been?

Aside from the arm, it's been an emotional roller coaster the last few months but things are much easier now. Was working crazy hours on storyboards, too, which made my stress levels a bit too high for my good. I'm getting back into the groove of having 15 things on my plate... the difference being that they are small things that I can handle, as opposed to that big 16th thing that pushes everything else out of the schedule. ;)

So: recovering, planning for cons, working on the Dealer Room management at What the Fur?, commissions, art book, Sunset Val comic, Less Tits n' Ass, original art for art shows, researching food choices and lots of cooking for scratch (part of the solution for the cause of the emotional roller coaster), Other related research concerning my kids, parenting and spending time with my husband. Some of these break down to sub tasks, of course. I haven'tr begun to address a few of them , but I will. All in all, I feel pretty confident about the to-do list. :)

OH and it's April Drawing Challenge on Monday! OMG that almost slipped my mind, better get on that!

How about you?

Sounds wild, try not to stress yourself out unnecessarily and take some time to relax a bit. how are the hubby and kids doing?

Year started out real crappy, had to put my dog down 3 days in and I was in a bad place finacially for a while but I managed to get myself a job last month so I've been able to keep paying off all the debt I owe. All in all things are improving.

Sorry about the sad beginning, but great to hear that things are looking up!

Kids are better, husband is good, he's got a ton of business trips coming up so we're hoping to have enough travel miles/points to afford a nice vacation for the family this year. We haven't been anywhere with the boys in years, and I SO want a vacation, a real one. Crossing fingers!

hope everything works out for you and your family can make that trip =3

Hope your arm gets better soon.

Thanks :)

My prescription would be some nice pain-killers maybe Oxycontin or Loritab, a heaping helping of laziness and TV (Especially comedy like stand-up or America's Funniest Videos), and the occasional video game to keep your mind sharp without using the affected joint while still retaining and exercising hand-eye coordination

Noted! I have anti-inflammatory drugs here, and I'll see what work I can do that puts the least strain on my arm, without immobilizing it completely because that would be the worst thing to do.

I do a lot of writing for work (four page, hand written progress notes each shift), I use my hands at my second job to clean/lift etc., and when I get home, I type and play videogames, draw and when I'm feeling particularly masochistic, I knit. A few times a year (especially around the holidays when I'm knitting gifts for everyone) I do a lot of all of it in a very short span of time and the pain at times will wake me up out of a deadsleep to the point where I can't close my hand and can feel what I call whitenoise pain radiating through my elbow and the fingers of my right hand.

The only things I've found that work are a combination of rest, braces that keep the wrist in a neutral position when not working with it, naproxen sodium (aleve) to reduce inflammation and pain, hot showers followed by a massage from a loved one who can stand the pained noises around the shoulders and upper arm, and a product called biofreeze applied to the back of my shoulder, upper back and the tendons of my arm. Its similar to icy hot, but it helps to relax the muscles in the arm and shoulder to get them to loosen up and restore blood flow. Just be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after applying it because getting it in your eyes is like submerging them in a coffee cup filled with molten lava. : |

Good luck and rest well.

I heard of biofreeze, and I have a couple of those ice-rubs here at home, so I'll rope the husband into helping me out with this. I'm looking into massages as well, because sometimes pain in the lower arm is linked to tension in the shoulder and neck. I'm following up on the wrist brace suggestion, that's two of you making it, so that's definitely worth looking into.

Thanks a lot for your input, and also OUCH! That kind of pain sounds awful!

LIES! It was RITHY getting back at you!




CRAP! That means I'm next!

Nah, it started BEFORE Rithy got ponified and called a chicken lookalike. ;)

..I'm still coverin' my head!</Boot To The Head>

Hope it gets better soon

Thanks :)

Ouch. I hope you feel better soon. >_<

Thanks, Shaun. :)

Ouchy x.x Good luck with the arm! Hope everything's back to normal soon!

So do I! Thanks!

get well soon!

Thank you!

i went thorugh that a couple years back. Got shots (very painful) and did physio for a while and it did heal. Not fun though. Good luck!

Thanks! I got a shot like this for my shoulder about 10 year ago, for bursitis. It was nasty. Worse, the pain came back. At least the shoulder eventually got better, but it was months.

Are you my twin? I just went through a bout of bursitis and didn't get the shot this time. Just physio and excersise. Took me months too but it's finally settled down.

We can talk further at WtF or you can call me and we can talk. Drop me a line at heatherbruton[at]gmail.com if you want my number.

Sure! We can definitely discuss at the con; I've got an appointment with an osteopath just after Easter, we'll see how that goes, and how much it helps. I'll contact you if I need advice. Thanks for the offer!

And the other problem with inflamation is that it can recur constantly. <:P But you will conquer this. Get better and pain-free soonest! Take care. :)

I hope you feel better soon.

Take as much time as needed for recovery, even a few extra weeks just to be safe. I need to get some money aside for another commission I want to have done from you.

Oh, sad news, I hope you feel better soon. Take a break from drawing.

I started working out to get stronger in my upper back and arms, plus lots of stretching and remembering to take small brakes during drawing, to get my problems in check. Plus massage therapy on my back and arm when it's really bad. Helps A LOT! :3
Good luck!