Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Art and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome






Well, this is my fabulous new fashion accessory. It makes using the computer very difficult and painting pretty much impossible for now. While on vacation, I started waking up at night with numbness and tingling in my wrist and forearm. Then, the pain kicked in if I picked up anything over 6 pounds or moved my hand in a funny position. I had noticed stiffness in my fingers and hands after driving, long before we left, but figured it was just because it makes me tense. I've had tendonitis before and know the drill, so I started on Advil and got myself a wrist brace as soon as we got home. I can't get into the doctor's office until June 18th, so I will have to wait for a verdict. It sounds like Carpal Tunnel though. I was really depressed for the first few days, then looked up artists with carpal tunnel on google. I found blogs and other stories of artists being able to eventually return to their creating after surgery, so that gave me hope. I wish I would have been doing better arm exercises in the first place. If you create with your hands, I suggest looking into it now, rather than later. I may have ended up with it anyways. Women with a history of hypothyroidism and a small frame (both of which apply to me) are more likely to develop it. So, I will share pics of 2 paintings I finished prior to vacation. They may be all there is for a while. ) :

8 comments:

Brandon and Cari (Sellers) Murdock said...

so sorry that you're having to deal with that! i hope it goes away on its own and won't require surgery. ouch! great paintings! i especially love the owls!!!

Kitties & Cupcakes said...

Thanks Cari. Surgery scares me. I may try to give you a call tomorrow since I have finally finished all the "vacation laundry." ( :

Julia said...

Hi Lori, i just wanted to let you know that I mentioned 2 art pieces of yours on my blog. I am a fan. Oh and I know how you feel, I too have wrist issues. I use a brace whenever I paint or use the cumputer. I got rid of my mouse and just use the mouse pad on my computer. It seems to help. Good luck with it though.

Kitties & Cupcakes said...

Aw, thanks Julia! I appreciate it. I don't think I could hold a brush properly with my current brace, but maybe there's another type I could use. I wish I could see the doc sooner. I started using my mouse with my left hand today and am slowly getting the hang of it.

Jaz Higgins said...

oh u poor thing! i'll definitely have to start exercising my wrists and arms now.
hope you get better soon. i'm sure you'll be back to creating fabulous pieces in no time!

Kitties & Cupcakes said...

Thanks Jaz. I am getting stir crazy. I did some sketches with my brace on today and it was a rough start, but I got used to it. I want to paint SO BAD!

Francy said...

add washing dishes to the bad thing to do left handed.

surgery won't be bad IF you do exactly what your doctor tell you to do. They know what LOTS more information than we do (hopefully)

You may have to buy your hubby a helment if they make you start sleeping in a wrist/hand stableizer. However, it really makes a difference.

Best of luck!

PS: love your art work.

Kitties & Cupcakes said...

Francy, I am sleeping with both wrists in splints now, and right arm strapped to another pillow. I look like a freak! Yeah, doing dishes and cooking left handed has become rather dangerous. So far, my steroid treatment doesn't seem to be helping. ) : I feel surgery is probably going to be necessary. Thanks for the compliment.