John Jensen on sun 16 mar 97
Well, I'm turning fifty soon, too; and my wrists are looking like the first
part of my equipment to show signs of wear. I spent years as a waiter,
carrying heavy trays of food and dirty dishes on one bent wrist. I spent
years swinging a twenty ounce hammer as a framing carpenter. I spent plenty
more years with a four inch brush in my hand...painting houses. And I've
been spending some years wedging and throwing clay.
Not to mention the tennis, frisbee, fly fishing, rowing, swimming, pushups,
and other fun things which take their toll.
Now I measure all my activities in terms of how it affects my wrists. It's
a new kind of mindfulness...a sort of meditation: To always be careful not
to go too long or push to hard. I really can't afford to loose the use of
my hands, even for the few weeks it would take to let them recover from an
injury.
I don't squeeze the sponge quite as hard, I don't hold the book so long in
one hand, I'm mindful not to let my hands rest in odd positions. I hold the
mouse just so when playing solitaire. I'm trying to imagine when I'll be
able to give my hands a complete rest for two or three weeks. I can't
imagine it.
In my case, fortunatly, there is no acute pain or numbness. Just a low dull
ache which gets stronger when I work more and goes away if I take the day
off. And lurking behind that is the sense that things could get much worse
in a hurry if I don't take care.
I'm taking B6 and C. I guess it might be helping..I certainly don't notice
any ill effects.
And lately I've been wondering if cold throwing water might not be better
than warm throwing water. To reduce inflamation.
John Jensen in Annapolis. Mudbug Pottery.
Nancy Rogers on mon 17 mar 97
Hi there!
Me thinks that, since your "condition" has a history, cold throwing water
will exacerbate it. Cold (ice) is efficatious only initially (during the
first 30 minutes after a trauma). After that heat is the thermal treatment
of choice.
Briefly upon my soapbox again: don't forget that anti-inflammatories WILL
help. Ibuprofen needs multiple dosing each day and with prolonged use will
negatively affect kidney function and may irritate the lining of the stomach
and begin bleeding off red blood cells :-( very dangerous. Tylenol is NOT
an anti-inflammatory and therefore will not be efficatious. Relafan is a
prescription anti-inflammatory that require single daily dosing, will not
negatively affect kidneys or stomach.
Take care of those wrists.
Nancy the Cracked Potter in Hershey, PA
| |
|
