my favorite activity in the world used to be just using my computer. saturday morning, I'd sit and design something, use my mouse for hours in inkscape or gimp or onshape. then i'd type. write things, write long emails for work, dreamwidth entries.
then a few months ago if I did that, my right fingers would go numb. it's the beginnings of carpal tunnel. I read up on likely causes, and the site I found said:
1) repetitive motion
2) injury
3) age 40
that last one is bullshit.
I got a wrist support pad, tried braces, bought an ergonomic mouse, but mostly I just limit use, and it's better. no more computer for hours. I realize this is all just eeking out the last bit of time, once your wrist is screwed up, it's going to get more screwed up. no going back.
my back doesn't work if I sit too long, my hand doesn't work if I type too long. I'm 44 and just losing things, very slowly.
But I've also seen this quote: whatever body you have now, someday, you'll wish you had it.
when I go running there are two frail looking ladies who sit on a bench in a park. I see them sometimes. they are both really skinny, but one of them bundles up even when it's sunny and 70, and she uses a walker. they get to that bench eventually, and sit together. they wave at me when I jog by. every time I see them I swear, it's on the days when I don't feel as much like running, when I feel slow, when part of me wanted to do 4-5 miles because my friend runs 10 but I only FEEL like running 3, and I'm feeling so lazy about running my 11 minute miles paces, and then sure enough there are those ladies who just made it to their bench. I'm wearing a tank top and shorts, they're wearing long sleeves and scarves on their heads. running is still great. nothing hurts me and I'm outside in the sun. it makes me want to slow down my pace, because where am I going? if I go slower I can have more miles, right?
then a few months ago if I did that, my right fingers would go numb. it's the beginnings of carpal tunnel. I read up on likely causes, and the site I found said:
1) repetitive motion
2) injury
3) age 40
that last one is bullshit.
I got a wrist support pad, tried braces, bought an ergonomic mouse, but mostly I just limit use, and it's better. no more computer for hours. I realize this is all just eeking out the last bit of time, once your wrist is screwed up, it's going to get more screwed up. no going back.
my back doesn't work if I sit too long, my hand doesn't work if I type too long. I'm 44 and just losing things, very slowly.
But I've also seen this quote: whatever body you have now, someday, you'll wish you had it.
when I go running there are two frail looking ladies who sit on a bench in a park. I see them sometimes. they are both really skinny, but one of them bundles up even when it's sunny and 70, and she uses a walker. they get to that bench eventually, and sit together. they wave at me when I jog by. every time I see them I swear, it's on the days when I don't feel as much like running, when I feel slow, when part of me wanted to do 4-5 miles because my friend runs 10 but I only FEEL like running 3, and I'm feeling so lazy about running my 11 minute miles paces, and then sure enough there are those ladies who just made it to their bench. I'm wearing a tank top and shorts, they're wearing long sleeves and scarves on their heads. running is still great. nothing hurts me and I'm outside in the sun. it makes me want to slow down my pace, because where am I going? if I go slower I can have more miles, right?