It was April 1 of last year, about eleven o’clock at night, when I sat back down at my desk after dinner and a show with my partner Jon to make a few notes about things I needed to do the following day. Ping! As I picked up a pen, something in the middle finger on my right hand snapped, like a frayed elastic band, and I uttered “Ouch!” I jotted down my list, the knuckle on that finger smarting, and headed off to bed.
The next morning I woke up with it swollen to three times its size, unable to move let alone bend it, and in a considerable amount of pain. I headed to a walk-in clinic, had X-rays taken, and was told to simply rest it and come back in a week if it wasn’t any better. With a mere four weeks left to go on an incredibly difficult, rush translation of a book of non-fiction, I panicked and forged ahead, working through the pain.
That was the start to what has now been a thirteen month journey into learning about, understanding, and dealing with Repetitive Strain Injury. Not fun, to say the least. I finally feel like I am on the mend after cutting back on work last fall, taking November and December off entirely, and only slowly ramping up since January.
The start of the calendar year came and went, and still in agony nearly every single day, I spent only the absolute minimum of time on the computer. My usual new year tasks – such as updating my website, searching out prospective new clients, planning my business strategy for the coming year – simply never happened.
But given the economic downturn, which has affected my business more than I thought (or perhaps hoped) it would, I have the time and I am starting to have the energy to undertake some of these vital tasks. May has thus becoming the start of my “new year”.
I’m too afraid that RSI is only taking a brief reprieve to make any promises about updating this blog, but if you’ve signed up for the RSS feed and have been surprised to hear from me again, post a comment to let me know you’re out there. That will certainly encourage me to write as often as I’m able.
Hope to hear from you!
