Arthritis? Thanks, Mom…

[jimhines]

You know those autoplay ads that sometimes run before an online video? Here’s the text version. Libriomancer is still on sale for $1.99 at Amazon, B&N, etc! (I believe this is limited to North America, though.) No idea how much longer this will last, so if you’ve been thinking about checking out one of my books, now’s a great time.

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Anyway, I had a checkup with my doctor this afternoon, which confirmed something I’d suspected for a few months now. I’m starting to develop arthritis in the middle knuckles of my index fingers.

For the moment, this is a minimal annoyance. It doesn’t interfere with my writing. I notice it mostly when I’m trying to make a tight fist for karate. Or when I bump one of the knuckles against something. But it’s the first sign of what’s likely to be a progressive problem.

(Please note that I’m not asking for medical advice, thanks!)

I mentioned this to my father, and he was happy to tell me I inherited this particular problem from my mother. Which seems fair, considering the diabetes comes from his genes.

Mostly right now, it’s a worry for the future. I mean, I’m a writer. I spend way too much time typing at a keyboard. I know dictation is an option, but for the moment, I rely on my hands. And between some tendons tightening up in my hands (Dupuytren’s contracture) and now this, I’m not sure what’s going to happen as I get older.

Hopefully I’ll just get some bionic hands or something. Maybe I’ll be able to moonlight as a superhero. I could write a noir-style bestseller about my first case: The Hand Job.

Okay, maybe not…

In the meantime, I guess the best thing to do is write as many stories as I can. Just in case 😉

Mirrored from Jim C. Hines.

Comments

[mount_oregano]

I have much serious arthritis -- osteoarthritis, to be exact -- in my hands. Here's the amazing thing: the more I type, the less they hurt. That is (also true of the other arthritic joints in my body), when you use a joint, the joint creates more of a fluid that acts as a lubricant to make up for the missing cartilage, which normally cushions joints and which is what wears away, causing osteoarthritis.

A few caveats: try not to put too much stress on the joint. I make sure I have a keyboard whose keys don't have to be struck hard. I exercise every day, too. There are hand exercises. You can find them at the Arthritis Foundation.

In short: keep typing! It's doing you good.

[kyrielle]

Huh! I hadn't heard of Dupuytren's until this year, when both you and synecdochic mentioned it - she caught it early and is getting treatments. Strange, though, to first learn of it and then hear of it again so close together.

[jimhines]

Someone posted that same link on my main blog site, too! Interesting reading. I may have to ask the doctor whether radioactive hands would be a good idea for my case :-)

[jreynoldsward]

I have arthritis in my thumbs and besides writing, teach online. Fingertip-less gloves are my lifesaver especially in winter, and I've had recommendations of using a paraffin dip but haven't tried it. I'll even sleep in the gloves....

I also do embroidery and other handwork simply to keep my hands working in different ways.

[thewayne]

My hands are getting progressively stiffer in the morning, makes me kinda long to live in Phoenix again (ignoring the traffic, pollution, insane politics/people/relatives...). Particularly my left middle finger, I think it's developing 'trigger finger'.

It was interesting, back in '09 when my carpal tunnel problem became acute and I required surgery: it never interfered with my typing. Different set of tendons. I could not hold a pen/pencil to write with, but no problem typing.