FMS-Blog : The Wildly Whimsical, Mostly Musical WebLog
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Arthritis
I got up this morning with aching joints in the fingers of both my hands, and not for the first time. I wonder if it's just because I've been overdoing it generally and, more specifically, overusing my hands and fingers in the course of my daily life? I do currently work in an office environment that involves spending most of the day at the keyboard, and whenever I'm at home I'm either spending time on my website / email or else playing some musical instrument or other.
And, conditions related to arthritis run in my family : my Grandmother's hands are twisted and barely useable with rheumatoid arthritis and both her daughters suffer similar illnesses, including my own Mother who is kept awake through many nights due to the endless pain caused by fibromyalgia.
It makes me wonder how musicians cope when they're struck with something like this. I know that certain forms of arthritis, such as gout, can be controlled by the use of prescription drugs and a change of diet / lifestyle but still many sufferers go through life without even tackling it, putting their pain and loss of flexibility down to old age etc.
Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions when I suggest that the experiences I've been having with my hands could possibly be ascribed to a genetically transmitted arthritic disorder, but if the pain and stiffness don't subside I think I'll let my General Practitioner make that judgement....
And, conditions related to arthritis run in my family : my Grandmother's hands are twisted and barely useable with rheumatoid arthritis and both her daughters suffer similar illnesses, including my own Mother who is kept awake through many nights due to the endless pain caused by fibromyalgia.
It makes me wonder how musicians cope when they're struck with something like this. I know that certain forms of arthritis, such as gout, can be controlled by the use of prescription drugs and a change of diet / lifestyle but still many sufferers go through life without even tackling it, putting their pain and loss of flexibility down to old age etc.
Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions when I suggest that the experiences I've been having with my hands could possibly be ascribed to a genetically transmitted arthritic disorder, but if the pain and stiffness don't subside I think I'll let my General Practitioner make that judgement....
