So, I have been beading and creating for years. Literally. However, over the past 5-10 years, I have been noticing that my hand cramps to the point that my fingers lock up when doing certain things (stringing beads one by one on a string, crocheting, embroidery, hand sewing, writing, etc). I can understand cramping when you have been at it a long time, but we're talking after about 5 minutes, folks...10 minutes, tops.
I paid a visit to my doctor who sent me to a neurologist to explore the possibility of Carpal Tunnel. 'Great', I'm thinking, 'I hate surgery'. However, I failed every carpal tunnel test the neurologist put me under. After sitting for a few minutes with his arms crossed, his hand supporting his chin, he tried a simple exercise. He gave me a clipboard, paper and a pen and asked me to write. Sure enough, after several sentences, my hand started to cramp, my fingers started to lock and my handwriting began to change. I had always noticed this before, but just thought I was over-using my hand. He said that my hand was spasming while I was writing. Freaky.
His diagnosis? Focal Hand Dystonia (aka musicians cramp, aka writers cramp). Turns out, it is a neurological muscular disorder in which the basal ganglia in your brain sends signals to the affected area to involuntarily spasm. The spasm is what is causing the pain and the locking fingers. It is a very uncommon disorder afflicting persons of certain professions who use the same repetetive fine motor functions with thier hands. As a side note, dystonia can affect anything from your hands to your head to your whole body.
Well, I'm sitting there thinking, "Well, now what am I supposed to do? Beading and creating and jewelry is my business? I really don't want to close up shop and go back to the office!" Well, there are treatments. Unfortunately, there is not alot of research about this disorder and we really don't know alot about it. Drug therapy treatments are basically ineffective, the side effects of the drugs usually being worse than the benefit. Botox injections do help as they slightly paralyze the muscles that spasm without rendering your hand useless, but toxin injections? And you need them every three months. Physical therapy has shown to help in some cases. My plan of attack? I don't know yet. I have to go back to see a neurological muscular specialist to confirm the diagnosis and discuss treatments. All I know is I don't want to stop working on my business. I love doing this and am so complete in my life between business, family and God, that to give up my business would be very devastating to me. I don't know where things are going to go from here. All I can do is trust God that he will take care of me and that he knows exactly what he is doing. I'll tell you what, though. I am going to keep working my business, kicking and screaming all the way, until I absolutely cannot do it anymore. I think I may just design jewelry for shorter periods of the day...1/2 hour here, 1/2 hour there, etc, instead of 4-5 hours all at the same time.
I will keep you posted of the progression of this soon-to-be saga. For more information about Dystonia, visit the Distonia Foundation. If you think you or a loved one has dystonia, please get to your doctor!
4 comments:
Praying with you that you can find some answers to this trial. I love your attitude of kicking and screaming all the way! :o) And I pray that maybe working at your jewelry in shorter lengths of time will help...sounds like a good way to go.
I just pray this is not God's way of saying that he would have me to do something else :[ Eeeek!
DUDE...Lisa...I have the exact same symptoms. I always just thought the same thing you did - I'm overusing that hand. (My hand always cramps when I write something long - and my handwriting changes as I write more.) WEIRD!
I really hope that isn't what you have - not good.
Maybe, since you've been able to work with it this long, some simple treatment (PT) will allow you to carry on. You are WAY too talented to stop - and if beading/creating is in your blood (which it so obviously is!), you will find a way to continue. From everything I've read on your blog, you are a strong lady with sincere faith. I have no doubt you will come up with a good plan of attack that will have you creating well into your 80s.
Please keep us updated - I've got my fingers crossed for you and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I'm just stunned that someone else has the same symptoms I have...and even more shocked that there is a name for it. I truly thought it was nothing more than needing to rest that hand.
Just remember, God doesn't give you more than you can handle - and when a door closes, look for the open window. Maybe just subtle schedule changes are necessary to keep you creating...and maybe that's necessary because something is coming up in your life that will fit that new schedule amazingly well - and you don't know about it yet.
This has to be the longest comment in history - not to mention I sound like a total Pollyanna. Blech. Didn't mean to sound like that - I just don't want you to get bummed. I have this peaceful feeling about your situation - and know it will be ok. That is what I'm trying to say. You're so talented & such a neat person that I'm positive this will be a small speed bump in your life. :)
Let me know if there is anything I can do.
xo,
Katherine
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday for Aloha Friday and leaving your link so I could 'find' you! :)
So sorry to hear about your hand issues - I had carpal tunnel in both hands and had surgery on them one month apart last year...that was fun! ;) But I know what you mean - you don't want to have to give up your passion...hopefully there will be a resolution so you can continue to create beautiful jewelry for many years to come! I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers! :)
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