When I was young, I thought writer’s cramp was a joke much like I thought older people always exaggerated their woes. I thought people were talking about the mental inability to write – more like writer’s block. Or freezing up.
My right arm first starting telling me this was not a joke and not a metaphor somewhere in my 30’s. I started seeing an acupuncturist around that time, and he helped me tremendously with getting my computer chair set up correctly with a keyboard and a bean bag rest for my wrists. I have also used the mouse with my left hand for years to take the pressure off of my right arm with all that I need it to do.
But I insisted upon journaling curled up in a chair with my notebook in my lap scribbling across the page. Something about this pose connected me to the page and made me feel like I could do what I had done in my teens and twenties — ignore repetitive injuries and keep going in spite of slight nagging pains.
Two weeks ago, I could not keep this up. My right arm ached all the time – in bed at night, while I was teaching, cooking for my kids, and sitting to read or watch repeats of my little boy’s movies. I think I have ‘tennis elbow’ rather than true writer’s cramp. Writer’s cramp, or dystonia, comes not just with pain, I read, but also involves coordination difficulties, even causing writers’ hands to jerk across the page. It is most certainly not a joke. When I looked up this writerly condition, I dropped my jaw to think that Botox injections are an accepted treatment. Botox. My arm, I will add, does not yet have wrinkles. And I so clearly remember my parents warning me of the dangers of botulism that I doubt I’ll ever willingly let someone inject it into my muscles except as an absolute last resort even if I develop dystonia.
So for now I am sitting up to write. I’m writing only one page in my journal with the puzzle piece cover instead of three. I’ve made a new appointment with my acupuncturist who has this annoying but effective habit of getting me to change my ways in order to lower my pain. And then, of course, he sticks needles (without Botox) in me and that helps. Really.
I also found a new way to hold my pen from a writing contact named Christi Krug who recently said we should all write by hand for the day. When I told her it was a grand idea but my arm was screaming, she shared this video with me about a remedial grip with the pen placed in the V of my first and second fingers.
I’d love to think I could study calligraphy or something fun to make this sitting up straight in my chair instead of comfortably curled business more fun. Then maybe I could also read what I’ve written. That might be nice.
And if you’ve got any suggestions for me about gripping the pen or a better pen to buy, I’m wide open to ideas. Just don’t suggest Botox. No botulism for me, thank you.
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If it is actually tennis elbow, tendonitis, I used to get inflammation somewhere in my forearm every year for well over a decade. (Usually during warm weather months.) Most often I would get it in the muscle belly in the forearm but have had it in the wrists and the elbow.
Daily icing is a good treatment. Several times a day is better but I generally haven’t had patience for it.
If you wear a brace or an arm strap only wear it while you are doing activities that aggravate the condition. Wearing a brace all the time weakens the muscles and puts you at much greater risk of re-injury.
Aspirin works as an anti-inflammatory but I can only tolerate it for a day or two. I have tried many different prescriptions but prescription Naproxen is the only one that works reliably for me, though it gets hard on the stomach after a few weeks. Take lots of water with Naproxen – a full glass with each pill.
Ultra sound can help but having prescribed ultrasound only once or twice is week is pretty worthless. Unless you can get it daily (and only go for a week or two) don’t bother.
Perhaps researching anti-inflammatory diets would be helpful as well. Ready for some dried nettle tea?
There are exercises and stretches to help you strengthen the muscles.
Other than that the main thing is to try and avoid the activities that increase the problem, at least try to find lighter variations.
Finally, eventually the problem will likely go away after a few months even if you don’t do anything.
Thanks, David! I know the icing works but haven’t been very good about it. Reading you recommend it encourages me to give it a more effort. And having it go away eventually would be the best of all. I miss writing more by hand and have limited it for now. I’d love to think I could go back to more sometime soon and maybe when the weather cools.
Sounds like you have good help sources. I just wanted to say I admire you for writing so much that you have the problem.
Thanks, Martha:) I suppose it is a badge of honor, but I do wish that honor didn’t hurt. Acupuncture, a pen called Dr. Grip and cutting back have all helped. I’m back up to two pages a day.