Friday, July 24, 2009

A pain in the neck

You don't realise how much you use something when all of a sudden it hurts to use it. My right hand, for example, is very important when it comes to work and play. So when it felt like it was going to drop off a couple of weeks ago, trying not to use it caused all sorts of problems.

Texting left handed I can just about manage, but wiping my bum? Ha, only joking. Basically, to cut a long story short, my hand has been playing up for the best part of six months - burning knuckles, shooting pains, numbness and general seizing up. Not ideal.t

So after two trips to the doctors - both of whom looked a bit baffled by my complain - I got referred to the Blackberry Clinic for a specialist's opinion. I'm no stranger to this clinic having hopped in with a sprained ankle last year and a rickety shoulder earlier this year. And they say playing sport is good for you? Hmmmm.

Anyhoo, I have a diagnosis. Apparently I have Work Related Upper Limb Disorder Type II, which kinda makes me sound like a bit of a freak. Perhaps I am. I had my suspicion that I had RSI, but the specialist informs me this is not the case, and while similar, my said disorder is very much treatable.

What's really interesting is that my hand isn't the problem. My hand's fine apparently. It's my neck and shoulders that are the problem. I can't remember exactly what was said but basically I have really weak neck muscles, curvy shoulders (not quite the hunchback of Notre Dame, but not far off) and my neck doesn't sit quite right. I'm all out of kilter.

So, what's the cure? No, not to chop my head off - that would put pay to my modelling career (as if) - but a series of visits to an osteopath and a physio. This could get expensive.

I had my first session with the osteopath earlier in the week and she proceeded to roll me into some very odd positions and practically lie on me in order to click my back. It didn't hurt but I can't say it was the nicest feeling. And it's very hard to follow orders to relax when you're topless on a bed with an osteo lying across you. But she's given me some neck stretching exercises to do and I have to ice my neck three times a day with a bag of frozen peas!

Still, it'll all be worth it if it stops the pain in my hand, which is referred pain due to my duff neck and shoulders. I also need to reassess the way I work, particularly at home where I slouch or even lie on the sofa with the Macbook Pro sliding off my lap. Not good.

Playing volleyball doesn't aid my freaky diagnosis either as the position I play requires me to look up all the time, squeezing the nerves in my neck and agrivating the problem. Not playing isn't an option though - and to be fair, that hasn't been suggested. I'm an athlete, without sport I'm... well..., not an athlete.

So folks, I may be a freak but I can be cured. Will keep y'all posted. If you care, that is ;0)