Except I won’t be writing them.

Can’t write them.

Because just typing for more than ten minutes at a time brings me pain now.

Early last week, I experienced shooting pain in my right shoulder and forearm. I wasn’t extremely worried, because this has happened before, and the pain would often go away after a day or two. But this time, it didn’t. It got worse. I started feeling wrist and hand pain, along with the finger aches that have come and go for the last year. Then the pain spread to my left arm.

And then I started feeling pain all the time, not just when I’m using the computer.

My doctor isn’t sure what the problems are, but I suspect the pain is associated with various Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). My symptoms closely match Tendonitis, Carpal Tunnel, and possibly Trigger Fingers. I have to admit I’m panicking right now. Are these permanent? Does this mean I won’t have the full use of my hands ever again? How will I write? How will I work as a dentist in the future?

The one thing I do know, however, is that the injuries will only get worse if I persist on doing what caused it in the first place: Using my laptop for hours and hours each day.

So for the foreseeable future, I will be taking a total break from the computer until my arms and hands heal. (I hope they will heal.)

To all my writer friends: If you give yourself one gift this holidays season, give yourself the gift of a healthy body. Take care of it. Develop good typing habits. Rest and stretch your hands and arms every twenty minutes. Don’t wait until permanent damage is done.

I hope you all have a Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!