Okay.

[in_the_blue]

So, I worked today. I'm tired. I don't like working on Saturdays, and I discovered that I have tendinitis in my left elbow. We optimistically refer to this as 'lateral epicondylitis' in the massage world while the rest of the world calls it plain old 'tennis elbow.' This is apparently the universe's way of punishing me for going away last weekend because it's from hauling that travel sack all around those airports.

Note to self: get weekend-size travel bag with wheels before next grownup 'I simply must escape lest I go insane' weekend. It's either that or a House-Elf.

So I'm trying to be very gentle to my elbow 'cause... ya know, it hurts, and last time I had tendinitis it was in my right forearm and that took about 2 years to heal. That was also from lifting a suitcase, but in that instance it was a 40-lb thing and I picked it up to get on the bus to go back to economy parking and I not only felt but heard the tendons go pop pop pop, which is a nasty thing to feel and hear. This time, it's just sore and thankfully it's not on my right arm again. If I baby it, it might go away in a couple months. Just in time to start teaching again.

Writing alert: I have a plot bunny in my brain now for a 6th-year Sirius & James fic. Kind of one of those 'missing moments' pieces. But first I have promised Draco I will finish Ferret Day and let him move on. Those of you who read my 7th-year-fic will be glad to know that this new plot-bunny thing plays right into that whole fic and is the same ultra-KEWL Sirius I've been working on there, brown eyes and everything. Boldly defying what JKR said on her web site, blast her!

Off to baby my elbow. Maybe wrap it in ice for a while because it's hot out and that would feel good. [waves to everyone... but wisely, with her right hand]

Oh! And Happy Birthday one day early to shellebelle93. You're the best! Hope your day is great.

Comments

[shellebelle93.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you, G! I hope your elbow feels better really soon.

*hugs*

[erised1810.livejournal.com]

ack!
nonononono...sirius' eyes re blue.
*also defies what JKR stated on her website*
nyah!

[voxmaille.livejournal.com]

lateral epicondylitis

I totally knew what this meant. And the inflammation usually affects the ulnar nerve, causing numbness and tingling down the lateral aspect of the forearm, all the way through to the fifth digit.

I have been studying like mad. (Did you know that poor posture at a desk can also trigger inflammation in the area, especially if you lean on your elbows?)

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

There are so many things that can trigger lateral epicondylitis, yeah. Mostly it's RSIs, but every now and then it can be that innocuous hey, why does this hurt all of a sudden? motion. As a massage therapist I know that a good many of the worst muscle aches and pains come from some tiny little motion that you've done a hundred million times... only this time it hurt for whatever reason: the muscle was twisted too far, or it was too cold, or someone dropped a hundred-pound weight on it, or we had bad body mechanics during some task, or the guy weaving back and forth in front of us on the highway had us in very tense musculature and ouch, tweak, destroyed.

I'm taking an entire week off from massage, though, because I did three massages yesterday and that exascerbated the injury. I'm going to try to be smart about it because I don't want to have to sit out the next six months of my career.

Ice, ice, baby. If I can keep the inflammation (-itis) down, maybe it won't compress the ulnar nerve.