Update on my hands and the Cthulhus

November 11th, 2011 · 11 Comments

I’ve been waiting to write this for a while in hopes that things would sort themselves out or that I could get some kind of timeline. But it’s nearly mid-November now, so I think I really owe an update.

Last summer, I suffered a repetitive motion injury from over-crocheting. That injury is now completely gone, but in August I suffered a far worse hand/arm injury at work. After 3 months, I’m to the point where I can take pain-killers in the morning and do most of my everyday tasks without any difficulties. I’m restricting some of the things I do, but I can type and cook and do most of the things which I was struggling with or unable to do in August.

But I still can’t crochet without pain. The doctor says she expects that level of healing to take longer (and I’m not yet off pain-killers anyway). She’s also disappointed that I’m not healing faster. Sadly, with hands, it’s almost impossible not to use them—especially when you’re a grad student with a full-time job.

I think I will get better. I’m looking at physical/occupational therapy options beyond the exercises my doctor gave me. But I really have no clue whether it’ll be another month or two or six. Or a year. I hope it’ll be less than a year. I really miss crocheting. I want to get back to it. I have all these ideas for Cthulhus. It hurts that I can’t do it. But, for now, I can’t.

When I can, you’ll be the first to know.

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11 Responses to “Update on my hands and the Cthulhus”

  1. Derek Says:

    Just wanted to wish you a continued recovery. I know what its like not being able to do the things you want to do. We loved your ebook and have been loooong time fans of all of your crochet cthulhu’s. If I had a $ for every time someone had mailed me a link…

    Ia! F’tagn!

    Derek.

  2. Tom Says:

    I hope your hands are better soon, Ruth! Your llama must be hurting too. I hope she’s better soon too! :)

    –TheMediocreYoungishOne–

  3. Warren Says:

    Well, I’m pulling for you! (So to speak.)

  4. KRin Says:

    Fingers,toes, tentacles crossed for a speedy recovery. I broke my wrist a few years back and it was hell when I couldn’t sew so I have lots of sympathy!

  5. Paul Says:

    Ugh! As a fellow artist it is doubly upsetting to hear this and am hoping for a timely recovery. Might acupuncture be of use?

    In the meantime, have you considered outsourcing to R’lyeh??

  6. Alfred Smith Says:

    I hope your hands recover soon and that the occupational therapy will help you. Hmmmm, is it possible to find a crochet club near you and convince the members to do your bidding? :) In essence, you’ll still be “pulling the strings”. If not, Great Cthulhu’s bidding must be done…after you feel better. Also, if there’s anything that we could do on our website to help push the products you currently have, let us know.

    Good luck and feel better.

  7. Terry P. Says:

    Hope you get well, been a while since I passed through your site and was sad to read this. As a programmer and someone that uses a keyboard excessively, I can imagine how painful it can be. Stay well and heal up!

  8. The Mage (William) Says:

    New here, first post I read so far.
    Unfortunately I do not know what injury you have sustained, but I do know how to treat repetitive motion injury. As you recover, you can get benefits from the same therapy.
    See an Active Release Technique specialist. (ART) Physical therapists and Chiropractors are sometimes co-trained in this skill. (And one of those is often covered by insurance.)
    There are also things you could do at home, involving rolling tennis balls over sore spots, although with an injury, I would seek out a professional to make sure you are not making things worse. But done right it can speed up recovery.

  9. thebigJ_A Says:

    @above

    Chiropractor =/= professional
    Chiropractor = crook

    There’s no medical science involved in it. Simple placebo accounts for your feeling better when you go. And you can get that from a good doctor, while also actually being treated for what ails you.

    To Cthulhu Chick: I found your Lovecraft collection on Amazon a few months ago and bought it for my Kindle. I’d only really known of him vaguely through internet and videogame mentions of Cthulhu.

    I came by just to say thanks! I had no idea what I was missing.

    Hope you’re getting well. And good luck getting off the painkillers. That can be hard, believe me I’ve been there.

  10. Winnie Rose Reyes-Moye Says:

    Hi. I just found your HP Lovecraft ebook on the kindle site and followed the breadcrumbs to your website. Thanks for taking the time to make the this free complete works of HP Lovecraft. I just downloaded it and uploaded it to the cloud.
    I also wanted to send you light and love and good wishes for your healing. I am also recovering from a RMI (from needlework) and have found out other things wrong with my wrists. I switched to clay from cloth sculpture so that’s helped. Hope you can get back to crocheting your lovely cthulhu creatures.

    Happiness and gratitude,
    Creaturesmith

  11. Winnie Rose Reyes-Moye Says:

    PS: I thought this will cheer you up…
    http://www.etsy.com/listing/89141827/lady-cthulhia-hanging-head-ornament-by?ref=ss_listing
    Its by another etsian who is also a cthulhu lover. :)

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