Athletes can get a lot of injuries, yes. But writers? Sure, sitting at your desk isn't exactly a contact sport. But writers can suffer through their share of physical afflictions, too.This week, I have been suffering from a full-blown case of desk-contact-dermatitis (don't laugh!). Yes, that's a skin condition that has been created by the constant friction of resting the side of my arm on my desk. It went from rosy pink and a little scratchy to bright red and freakin' itchy! Hubby (who trained as a doctor) asked me: if you feel it getting sore, why do you keep putting your arm on the desk like that? To which I replied: I dunno.
That's not all. Sometimes I sit on the chair so much that my butt and upper thighs literally throb when I get up at the end of the day -- even when I do go for a run at lunch. I'm not sure I ever had this problem in my office life (possibly because I was usually fabricating excuses to go 'consult' (read: gossip with) my colleagues).
And of course there's the inevitable writer's arse. Although strictly speaking I'm not sure that could be called an injury, it's definitely a liability!
What injuries have you suffered from your writing? Please don't tell me I'm the only one!
I'm sorry about your afflictions. I have the same thing on my elbow from constantly resting it on my desk. And I suffer from writer's arse, too. Big time. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your answer to your hubby's question!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the squint from peering at computer screens! What with that, writer's arse, thigh ache and scabby elbow, we sound a pleasant lot, don't we?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to know you're not alone?
ReplyDeleteMy left elbow is so dark and dry it catches on things if I don't grease it up!
Is writer's arse, Big Time the same as writer's big time arse? Just asking.
Mary
Giggles and Guns
And to complicate things even more, recent studies have talked about cardiovascular problems with too much desk work. I need to brush off those gym shoes three times a week for sure.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so glad to here I'm not the only one! I do sometimes feel like Lurch after emerging from the office with my hair askew and my scabby arms.
ReplyDeleteUm... that would be 'hear'! I shouldn't be watching Wimbledon whilst typing!
ReplyDeletesore assness. It's a real term! (j/k) that and getting fat...
ReplyDeleteI have the elbow thing, as well - I lost a piece of skin about the size of a 10p piece. When I asked husband why I only had it on one elbow, he told me that was the elbow I rested on my desk, as I sat, cupping my chin and daydreaming. I won't ask in future!
ReplyDeleteI also have writer's arse, am an unanonymous chocoholic, my alcohol dependency is coming along nicely and I've recently developed a severe case of Twittaholism. :D
I can't blame this on writing the book because I usually do that on my lap at home...but at work my elbows rub *just wrong* on the pointy edge of the desk and every once in awhile it hits a nerve. OW!
ReplyDeleteOther than that I'm definitely seeing the return of writer's arse. NEED to get back to the gym. BigTime.
I so laughed out loud for real at this:
ReplyDelete"...if you feel it getting sore, why do you keep putting your arm on the desk like that?"
Men.
I had a bad neck thing a few years ago from sitting too long in one position. Now I'm up and moving more than I'd like with two dogs around. But in the evenings when they're quieter, I still get up at least once an hour so the neck problem doesn't occur again.
I get a sore wrist when I'm on the computer too much. And a headache. Please don't get me started on the writer's ass. *sigh*. I'm proud I made it to the gym twice so far this week as I was slacking off for at least a month.
ReplyDeleteGee, sorry you got injured! Maybe you could wear those gloves that go up to your elbows? :)
ReplyDeleteOMG! And here I thought I was the only one who had the weird arm thingy. Whew.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten mad tennis elbow from all the typing. Well, that's what the dumb doc says anything. LoL.
~JD
My legs go to sleep. I'm pretty sure that one day I'll get up from my chair and I'll got smack on the floor because my legs will be completely asleep.
ReplyDeleteWe should ask for an additional pay for risking our health by sitting at a desk for so long.
I get that skin irritation all the time, from rubbing against the arm of my chair or the laptop. Not to mention sore butt lol.
ReplyDeleteMine are sore wrists and eye soreness from looking at the computer screen too long. I'm in denial about the writer's arse.
ReplyDeleteIt's only recently, but my shoulder has been hurting from the strain of typing. And when my little siblings asked me why I continued, my answer is exactly the same: I dunno. Because it's so hard to take myself away from the computer, even when it hurts.
ReplyDelete:O finally there is a post for this! Very entertaining and couldn't agree more !
ReplyDeleteNeck, shoulders, eyes, wrists, elbows, legs, feet, knees, arse... why do we do it then if it hurts so much? Because it hurts so good when we can write "The End".
ReplyDeleteSore wrists *nods* :( Also back ache because I have such a bad typing posture :S
ReplyDeleteMy laptop's too heavy for my lap. I don't always type with it on my lap but surely you're supposed to be able to for a little while without the knees going funny otherwise it contravenes the Trades Description Act.
ReplyDeleteI bump my knees a LOT on the underside of my desk.
ReplyDeleteAnd ever since I got my shiny bigass monitor, the eye strain has been increasing...eep.
And I have terrible posture. I like to sit with my legs crossed beneath me until they go numb.
I have been pretty dedicated going to the gym, which is nice, because it offsets the guilt...
I would just like to thank you for not including pictures here.
ReplyDeleteI think my writing injuries are more emotional than physical.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm very intent on a project, I'll get a sore neck reminding me to move around a little!
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone! I get crazy carpal tunnel and a big fat butt.
ReplyDeleteOUCH! Perhaps you need writer's gloves??? You know... padded and the thumbs and wrists with open fingers. My knees get sore from propping up my laptop so it gets plenty of air in the vents underneath it.
ReplyDeleteMy tip for a sore butt: sit on a memory foam neck pillow! (the kind you buy for sleeping on airplanes.) It's like a memory foam whoopy cushion or the pillows you buy for hemorrhoids.
ReplyDeleteteehee--you're too cute! I know my back hurts because I sit too much and don't exercise my 'core' like I should... but the desk contact thing seems easily solvable. Place a CAT between your arm and the desk. Should solve it right away.
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks so much for chiming in, everyone! I'm so glad I'm not alone. You know, I almost took a pic of my scabby arm but then I decided I'd probably gross everyone out...
ReplyDeleteA really bad back until I changed my chair and improved my posture. Getting up and moving about is pretty essential, but it's hard when you're on a roll writing wise, sometimes it's been like four hours without moving and I'm in agony, but can't seem to shift my butt!
ReplyDeleteSilly, silly. Also eye strain and headaches. :/ Hehe, it's a barrel of laughs this writing lark!
Oh I wonder now if that's why I used to have such awful dead skin on my right elbow when I was living in a particular flat! Now that I think about it, I *haven't* had it since I moved away from there and didn't use that desk any more....
ReplyDeletei am too busy laughing my ARSE off to comment. OMG.
ReplyDeletelolololol
I've injured some pens - does that count?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you can collect disability? Then we can just sit at home and write... oh, wait.
ReplyDeleteCD
I get all those afflictions off and on. Right now, I'm suffering from back pain. I think it's because I'm in a hotel and working with a stiff chair with no back support. Aarggh.
ReplyDeleteStraight From Hel
LOL you're so funny :-D
ReplyDeleteI develop a repetitive right arm action that reaches into a cupboard for chocolate and out again, into the cupboard and out again, into the cupboard and out again.
ReplyDeleteI suffer from repetitive strain injury in my wrists and hands from typing and mousing. I had to replace my whole work station with ergonomic alternatives, and change my work habits considerably to build in breaks and exercise.
ReplyDeleteI am, however, ignoring the writer's butt.
I've been thinking about this very subject, but you beat me to the post! Yeah, I get sore neck and shoulders. I think injuries afflict many of us.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about your afflictions! I love writing by hand, and I get a blister on the side of my right pinky, the part that slides across the desk or notebook while I'm writing. Sometimes it hurts so bad I have to put a (Disney Princess) band-aid on it! I also get blisters on the side of my middle and index fingers from holding my pen or pencil. I solved that by using pens with soft grips and buying soft grips for my pencils!
ReplyDeleteOh, the sweet, sweet pain we writers put up with for our dreams. :)
Elbow
ReplyDeleteWrist
Arse
Headache...
Two really big concentration lines between my eyebrows - makes me look mean. Grr.
ReplyDeleteIf we were to say you're the only one, we're all liars so don't believe us. xD
ReplyDeleteI get writer's arse all the time, and occasionally my hands hurt too. All it takes to cure, though, is a walk around the house, or just something that gets me moving. But I guess that won't work for everybody. /:
Maybe yoga???
Ooh that sounds nasty.
ReplyDeleteI write sat on my bed, so I get a lot of leg cramp.
I lose all feeling to my limbs and my head feels like it's about to explode. But apart from those things...!! LOL!
ReplyDeleteAwwww I'm so sorry to read that you are getting illnesses whilst writing!! I'm just glad you have a lunchbreak!!!
Please have lots of little breaks in between the writing and of course, chocolate and wine!
take care and good luck with your writing!!!!!!
x
Try shea butter on it, should help.
ReplyDeleteI've also had very tired eyes, falling asleep in front of the computer, & yes my posterior can also fall asleep so I have to go for a walk or something to get the circulation going.
And I don't mean a walk to the fridge, either! :)
You are definitely not the only one Talli. I sit in an office chair all day long only to come home and sit in another desk... and my bum hurts to not extent... injuries can be caused due to writing for too long, best to take a wine break... grab a glass and stand out on the patio for a few minutes! It heals everything!
ReplyDeleteI do hope it heals soon and you feel better, using any creams for the itch?
ReplyDeleteI suffer from tired eyes!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone! I have eye and wrist troubles. Clearly, writing is dangerous work. :)
ReplyDeleteAhhh... that's terrible! I'm so sorry to hear that.
ReplyDeleteMy eyes get very dry and tired, and I suffer from back pain when sitting for too long.
I read somewhere that you're supposed to get up and move about every 15 - 20 minutes, but if I did that, I would never get anything done!
I was getting such headaches from staring at the screen that I bought a kitchen timer, set it to 15 minutes, and force myself to get up and look away. Oh, and there's also a year's worth of bursitis in my shoulder from typing wierdly.
ReplyDeleteYou poor thing, my sympathies are with you.
ReplyDeleteMy only writing affliction is I am not writing enough.
By the way 'Writers Arse' has been dismissed as an illness, check out my very scientific-y post earlier in the month about it if you didnt read it already.
I know about the writer's arse! Unfortunately. But going for a run at lunch time isn't something I'll be doing to rectify it.
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
Poor you.
ReplyDeleteI've never suffered from the "desk-contact-dermatitis", but have noticed a correlation between steadily increasing weight and the last year and a half, when I made the descision to start writing!
And don't get me started on the occular migraines.
Ah, the dreaded writers' arse.
ReplyDeleteGet up every hour or so. Do a few push up. Or a few sit ups. Or ten squats. Something. I know you run, but periodic breaks are probably good for your body. As we age, we get like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz. Gotta work on those creaks!
And pick up your arm!
I get a funny rash in the corner of my wrist from leaning on the laptop. Oh, the ailments we writers endure!
Sometimes my legs fall asleep. It's weird--the underside of my thighs always just totally goes numb after a while. And much of the time I don't actually write at a desk, which means I'm hunched over the laptop, so my back starts to hurt.
ReplyDeleteSure, sitting injuries are common. Bad posture, slumping in my chair, sitting too long without stretching or walking...I have muscle spasms, my legs ache, and today, my ankle and foot are puffy. Very annoying.
ReplyDeleteHi Talli, I found you via Rayna's blog. I can definitely relate to the "writer's arse". I walk briskly with my little dog to combate the spread.
ReplyDeleteMy wrists are always sore--tendonitis and carpal tunnel, by tailbone and my neck are aching after a long session. I move around from couch to desk to table to chair depending on what part hurts the worse.
ReplyDeleteYour arse is not alone ;-)
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ReplyDeleteThat sounds rough! I, myself suffer from Fat Ass-itis from sitting on my arse writing and forgoing exercise so I can write more. So sad really.
ReplyDeleteHey great blog!
ReplyDeleteI write 6 days a week and am tall - something of a lethal combination... so seem to afflicted by a permenant bad back.
But aren't we supposed to suffer for our art?
;-)
G