Bad habits begone

After the age of 40, I think our warranty expires and then it’s a long slide into broken down parts. Kind of like cars, I guess. The latest on my accruing list of broken down parts is my ulnar nerve. That’s the nerve that runs from one’s neck down through the elbow and into the hand. When it gets all upset and inflamed, it tends to manifest in pinky and ring finger numbness. Depending on the severity of the situation, permanent nerve damage is a possibility. So, it’s not a bad idea to take it a little bit seriously when it happens.

One day last week I was standing in my dining room, minding my own business, when a sharp stabbing pain hit my right arm about midway between my elbow and my shoulder. As if something was stinging me fiercely. But as I was wearing a tee shirt at the time, it was clear nothing was taking a chunk out of me. Shortly after, the pinky and ring fingers on my right hand went totally numb.

Having gone through the whole carpel tunnel syndrome thing a few years ago, resulting in some irreversible nerve damage and surgery, I thought it might be a prudent move to call the doctor. My right hand doesn’t need any more insults.

So. On Thursday, I had my appointment with a very nice doctor who specializes in these things. Ulnar neuropathy, he called it. A mild case, he said, but let’s investigate what is causing it and nip it in the bud.

Well, one possibility is the incredible whack I gave my elbow a few days prior. But probably not the main cause. More like the final insult to an already jangled nerve. When he asked me about my computer use and set-up, I think he blanched a little bit when I described it. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been using a table that was never designed to be a desk and it was too high. I knew that. But I didn’t have anything else for the space and it seemed to work okay. Until it didn’t, obviously.

I gave my poor old ulnar nerve a double whammy by compressing it at the elbow and at my wrist. Leaning on my elbow is a favorite way of spending time reading the screen, with my wrist draped over the edge of the desk for my mousing.

So this nice doctor took me to a room where there was a properly set up (i.e. ergonomically correct) office space. I got to show him all my bad habits and he got to show me all the good ones that I was about to adopt. Let’s just say that I enjoy my bad habits and adopting proper new ones takes practice and patience.

Yesterday I went out and bought a new desk. Not one that I particularly like, but it’s ergonomically correct and it fits the space. Eventually, maybe I’ll find one that I do like, but I needed something now. Mainly what I don’t like about it is that it isn’t comfortable. I can’t lean on my elbow. I have to sit up straight. I can’t sit cross legged in my chair anymore. There is nothing to slouch on or against. And my mouse is placed where I can’t drape my wrist over the edge of the desk, not that I could anyway even if I wanted to. The desk is too low for that. Bleh. I like my bad habits. But, as the good doctor said, bad habits can be unlearned and new ways of doing things will be become new and loved habits. They will become comfortable. It’s like breaking in a new pair of shoes or something.

Already there has been a marked improvement in my numb fingers. They aren’t as numb now. It’ll take a little while for it to go away completely. I also have to wear an elbow splint at night—really annoying. Sleeping without bending my elbow is SO not comfortable, but it’s not forever. Today my fingers are less numb than they were yesterday. More tingly than numb, now. But I don’t like that feeling, either. The nerve running between my elbow and wrist itches today. And my elbow is sore. That’s a good sign that means things are on the mend, I’m told. So...I’ll carry on with learning my new habits without too much complaint. It beats the alternatives. Maybe I’ll even grow to love my new desk, too.

What I really appreciate, though, is my body’s capacity to repair itself. Bless its little heart.