Thumbs Down

I decided to rest my thumbs 1 more day before starting the cubby holder. Yesterday I finally cleaned out the car from last weeks trip and I set up 3 wireless security cameras to view the front door the driveway and…the cat feeder/backdoor. The cameras are actually pretty neat. They are color and sound and have a motion detection feature that beeps or can turn on a recorder. The receiving unit can monitor 4 cameras. I just bought 2 and had 1 old one made by the same manufacturer that works with the receiver.

I took it relatively easy today, soaked my thumbs every 4 hours and they’ve settled a little. While I was building the bed they would get sore but settle down overnight. Now that I’m not building anything they don’t settle overnight. In fact last night they woke me up a couple of times. Go figure.

In my younger days I figured I’d be able to stay motivated in taking care of myself. I didn’t factor in the enemy of pain. It affects everything I do. When it affects sleep it leaves me drained. When you add in the heat of summer and my tolerance to it decreasing with age it’s even tougher. The back pain I had, the shoulder problems and the foot that plagued me this past year all have been reduced to minimal interference with normal activities. The thumbs may be a permanent problem and they are involved with almost everything I do. I have to think seriously whether I want to tear open a sweetener packet or turn a doorknob. Upper body exercise? I don’t think so. Even driving or using a computer can be bad. It is impossible, without putting on a cast to really not use the thumbs.

I’m not giving up but I am slowing down.