I try not to complain often about my aches and pains, but the past few weeks have been pretty rough.  I took a knitting break while we were out of town, but I've been having to take it easy since we've been back, despite my itching to knit like a crazy lady.

I've struggled with arthritis since I was 14, so it's nothing new but it does get the best of me.  As the weather heats up, things always get worse, and my regular regimen of supplements and prescriptions weren't cutting it.  So I did what I always do: go to the doctor and see what's next on the list of things to try.

My doctor prescribed a new (to me) NSAID that's supposed to be pretty good.  Hopefully, it gets me back to knitting freely soon.  I'm a big fan of resistance bands and have barely been able to do the stretches and exercises that really help keep my knees and elbows limber and reduce stiffness.

Arthritis is a pretty common challenge, and it seems like it's most debilitating for people who are active with their hands.  I can't count the number fibery types, jewelers, painters and illustrators, etc. who have to learn new techniques, find new tools, or take long breaks to prevent permanent or long-term pain.  Repetitive stress injuries are also a frequent complaint for those of us who work long hours on our crafts with few breaks and don't pay attention to our bodies.

It's always 'just one more row!' for me, and my body punishes me for it.