General Forums >> Creative Block >> Letter to all Artbistro Friends
Letter to all Artbistro Friends
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Posted 2 months ago Dear Art Bistro friends…I have been pretty dormant here lately. There is a reason good or bad. Since I was in my teens I have had arthritis. No big deal to me. I didn’t let it stand in my way. A few years ago I had one knee replaced because of it. Over the last few months it has become almost impossible to paint most days. But on the days my shoulders feel okay I have been able to start a few paintings. Three months ago the shoulder situation took a drastic dive downwards. If I can paint one day a week, for a few 15 min’s goes, I do. I have also been very tired from never getting a good sleep because of the pain. My poor husband is plagued with the same lack of sleep because of my tossing and turning. Recently I have had to face the reality that I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING about it. Saw my Dr. this last Friday and after he saw my X-rays his comment was to the effect…. “It is plain to see you have no more shoulder joints, Time for you to let me send you to an Ortho Dr and have them changed out for new ones.” UHGGGGGGGGGG Don’t get me wrong, my knee replacement went wonderfully ! ! ! But I had no fear going into that one. If I came out unable to walk I could still sit and paint. I will now admit to the artists worst fear….having something go wrong and never being able to paint or create again. THESE ARE MY SHOULDERS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE. I don’t want or need pity. I’m just asking for a few good, positive thoughts or prayers if you so feel so inclined. I am working as well as I can to try and finish the paintings I have started before whatever date my surgery will be. Llacey2001 |
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| Posted 2 months ago I'll be praying for you to turn this matter over to God so you can rest in perfect solace, there by being strengthened in his love no matter the outcome. |
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| Posted 2 months ago Dear Loma, You have just painted my near future. I don't how much longer I have before I have to have my knees replaced and I know the problem in my neck are steadily declining. I have other physical problems and I take care of my grandchildren and go to school realizing that this might be the last years I can actually work on my art as I feel the arthritis moving to my hands and fingers. I hope for the best for you and know that you are not alone that there is many of us facing these type of battles but facing them one day at the time. Live every day as if it was your last day on earth. Have a great day, Patsy |
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| Posted 2 months ago It is amazing what medicine can do these days, try not to worry. The recovery process might be the hard part, keep a positive attitude, that will be key in your healing. Fingers crossed, prayers said, lucky rabbit foots rubbed and any other tokens of luck I can think of. The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
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| Posted 2 months ago I heard that dogs heartworm pills are supposed to do wonders for arthritis. |
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| Posted 2 months ago I feel for you. 44 years ago Robert Slutsky, my freshman freehand drawing instructor cursed me by saying," if you keep drawing from your wrist you will certainly criple yourself". Needless to say I tried to draw from the shoulder, but it was the time of Helmut Jacoby, ace with pen and ink for Architectural Renderings, who inspired me to grab my rapidographs and do extremely finacky tight ink renderings, which I continued (from the wrist for precise work) for the next 35 years until the onset of Carpel Tunnel, followed by trigger finger and god knows what other chronic hand problems I have. This prompted me to use a computer to draw, except when I feel masochistic or nostalgic for the rapidographs. I flirted with the idea of surgery, but the odds of success are less than 50%, so I sleep with a splint and brace on my right hand and use a mouse as my primary 2D art medium. Slutsky was right. These are really warnings to the younger artists among us. Because the arts require repetitive physical efforts, often a lot more strenuous than the artist realizes while concentrating on the product and ignoring their body, we do irreperable physical damage from which we suffer as we age. If there is no option for you, do the surgery. Your joints won't regenerate themselves. Pain killers and other medications can only mask the problem to a point, then they stop working when the deterioration gets too great. I figure you've compensated for the pain as much as you can and you really need to paint, you need new shoulder joints, I hope you do it and pray it goes well. |
