Introduction

Welcome to another installment on our journey of personal growth for writers and other creatives.

I’ll be honest with you. I have been dealing with chronic pain and mobility limitations the last few years and its crippling effects on my production and productivity. And I felt trapped; that there was no way out. That it would only get worse.

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." Ernest Hemingway

So, I want to share my journey as I think it may help others. Today, I'm sharing a deeply personal story that many might find familiar, especially as we age—the challenge of maintaining our physical capabilities in the face of inevitable changes. My last several years have seen a real decline in my production and productivity, due to increased arthritis and inflammation, resulting in 24x 7 chronic pain.

The Challenge for Artists and Artisans

As a writer closely connected with creative minds of all types, I've witnessed the struggle that aging presents, particularly to those whose crafts demand manual dexterity and physical involvement. Painters, potters, and sculptors face significant hurdles as they age. The very essence of their art requires steady hands and the ability to manipulate materials—abilities that diminish as joints stiffen and muscles weaken. This decline can be disheartening, watching one's physical capacity wane while the mind remains sharp and full of ideas.

I’ve witnessed this close-up with my uncle, who was a magnificent painter, and a close friend who continues to be a world-class potter. I’ve seen both of them cry over their loss of dexterity and reduced creative output.

And I've been going through that myself over the last several years. Having crushed my lower 4th and 5th vertebrae together as a teenager and having had two-thirds of the cartilage removed from each knee over the last two decades worsened my personal situation, causing great chronic pain to the point that it was unbearable the last two years.

But I now feel as good again as I had previously..

A Different Path for Writers

For writers, the physical demands of our craft are less overt, but they're present, nonetheless. We can take advantage of dictation and speaking our craft instead of typing. But dictation is a skill that many have a hard time conquering, and most never make it a part of their creative work flows.

Therefore, we resort to spending long hours at a desk, leading to a sedentary lifestyle, something I experienced firsthand during the pandemic. The isolation and lack of activity not only reduced my physical fitness but also brought on bouts of depression and a reliance on NSAIDs to manage the pain from a long-standing back injury and knee problems.

And they only got worse as I felt forced to reduce my activity further. Looking back, and with what I know now, that was a mistake. I needed movement, not rest to start to correct my chronic pain problems, which resulted in severe arthritis and inflammation.

Turning the Tide

However, the narrative began to change thanks to the intervention of my supportive wife. She introduced me to alternative therapies like acupuncture and natural supplements, including collagen, and castor oil applications on my knees. Inspired by these small improvements, I discovered a transformative book, Built from Broken by Scott Hogan, which reshaped my approach to dealing with physical pain and mobility.

Motivated by Hogan's insights, I embraced a new routine:

• I phased out NSAIDs in favor of natural supplements, adding collagen, turmeric and fish oil daily.

• I integrated light, load-bearing exercises to aid joint movement and synovial fluid production.

• I followed some advice from a friend with similar problems (the advice came from his son, who is a noted injury recovery specialist) to do (what I am calling) knee clenchers. This is a daily four sessions of three sets of ten clenching of my knees when they are at a 90-degree angle. Doing this increased the surrounding muscle strength, but more importantly, increases the amount of synovial fluid in the knee joints. And each session only takes two minutes.

• Regular "exercise snacks"—short, manageable exercises—became part of my daily routine. These were simple to do, and included slow-movement lifting with 5-pound weights, squeezing hand grips, and isometric knee exercises to increase the amount of synovial fluids around my joints.

The Results

These changes didn't just alleviate the pain; they enhanced my overall energy levels and improved my sleep quality, allowing me to extend my knee bends from a painful 75 degrees to a much more functional 110-120 degrees, making it far easier to sit and stand, get in and out of the car, and in and out of bed.

The arthritis in my hands decreased and my hand strength increased significantly. And I am now back to being more energetic and productive when writing. After two months of these routines, I felt better than I have in the last five years.

Call to Action: Choose to Change

I share this story not to prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution, but to offer a beacon of hope for those facing similar challenges. Here’s how you can start your own journey towards better joint health and mobility:

• Consider reading Built from Broken to get a comprehensive view of potential strategies.

• Begin with gentle joint exercises as described in the book.

• Review and possibly augment your diet with natural supplements like type 2 collagen, turmeric, and fish oil.

• Explore the benefits of applying castor oil to sore joints.

• Establish small exercise stations around your home to integrate movement into your daily routine. I do these few minutes of exercise ‘snacks’ while making a cup of coffee, or my knee clenchers when waiting in the car when my wife goes into the post office to mail a package, or other activities when I find a few minutes of time.

• Look into regular treatments such as acupuncture or massage, which might be more affordable than you think with the right health plans. (In Australia, treatments can often be subsidized by government health plans or through private health insurance, making them more accessible.)

Engaging with these methods has not only improved my physical well-being and my ability to write longer each day; it has profoundly impacted my quality of life. And while the road was not easy, the destination has proved to be well worth the effort.

Upcoming Blogs and Other Resources

This topic has grown close to my heart, and I will continue to explore and discuss it in future posts. Your journey may differ from mine, but I am eager to hear about your experiences and challenges. For any questions or if you just need to chat about your situation, don’t hesitate to reach out via the contact information on our About Us page. Join me as we continue to explore these themes together, learning and growing every step of the way.

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and improving your craft word by word -- or blog by blog!"

Steve Shipley: Author and founder of InkIT Publishing