Ow.

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 17 (after an over-zealous organ teacher had me do so many stretching exercises that I strained many of the joints in my fingers). I've been extraordinarily lucky that the disease has made very little progress. It's probably responsible for my non-menstrual migraines, but other than that I have just one or two painful flares each winter.

Today is one of them, and the worst I've had in years. Typing isn't too bad, but playing was awful, and moving my wrists or my left thumb still hurts two hours after a big dose of Aleve. I quit practice after about 15 minutes and just worked on selecting music instead of playing.

Odds are I'll be fine by tonight or tomorrow.. and freshly reminded to treasure every day I can make music (and tie my own shoes, and embroider....) Unless someone finds a cure, it'll catch up with me someday.