How To Deal with Writer's Neck

As a writer, I tend to self examine. Look at the insides. Unfortunately it shows.This morning, a tingly numb feeling crawled down my arm to my fingertips. No, I did not get bit by a recluse spider. My arm was asleep.

As a child, I loved the mysterious pin prickly sensation that happened to my foot while I sat criss cross applesauce watching a speaker in the gymnasium. At age 8, I pondered whether or not my ankle would shatter underneath my weight if I stood on it before my insides woke back up with my mind. As an adult, I shudder at the thought of blood not reaching my extremities and ponder how many times my arm can handle this.

Both are part of my imaginary world. The sensation is a compressed nerve from my posture. Sort of like a kink in a garden hose.

As a busy adult, I know I took a break from my upper back exercises. Ah, the dreaded knowledge of falling off course now manifests inside my body. Though it does have a scientific name "Writer's Neck" is what I call it.

What To do?

I pull my arm out of from under my pillow and sit up. Tilt my head to the right. Extend my wrist to a 90 degree angle, pull it to my ear. As I did when carrying a tray as a waitress, I push my wrist and tilt my head away from one another. I do this exercise 3-4 times: 90 degree wrist to ear and away again. The numbness dissipates. I lay back down and return to sleep.

Tip:

According to Personal Trainer and Online Coach, Margreta Rempert of Healthy Living, "Writer's neck" occurs because of a rounding of the shoulders. Her recommendations that helped me are shoulder exercises to strengthen the area surrounding the compression.