Carpal Tunnel Syndrome affects thousands of people and unfortunately I am one of those that are affected. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome results in two million doctor visits per year and it is the most common job-related injury. Approximately 260,000 surgeries are performed each year for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and it can cause permanent nerve damage if it is left untreated. I haven’t had surgery yet and I hope I never have to. The pain can be unbearable at times and the simplest jobs can become overwhelming. I get so frustrated because everyone tells me to stop writing because it’s going to make the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome worse. Will someone please tell me to stop doing laundry, stop cleaning the house and to stop doing yard work? I do tons of other things that I know makes the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome worse so why does everyone feel that it is solely from being a writer. My arm does hurt more after I’ve spent the day writing, but it also hurts after I’ve spent the day cleaning out closets and doing laundry. I would much rather someone tell me not to clean the house than to stop writing. It’s never fun to hear someone, who knows nothing about what you’re going through, say that you should stop doing something that you live for. Writing makes me who I am. A writer is who I want to be. I can’t stop being who I am for anyone or anything…especially Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

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