an obvious thought

[gordonzola]

geez, you freelancers really must fear these repetitive stress injuries. At least I can file a worker's comp claim and have someone cover my work for a few days. Oh, healthcare in this country ...

Comments

[jwz.livejournal.com]

You know, I never feared it because I was worried about how to pay for it, I feared it because I was worried about permanently losing the use of my hands. But yeah, I guess monetary worries on top of that might have made the worry be marginally worse.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

don't get me wrong, that was my first fear. But being able to see a doc at the first sign of an RSI and knowing that I had some breathing room definitely helped calm me down from that. I can only imagine being a free-lancer and knowing I was hurting myself further, but not being able to stop because my rent/reputation/livelihood was on the line.

course, i went through a lot of the "I won't be able to use my ...." again when i herniated a disc in my neck and had chronic pain for over two years. I've still got my left hand, but you only get one neck.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

if there is a god, let's hope so. You were one of the people I was thinking about when I wrote that.

[poindexter]

How about liability insurance? I'm a freelancer and won't touch a system without a contract that states I'm not liable for data loss and that all systems should be backed up before I touch them.

I've seen enough cobwebby P-90 "servers" with IDE drives that look ready to die that I'd hate to have do on my watch.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

well, honestly I was thinking about freelance writers when I posted this. Nothing against you computer folks, but I don't even understand (except through context) half of what you wrote up there, so I wouldn't try and speak for your disability or work issues.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

Nail. Head. Hit.

[beelavender.livejournal.com]

I blew out my right wrist entirely while editing Breeder. Couldn't feel it, couldn't make a fist, certainly couldn't finish copyediting the manuscript. I had insurance but they basically told me to give up hope and stop working. Lucky me, by that time we had friends who could barter for accupuncture... but it took a whole year of weekly treatments to get back to something that resembled normal. Now I'm madly trying to finish two books before the new year and I can feel the familiar old tingle starting... the chiropractor asks if he can write a note to excuse me from work and I just laugh. I work for myself and self accepts no excuses.

[walktheplank.livejournal.com]

One thing's for sure: those damned wrist braces don't do a thing to prevent repetitive stress injuries. In my case, I think they made it worse.

Oh, yeah. Hat's off to our National Health System! Or lack thereof.