From Self-discovery to Self-defence

14 June 2020

The road of recovery sometimes leads to self-discovery. Fighting an illness takes time and patience. At a time of inactivity when the body is resting, there’s nothing better than reflecting on things that matter in life. You might think that I am going to write about Covid-19; I’d rather leave this topic to the experts who I am sure can do much better. I will instead focus on a personal ailment which I believe is commonly found in mature adults–osteoarthritis.

I was alarmed to find my left thumb and index finger swollen with pain a month ago. Looking back I think there had already been telltale signs even when I was in Hong Kong. Because of my busy schedule, I used to ignore any small inconveniences in my everyday life. When I lacked the dexterity to perform delicate tasks with my fingers, I let other people do them for me. My regular practice on the piano also helped prevent the condition from getting worse, of course without me knowing anything about it at the time.

At the onset of winter in a new country after a three-month absence of piano playing, the symptoms of osteoarthritis surfaced to their fullest extent. The swell, the pain, and the redness became too obvious to be shrugged off. The GP’s advice was none other than a prescription of painkillers. I refused with a smile and thanked her for confirming my problem. With the help of the internet, I am sure I can find a better solution. Being a great fan of essential oils, my research naturally started from there. After reading a few websites, I narrowed down my choice to four essential oils that are already on my regular list: Frankincense, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Lavender. The key is I alternate between these four until they work wonders.

As regards hand exercise, I need something slightly different than typing or making music on my keyboards. I saw how my father and other patients who went through hand therapy in the hospital exercised their fingers and palms using elastic resistance putty.  I wondered if I could do something similar. In the end, I chose an activity that doubled the benefit. To enjoy the result of my hard work, I reckon that baking is the best choice. By hand kneading the dough that is also elastic, I can both exercise my finger joints and prepare homemade bread in its original form. After a month of weekly baking, my symptoms subsided.

My self-help experience has taught me at least two things. Understanding my problem and its solutions in a general way is the first step. One shall not, and must not, however, blindly follow the method that works for other people, especially when dealing with a long-term problem. I could have taken medicine to numb the pain. Or I could have relied on occupational therapy, but its sheer boredom puts me off. I know it won’t last. Being able to enjoy both the process and the product of my finger exercise ensures its continuity. My second lesson is to learn about the importance of self-defence. I know this is very much against the idea of teamwork, something that the modern world emphasises. But since fighting a disease is a personal struggle, it’s important to learn to protect yourself. Sometimes not even the professionals can help.

There’s no room for complacency upon recovery. Even when the symptoms disappear, I shall keep the defence mechanism going. In a state of political turmoil especially in my birthplace, Hong Kong, we must equip ourselves with techniques of self-defence. So how do we protect ourselves? One way is to stay vigilant, and keep ourselves informed of the little things that are happening around us. I am not saying that it’s not important to find out the news, but by the time any main news reaches the general public, it’s probably too late to act. I know from the news that worryingly, people in Hong Kong are now desperately securing their personal assets by converting them into US dollars. This is a move to prevent a great depreciation of their funds if Hong Kong dollar is unpegged from the greenback. This action, though wise, should have taken place a year ago, long before the proposal of a national security law. There were telltale signs that the Chinese communist party would further encroach on the city’s freedoms, but many people chose to ignore them.

Now, let’s focus on a bigger picture. At a time when the global economy is being hit hard by Covid-19, each of us has to find our way to get over it. A long and winding road of recovery might last for years or even decades. But history tells us that people are resilient. As long as we use some imagination, I am sure we can each find a unique way to survive and revive. Hinted by my personal ordeal, I think it’s important that we start seeking a way out early enough. Don’t wait until the warning signals have become such a norm that they take root in our lives. Let’s make solving problems part of our daily routine rather than let any problem intrude into our lives. There’s no end to getting to know about yourself, and discovering the self-defence techniques that best suit you.