Fluffbuff

I can't help you with the cash, but I can give you support and encouragement...because...I am also seriously contemplating going back to school this fall, and I'm 47. Why the heck not?

So very sorry about your arm. Hope it mends well and quickly. I think it's really courageous to decide you'd be willing to take your life in a whole different direction, and that is true regardless of age. I hope you find something that stirs your passions and a creative way to make it work out. Best wishes!

Great changes indeed! Wish you all the best in the new ventures.

I'm sorry to hear that work is causing you physical pain. Mostly because, and selfishly so, I don't want your knitting to suffer as I so enjoy it! I'm currently seeing an Aston Patterning specialist (a form of physical therapy), and it's very helpful. AP looks at what you do with your body in the action that causes you pain and how your body is meant to move (i.e., we don't have perfectly formed bodies), and helps you correct how you do what was causing pain through being conscious of your movement. Sounds kind of woo-woo, I suppose, but it works for me. Here's the link for place that trains specialists http://www.astonenterprises.com/ .

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear of your current issue! That's just not the way it's supposed to go.

How about the student loan route? I believe that it is illegal for them to discriminate by age. And so what if you're paying it off into your golden years. You'll get there in the same length of time anyway, but you'll be happier for the education and career change.

I'm really sorry to hear that you're in pain :(
Believe me, I know how bad RSI can get with computer work. I had to do the same thing. A career change to take care of myself. Been in a transition state for the last couple of years planning my next step, but school is a good option. I'd strongly suggest doing some odd part time jobs of things you've not tried before to just try to find your passion. It's really different to try out some new skills and see if different ventures may open up to you.
I've found that pilates, PT and strength training (at different rates and stages) all have helped me with my RSI recovery (or should I say, stability). It might work well for you as well.

I am sorry to hear about your health problems, too. From what I learned about the relation between computer-use and piano-playing I can say you're planning to eliminate only one source of your problems. Whatever it was that you developed in one of these two activities had only aggravated those caused by the other. Now, even daily chores will contribute to the problems, unfortunately.
Treatments for these problems are available, but there's only one known cure: to stop the activity that caused you trouble in the first place. And that doesn't seem to be an option, to most of us. That's why many doctors advice us to learn to leave with pain. Unfortunately, further aggravation often also means disability...
I can only say that, unlike e.g. computer keyboard manufacturers, my fellow piano teachers refused to warn students of the possibility of their developing playing-related health problems.
I hope you'll get better.

I'm so sorry to read about your physical pain. A few years ago, I had similar issues around my work (I was a Sign Language interpreter). I made all sorts of adjustments and went through physical therapy. Sad to say, it meant virtually no knitting for a period of almost two years. But in the last three years, I've retired (would have anyway) and moved and found a new PT. He is wonderful! He has given me back my knitting, and now I'm playing piano again. Oh joy! My elbows and arms will always be under close watch and I'll have to be cautious. But now I have my life back again. If you find a physical therapist you trust, you can get a lot back that looks lost now.
Meantime, nothing wrong AT ALL with going back to school.
Good luck!
mm

don't count anything out - if your story is entertaining enough you will get donations! but, seriously, hope you start feeling better.

Francesca I do hope you will feel better soon !!!! As for school , our system is so different that I cannot help in anyway (wish I was a rich mecene , but alas ....lol)
Danièle

Oh dear. It's terrible to find yourself in a bind like that. Depending on what you want to do, many places offer courses over the Internet. There are foot mice, text-to-speech programs, and other aids for easing RSI. I am so sorry that you are crashing into these life-changing divisions. I do hope you can find another road that makes you happy and causes you no pain!

I didn't realise the bad arm was that bad. I hope it'll be better soon!

Good luck with your new plans. Back to school sounds exciting. You have many working years in front of you, why not spend them doing something you love!

Anything is possible. Don't give up on anything, just decide what it is you really want even if you don't know how to get it. Knowing is the first step then the rest will come.

DO IT! Follow your dreams . . . and do it while you can! I did - and I've never regretted the decision. Besides, that's what student loans are for - they make it more feasible in many ways. In the meantime, take care and I hope your arm heals quickly.

This is a pretty weighty post. I'm awfully sorry about the knitting ban! But I hope that all the other changes, whatever they may turn out to be, will be positive ones for you.

I still refuse to believe you are 50. It just can't be true. 38 I would fall for.

Hope your arm enjoys its time off!

Wait... 50? You can't be serious. I'm sorry but I think that the magnetic poles just shifted a little. I've only seen you in person once but I honestly pegged you for about 38ish... And that wasn't even 2 years ago. *faint*

That really stinks about your arm! What are you going to go back to school for? Maybe you can design some kind of simple lace pattern or something, I would definitely buy a pattern from you :)

A few years ago I had same type of problem with my right arm - a serious case of it not working anymore. Period. Nada. Took A.R.T. (Active Release Therapy) & found it was only thing that could restore damaged tissues to health. You may want to check it out at http://www.activerelease.com/
I was faced with possible surgery on my wrist which would not have addressed the source of the problem. A.R.T. did - I'm 99% better! Also, I mouse w/ left hand now to unload the right side.
I hope this perspective helps, take care.

I'm sorry to hear about your knitting/computer/playing injuries! A return to school sounds like a fabulous idea. Surely there are some grants/scholarships that would apply?

Would acupuncture help at all?
It is never too late for a change in your life. Maybe you could get a grant?

Oh, how sad to read about your arm and shoulder. I wish you luck with whatever you are going to start doing. And I hope you'll be able to knit again. Soon!

I'm in my mid 30s now, and have at least another year to go to finish my degree. I had a "real" job for several years, and both my old man and me quit that and went to graduate school. It cut our income by more than 50% over night. We spent 3 months making a painful readjustment, and now living on our teaching pay seems reasonable. Still, we've delayed having real jobs while we have been in grad school for the last 6 years, and thus have delayed putting away for retirement. I think there are painful accommodations to be made for school, unless we're 21 and the folks are paying the bills.
There is funding for graduate school. I wouldn't do it otherwise. You're smart, and you can get paid for that.
My vote is for school. I regret nothing, this has been the most amazing adventure of my life!

SO sorry about your injury. Will you at least be able to do some embroidery?

I am so sorry you have this problem. I have it as well and like you,feel it was caused by too long on the computer. I am still knitting but for less time at one go. I have learned to use the mouse left handed. I am taking anti inflammatories which are not good for the digestion! Fortunately I am now retired but my husband has to do a lot more housework. Best of luck.

I completely understand your desire to go back to school. That's my dream, too. But at the moment I can't justify going into massive debt for a doctorate in something as non-financially rewarding as cultural anthropology!

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do!

Sorry to hear about your injury. Rest up and heal! I had a rotator cuff injury that put a stop to my knitting for a while too. Re-focusing on reading really helped get me through it.

As for going back to school - could you start back part time and thus mitigate some of the cost?

Boo, I'm sorry about your arm. It's too bad about that piano, too. It's a beauty. But here's hoping to 50K! :-)

I got a RSI from computer work and dispaired - an artist, knitter and writer who couldn't use her hands, couldn't hold a book, couldn't hold hands with her husband without pain! I was miserable. Then, the nurse practitioner associated with my physical therapy told me about B vitamins, particularly B6 and how it helps nerves heal. I have healed a lot in the last several years but the problem can get agitated - when that happens I'm sure to take care that my spine is in good alignment and I keep up with my B6 or a B complex vitamins.

And on the occupational/educational note - I could NOT do a desk job again so now I am a full time teacher. Every day is different and I'm not stagnating (physically or mentally).

I hope you find a good, pain-free journey into your next adventure!

Ciao Francesca, auguri per tutto ... dala salute ai cambiamenti in vista.
Puoi passare dal mio blog? Ti ho coinvolta in una catena....affettuosa!

I hope you feel better soon. Take care of yourself. :)

going back to school for something you love is a wonderful, excellent, beautiful thing--to do and to see. hope you work it out somehow. i'm rooting for you!!

There have been articles recently about the high cost of culinary school vs. the low dollar reward. I do know that in one of the articles the City College program (here in San Francisco but I think the City College program also exists elsewhere) was mentioned as inexpensive (very) and the graduates of the program often got good jobs. At the very least, I think that the community colleges are an inexpensive way to explore a new program of study. Good luck!

doing some catching up....

there is absolutely nothing wrong with changing direction no matter what your age... and, should that pay-my-bills website work please let me know, been considering it myself. ha!

i think culinary school would be the best way to go, and - pasadena too? nothing a bit wrong with that.

Wow, you don't look like you are 50. I thought you were mid-thirties (I just had to look through your pictures - nope, not like 50). And I love to see people taking new paths. I find their courage inspires me to be a bit braver, too.