Re: is this a sign of arthritis
Medical
Science does not clearly understand arthritis.
Arthritis is a syndrome. On the bad painful days, you are actually healing, but the pain sends a message that you are getting worse, which will trigger painless necrosis. When you think you are getting better the body starts to heal with pain and inflammation.
Arthritis is all about a a sense of devaluation. You being a writer and it affecting your physical writing skills is indicative of feelings of unworthiness as a writer? Not good enough, perhaps with the sour economy it is more difficult to sell stories?
Treating the sense of devaluation with thoroughness will eliminate the arthritis, but remember the healing phase will be painful. Swelling and pain are a normal part of the process. The healing process takes anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. A good time for a break or vacation.
If there is any deformity caused by this, the deformity will remain, but the pain will be gone in most cases.