Good rule of thumb is to stop drawing as soon as there’s pain, art shouldn’t have to be persevered through pain, it can always wait. If you do draw everyday, draw with more days in between. I work and draw so my hands are always used, so most of the week I choose not to draw. Wishing you the best!

Without equipment: I recommend these before and after drawing

(Hold 20 seconds each time)

Idk what this is called but I do it too

Here’s with the products that worked for me after going to physical therapy:

-Flexbar(red): grab both ends and bend 20x like you’re making a rainbow, and then 20x for an upside down rainbow. Hold both ends and twist opposite directions 20x, like you’re holding a motorcycle handle, but opposite directions on both hands.

-Theraputty(red): pinch with each finger one at a time (20x). If you’re absentmindedly doing something like a phone call or watching a video, play with the putty. Really, using your hands keeps the strength in place while doing nothing actually made me way weaker and ache all the time. Scar tissue can build up like cobwebs if you’re inactive, so moving breaks it up or keeps it from spreading to me at least.

-Digiflex(red): press down with each finger one at a time (20x)

-2lb weight: hold in hand and move arm straight in front of you like a fist bump, then pull back to body and up straight(x15). Also sitting and resting arm at a right angle on an arm rest while holding the weight. You can rotate your wrist off the edge of the arm rest left/right 20x, then another 20x curling your palm up and down with the weight. This one hurts at first but it gets easier as you get your strength back.

Be careful with braces because some hurt more after, and I had fingerless ones that hurt after because my fingers instinctively curled in my sleep. Don’t overdo painkillers since things like advil can be toxic to organs if overdone. For relief, get ice or a heating pad(there’s no decision which is better so it’s up to you). Ice after exercise or drawing is good.

Food is also a bigggg factor! Reduce salt and sugar as they can cause inflammation. If you have small wrists like me, the swelling muscles cause a lot of pain. I’m probably too restrictive but I don’t drink soda, caffeine(can make you jittery), coffee, or eat too many pastries. If I have something too sweet I’ll avoid any more sweets the rest of the day. Weirdly enough having tendinitis improved my eating habits 🧍‍♀️

Hi! I was on there until it had shutdown years ago (and refuse to return if they’re marketing nfts now🤡)