I am amazed to realize I'm getting older ... surely not me! It's when I overdo that I find that I can't do a particular activity or do as I used to do it. Am I really turning into my grandmother?

Okay, I was advised by my rehumatologist a number of years ago, if you're past 25, you've probably got some arthritis. I have to take breaks (a lot of them) when I cut strips for the log cabin quilts I've done. I also have some fairly serious spinal issues (had two lumbar spine surgeries) and I'll be 73 soon -- as another poster pointed out, I do one task, then take a break and/or do another task for a while. There are a lot of things I used to do in my 20's that I sure don't do anymore, like lugging 50 lb. bags of fertilizer for my rose garden -- guess what, I decided that the price of having the rose garden was just too high!

I'm an RN and can tell you that most of us end up with arthritis somewhere. I probably have it although I don't "feel like I do". It sounds to me like you just overdid though. Several hours cutting is a lot!

I agree. My chiro told me to vary my activities to keep from having injuries and soreness. When I'm cutting, I try to cut a while and then go do something else. The same with piecing. It takes me longer to complete things this way but I also feel better while doing it. No matter how good your ergonomics are doing one thing for too long a time can have a negative affect on you especially as you age.

About half-a-hour at a time is about all I can cut, then my back starts hurting.

Isn't it funny, our minds say we can do "IT" but our bodies say, Ha, Ha! I'm 74 and that happens every day all day. Do your cutting in smaller time bits--it will still get done.

I like using the 60mm rotary cutter for cutting. Plus I use the AQ system for cutting strips to avoid repetitious cutting.

Are you arching your finger tip to hold the ruler? I started using this method with less fatigue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybQLai6Mv58

Perhaps one of those weighted grippers for the ruler would help.Hope you feel better soon!

You might want to consider an ergonomic cutter like a Martelli. The thing that I've found most effective is to have a couple of cutters. Use them both switching back and forth, and as others mentioned, don't cut for over an hour! Take lots of breaks.

I like my Fiskars ruler with the blade attached for cutting strips. It's about 7 x 28". But even with it I can't cut unlimited strips in one session. I hate my age limitations but try to be thankful for and focus on what I can do.

I agree with everyone that you maybe need to change activities off and on. When I need to have alot of fabric cuts I will cut for awhile and then go to sewing something and then iron a little and then back to cutting. Hope you feel better soon.