Harmonics are killing me!

I think I figured out what's wrong with my thumb joints: the ligaments at the base of my thumbs are slightly sprained or strained from harmonics. I have been neglecting my hand strengthening exercises, so yes, my muscles were weakened and allowed my thumbs to twist too much when plucking the harmonics in the two pieces I'm working on. And I played an exercise for kicks that was nothing but harmonics. So yeah. Need to stop that for a while.  I'm relieved, though, that they've been hurting long enough that it's time to apply heat - as opposed to the immediate 24-48 hr post injury icing that I skipped - because warm hands are such a luxury for me! And I've been doing my exercises again and they seem to be helping.

Sources:
http://black-rose227.deviantart.com/art/Anatomy-of-the-Hand-and-Wrist-270462040
http://www.overtimepainrelief.com/pain-treatment/arthritis-joint-pain/ligament-pain/

Here is a list of the reasons I didn't really practice today: I'm having an off day, I have an unusual headache, my thumb joint hurt, my harp is buzzing (A-NNOY-ING), it's too nice a day to be inside.

I started Impromptu-Caprice today. It's something I've been wanting to learn for years and kept thinking "someday". Today is someday, so I made a practice plan. It's not going to take the place of what I'm currently working on or other pieces I have planned, rather it's going to lurk in the background with much lower priority. I think it will take about a year to learn properly.

Both my thumb joints have become increasingly achy.

Checked off two more lines in Zarabanda review. One line each yesterday and today.

My entire rt hand is kind of achy now, instead of just the thumb joint. And it's traveling up into my arm, so I'm going to go slap the old heating pad on it and read.

I managed to get the 2nd piece corrected (I think) in Two Pieces for Harp.

I played Folk Song II in it's entirety, with no mistakes at half speed. This is a doozy. And I seem to be in such a funk that I wasn't even having my usual fun playing it. But it was nice to achieve the half speed.

Recorded Folk Song II to give a listen. Not bad, but need to practice with quarter notes so I can get proper beats.

Marked up and recorded 1st song in Two Pieces for Harp by Flagello. So far, it's not intriguing me too much. And there are a ton of errors in pedal markings and rhythms.

I got some good work done on Folk Song II - I just needed to focus, something which I can't always do. Trouble spots worked on and almost worked out so I can sort of play it at half speed.

Folk Song I is ready for recording at half speed. I kind of think I already know where the trouble spots are, though.

I stopped playing because my rt thumb joint was killing me.