Reading this right now is so timely! I'm an artist about to have a surgery on my shoulder/dominant arm and mourning that I will have to be gentle on it for some time. I've actually taken to left hand drawing and painting in anticipation (and to give my consideration to what's hurting that arm right now too) but absolutely loving the results. I've experienced before what you described, art saving you, yet I'm still somehow always impressed when art saves and catches me again.