…to my knitting. I have not been knitting the last few days because of my wrist pain. I could keep “soldiering” on but I know in the long run that would be a mistake. I may [heaven forbid] go to a doctor. I just hate having to do that!! So, I won’t be updating any projects in the near future. Yes, I am bummed. Big time.
March 6, 2012
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Sorry to hear about your whoa’s. Hope it’s nothing too serious. Here’s to a speedy recovery.
Comment by Love To Crochet — March 7, 2012 @ 12:23 am
GOSH!! I’m soooooo sorry! I understand the pain of not knitting and the pain of knitting
Hopefully it will be all better soon
Read a good book………..maybe that will help???
Comment by Sue J — March 7, 2012 @ 12:30 am
Bad news!! Hope for a speedy recovery.
Arnica gel might help ease it.
Comment by Helen — March 7, 2012 @ 5:10 am
So sorry to hear about your wrist. Difficult as it is, resting it is probably best. Here’s to a speedy recovery!
Comment by Kym — March 7, 2012 @ 8:36 am
So sorry to hear about your wrist. I know whereof you speak. Going to the doc is a good idea. Maybe some rest, PT and a possible cortisone shot will do the trick. Good luck!
Comment by Sue Johnson — March 7, 2012 @ 9:02 am
That’s terrible; a knitter’s nightmare. Have you considered acupuncture?
Comment by LeighK — March 7, 2012 @ 9:03 am
So sorry! Refraining from knitting for a bit is probably a good idea. Here are my tricks for dealing with joint pain (mostly arthritis, in hands and knees): 1) Traumeel (better than plain arnica gel; best price at drugstore.com), 2) lots of hand and wrist exercising/stretching (Google for ideas), 3) hot/cold treatment (hold hands in bowl or sink of hot water for a few minutes, then plunge into ice water for a few. Back and forth, hot then cold, until the hot water isn’t hot anymore. Do this every night before bed for a couple of weeks at least).
Comment by Bonnie — March 7, 2012 @ 9:17 am
Have the doctor check and give those hands a rest if need be. I have to stop and rest my hands and arms. Right hand (my throwing hand) will hurt continually and swell. So I put aside my hobby for weeks on end to give my hands and arms a rest. The job does not help as I’m in front of a computer every day using a keyboard and mouse constantly — repetitive motion. Chin up. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get some knitting in, but remember for short laps and not long runs. 😉
Snowbird
Comment by Snowbird — March 7, 2012 @ 9:31 am
Ive suffered from major wrist pain. I finally succumb to getting a cortisone injection. Worst mistake I’ve ever made. Not only was the injection so painful, I took 3 Vicodin to deal with the immense pain, but the pain continues. Think twice before you go that route. It has been 9 months, still lots of pain, but now I have a compounded cream to help with heat. Wish the option would have been offered at first.
Hope you find relief.
Comment by Sylvis — March 7, 2012 @ 9:55 am
Susan, Maybe its a good time to read the new Principles of Knitting.
Comment by Patsy Fisk — March 7, 2012 @ 12:18 pm
Oh my goodness!! I know how awful that is from personal experience. In fact, I wrote a blog post about it that might help. I hope so! Get well soon!!! Your knitting needs you. And you need it!
http://blog.expressionfiberarts.com/2012/01/01/my-wrists-hurt-from-knitting/
Comment by Chandi — March 7, 2012 @ 1:30 pm
Oh dear, I am so sorry. It must be terribly difficult not to be knitting. I hope your wrist heals soon.
Comment by Astrid — March 7, 2012 @ 5:59 pm
Sorry to hear that. Hope you can find a cure for the problem but be sure to give it a lot of rest.
Comment by Beverly — March 7, 2012 @ 6:08 pm
Rest, rest, rest. Hope you find a solution soon.
Comment by June — March 7, 2012 @ 6:21 pm
I understand completely about not wanting to see a doctor. I waited more than six weeks to see a doctor after I became suddenly unable to lift my left arm without knee-buckling pain. But that is because I am sometimes an idiot. Don’t be like me!
Comment by quinn — March 7, 2012 @ 7:32 pm
susan, you always make such interesting patterns. I would love to see your current dream list…Maybe pics? best, Mary in Cincinnati
Comment by mary mcmahon — March 7, 2012 @ 7:44 pm
so sorry!
Comment by pattie — March 7, 2012 @ 11:03 pm
See a doctor! And, is your work set-up contributing? If so, time for an ergonomic evaluation. Oh, and the adjustment to not knitting is like quitting smoking — anxious and jittery. Now that I have my fancy new titanium wrist plate, I can knit again, and it is encouraged for fingers (I’m a picker), but it is slow going (and pain meds sort of interfere with concentration). Keep us posted!
Comment by Susan — March 7, 2012 @ 11:12 pm
Hi Susan….Just can’t believe that you have to lay up your knitting. Will you READ instead? I hope that a little rest will help your wrist. Hang in there and go to knitting tomorrow night for a little comaraderie (oh, all right, I meant SYMPATHY!!!)
We pulled in to Fort Stockton, TX tonight. We’ve had a great week so far……….visited both Tom’s sisters in Mississippi and Houston, TX area, visited a kennel of British Labs in Oxford, MS and today we hooked up with the guy that got Tom and I on our plant-based diet. He made us a totally fat free and plant-based lunch and it was delish. We spent three hours, touring his 125 acres with 3-4 ponds, a wonderful bridge and touring their new home. I have a funny story to tell when I get back to knitting. Friday we hook up with our friends in Rancho Mirage for a week. I’m knitting lots and have nearly finished one of your Holden shawlettes……….made it out of some hot pink Ella Rae bamboo/silk. I think it may turn out larger than yours as the yarn isn’t quite what it called for, but it is okay as I have 9-10 skeins which should be plenty. Hope you enjoy sewing, needlework or reading while you are on “wrist rest”…….Cathy
Comment by Cathy Rootness — March 7, 2012 @ 11:56 pm
So so sorry to read this. Hope it is sorted and you are knitting again as soon as possible. Soo x
Comment by Soo — March 8, 2012 @ 12:54 pm
Sso sorry to hear this, I so enjoy reading about your knitting. Hope it all gets better soon.
Comment by Dianne — March 8, 2012 @ 8:58 pm
Don’t soldier on when there is pain. I don’t know if there is anyone in your area that practices the Berry Technique (hands on work developed by Lauren Berry), but I have found it to be exceptionally helpful in recovering normality after dislocating my thumb.
Comment by Ann — March 8, 2012 @ 9:15 pm
I broke down and went to my orthopedic doc last fall. I had the shot and was supposed to exercise on my own at home. It was feeling better (not 100%) and I forgot the exercises. Then, a family emergency pulled me away from home and knitting for 7 weeks. Taking care of a newborn, a toddler and my daughter’s home did the trick. I got plenty of exercise and a rest from knitting. My arm feels great now and things are much better for my daughter’s family, but I have lost my desire to knit. How do I get that back?
Comment by Mary Jo — March 9, 2012 @ 2:43 pm
I’ve been thinking of your problem, and think maybe you could work on designs that are cooped up in your head???
hope the R&R helps.
Comment by pattie — March 9, 2012 @ 4:25 pm
Oh, what a bummer! Here’s to a speedy recovery!
Comment by Lori on Little Traverse Bay — March 9, 2012 @ 5:40 pm
I read your blog often, with all of your wonderful knitting, and I’m wishing (and praying) for a complete healing!
Comment by Dolores — March 10, 2012 @ 12:28 am
I was diagnosed with dequervain’s tendinitis in january; no knitting whatsoever since then. Going to physical therapy has helped immensely but still a long way to go…..the last straw for me was most likely knitting on size 1 circular needles with a silk/wool yarn that didn’t have much stretch for hours on end in an attempt to finish a christmas gift. Going forward, circulars in the smaller sizes will most likely be banned. I strongly recommend seeing both a PT and an OT who can help with redoing your knitting style.
Best of luck!!!
Comment by Michele — March 10, 2012 @ 11:09 am
Given the amount of large projects you post, you must knit constantly at warp speed. Satisfying, yes. Good for the body, no. My body tells me when its time to go on a knitting hiatus. Then knitting is put down for weeks and sometimes months when that happens. It doesn’t get picked up again until my body says it’s time. Avoiding permanent physical damage is the most important thing. We need our bodies and our hands for a lot more than knitting.
Be patient and keep your mitts off the needles until you have allowed yourself to thoroughly heal. Here’s hoping it’s nothing serious and taking a break from knitting is all that’s needed.
Comment by PurrlGurrl — March 11, 2012 @ 11:52 am
PurrlGurrl seems to have good advice. do you like to cook? maybe you can find something else for the “duration.” i am so sorry and i will miss you. hopefully it will not be too long.
Comment by Chloe — March 11, 2012 @ 6:26 pm
So sorry to hear about the pain you’re in. I can sympathize – have given myself “tennis elbow” from knitting – first in my left arm last year, and now in my right this year. Scary. I couldn’t lift or hold things, hanging up my winter coat was an effort, as was carrying bundles. It improved with rest and exercise and today the left arm is pain free. Now that it’s happened again this year, and on my dominant side, I learned I have to let the knitting go – no matter how much I love it. It’s just not worth becoming incapacitated.
I sincerely hope you will have a full and complete recovery.
Comment by Joan — March 11, 2012 @ 9:01 pm
*Love* the advice on using the time to read “Principles of Knitting” – LOL. Excellent and practical.
I had the same problem a year ago – made worse by having returned to work and typing all day on a computer. I (coincidentally) took a 2-week vacation during which time I did no knitting or computer work (got lots of reading done!). After that, my doctor gave me the best advice I’ve ever had. Whether doing knitting or computer work, STOP after no more than 30 minutes. Stand up, shake your hands/arms/shoulders around a bit (walk around if you can – go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, whatever). It only needs to be a minute or two. Then you can start back with the knitting. Even though I still had a bit of soreness when I started doing this, it went away, and I haven’t really had any trouble with my wrists since. If I stop taking the breaks, sometimes my wrists get sore again, but then I start up with them again and the pain goes away. I find it helpful (especially at work) to set a timer for the breaks – I usually set it for 28 minutes so I can finish up a sentence or get to an appropriate stopping place in my knitting.
Comment by Cheryl S. — March 12, 2012 @ 11:28 am