Any strategies on how to cope with a repitive strain injury that is imposing some serious knitting withdrawal. So far I have tried knitting for very short periods of time on small projects such as socks. This had helped and hopefully will get me through the worst of it, but if anyone else has suffered through this I would love to hear from them.
Yes, I had a bout of cervical muscle spasms due to holding my head down for long periods of time in the same position. Stopping for 15 min intervals helped for a while. Then on to the MD who prescribed some physical therapy and I was good to go. Physical therapy sent me home with some great simple exercises to relieve the pain.
Depending on what injury you are dealing with here are a few suggestions I thought of:
1. Try a different knitting posture/ position. Try having your arms resting on a high table or counter that makes you look up rather than down while you knit.
2. Try a different style of knitting. I know there are several ways to knit (continental and English) try learning the one you don't normaly use. This will slow you down and if you like challenges like I do it will make the short periods you are knitting more fun.
3. If you just can't knit anymore for the day, try creating patterns. Think of something neat to do and grab some graph paper or type up your ideas on the computer.
I hope these help you and good luck!
I have the same issue: RSI and tennis elbow. I learned how to loom! And now I teach it. Get a small Knifty Knitter and give it a try. And here's the thing: So many of Interweaves knits are adaptable to the loom! I have been spending my time working on it and having a blast! It is definately rewarding! To say nothing of giving my arms and wrists a break. Good luck. Cherrie C.
I recommend adapting the way you hold your yarn and needles so they are in a more neutral position - wrists straighter, relaxed grip etc. I had to do this many years ago from carpal tunnel problems. Also, switching to Continental style knitting helps ease the strain. If I find that my wrists and hands start hurting with regular Throwing, I switch over and it helps right away. (With practice, you'll find that your gauge doesn't suffer from the switch.) I also recommend some stretching exercises to help ease your fingers and wrists. If you talk to your physical therapist, he/she might have some that target those areas. Frequent breaks also help. And, on days when it just doesn't seem you can get anywhere, you can always plan future projects; design new items, read a new knitting book (or an old favorite) and all that other stuff. Best of luck.
Try using wrist braces. After a period of several weeks of almost non-stop knitting (three projects with short deadlines), my left hand would begin to "tingle". Not quite like going numb or going to "sleep", but uncomfortably tingle radiating from my wrist. My mom has corpal tunnel syndrom and her nuerologist suggested using the wrist braces insead of having surgery. She told me that I ought to try it. I bought the braces (at Walmart) and wear them mostly at night (while sleeping) and during "intense" knitting. I think it has helped. My hands don't tingle anymore. I had my doubts....but go figure....it seems to have helped!
I have had issues with carpal tunnel before I began knitting and then I had a bout with after a certain knitting project. I, too, wear my carpal tunnel braces every night to keep my wrist in good alignment. I use ice and take Motrin as needed if I feel it is acting up. I already knit in the Continental stitch, but I found that the Lantern Moon circulars really helped - the joint moves at the connection and really has seemed to decrease the strain- I haven't had much of a problem since I swithched. I still use my other needles on occasion. Carpal tunnel can be managed - good luck.
If you are knitting jumpers or anything with a bit of length or weight try circular needles. The work sits on your lap instead of hanging from the needles so there is less strain. A bonus is you never have to search for the second needle and are less likely to have the stitches come off while storing the project. The circulars can be used in the same way as straight needles, not just for rounds. I have had some tingling with the straights but never with circulars.
I had to give up the fine work due to arthritis, but I now use knitting machines (yes I have many). To the people who think that machined work is cheating, I woudl say yes, if all I was doing was acres of stocking stitch, but I use hand manipulated stitch work to do some lovely lace that I couldn't achieve with the tension problems that my arthitis poses.
There are also machine techniques that I couldn't do by hand, that give me a lot of satisfaction.
I see it as a different craft, as looming work is different, but not to be discounted.
I hope you get better soon. I suffered terribly in the mid 80's from RSI, and I couldn't work for 10 weeks, which caused huge problems for my family.
You don't have to play tennis to get tennis elbow (note that the pain is not in your elbow). I got it from a combination of really intense knitting with yarn that had no resilience, and working overtime (office work -- keyboarding and processing large and heavy construction documents). Its when you use your hands enough to cause strain on muscles in your arms. My doc recommended (along with anti-inflammatories) wearing a tennis elbow support strap (available at drug stores). I didn't take the aspirin or ibuprofren because of allergies -- but the strap worked. I don't remember how long it took (a month? maybe a little longer), but I don't need it anymore, and haven't needed to use it since; this was a few years ago. The strap gives your overstrained muscles a chance to heal by spreading/sharing the stress with surrounding muscles. Maybe the muscles get stronger, too.
Any repetitive motion can cause injury somewhere in your body. If you're having a problem, check your posture and body mechanics. Are you sitting up straight with your weight evenly destributed over both hips? Are you legs uncrossed and feet on the floor? Is your head straight or tilted? Is one shoulder higher than the other? Is one shoulder more forward than the other? Is your trunk rotated? How much movement is there in your forearms and wrists? Do you have discomfort anywhere after prolonged activiity....Change your mechanics. Sit differently. Get up and stretch every 15 minutes. Learn stretches for your neck, shoulders , arms, hands and fingers. See your MD, Physical Therapist, Personal Trainer, Chiropractor, and Massage Therapist for advice. Find a Massage Therapist who is trained in orthopedic techniques and myofascial release. You won't believe the relief. With the proper treatment, you can continue with your passion, knitting!
I have found that an Arnica gel or cream or Traumeel cream (all homeopathic), will take care of most aches and pains, and without any of the negative side-effects of the typical OTC drugs.
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