Knitting with Carpal Tunnel

For those of you that follow my knitting adventures, you may have noticed I’ve been quiet on the blog front lately. Lucky for me, I have many partners in crime who have great things to tell you about. But I figured it was time to fess up about my silence. I have been plagued with a knitter and blogger’s public enemy number one….carpal tunnel! It seems to be a flare up that doesn’t want to be extinguished. It all came to a head in September when I sat down with my Christmas knitting plans and tried to start my projects. My cast on to straight needles was okay but before I got to the second row my hands were numb. I shook them out and went again, this time after just a couple more stitches, pain and numbness. I only managed to get about 6 inches done on my scarf that first night. Each night thereafter was the same story. Talk about a labor of love. Even now when I look at the scarf that never became a gift, it makes my hands hurt.

Due to this problem, this was the first Christmas in at least a decade that everyone did not get a little homemade gift from me. Christmas just wasn’t the same. I had hoped the break in knitting would help improve the hands but here I am, typing with numb fingers (please excuse my spelling errors!)

I have found some good tips online and in a few spots so I don’t have to give up my favorite hobby altogether. I sleep in some very unattractive braces, they look like I can bowl a strike in my sleep. Knitting with them on is difficult too as some of the yarns get stuck in the Velcro.

Maybe someone can make this Diversity pattern (2551) for me to cover up my braces…hint…hint!

Some folks suggested using circular needles and bulky yarns. This is a great idea! I have tried it and using these along with Advil, I can knit a bit more. My doctor is sending me for what I like like to call “the zapper test” and hopefully with some exercises and physical therapy and I once again blog about my knitting adventures.

Ways to knit safely and avoid injury

Knitting Guru’s Exercises for knitters

Knitty.com blog about this syndrome and arthritis.

I have seen that so many of you are suffering with the same problems and wanted to share some of the links I have found to help ease the stress on your hands and wrists while doing your needlework. Hopefully I will be back up to snuff soon. Have you seen some of these new yarns????