Got a cure for sore wrists?

#1

Hi all!

I am hoping that someone has some tips for me or has walked down this road before… I have been knitting for a year or so, and have made some blankets and bags. Normally, I work on a project 5 or so hours a week. Recently though, I have been knitting for several hours a day to finish up some V-Day gifts. :XX: Now, my wrists are killing me like carpal tunnel syndrome or something. I am trying to hold the needles and yarn in a way that doesn’t involve lots of flipping/rotating my hands, but it still hurts. I broke both wrists as a child 20 or so years ago, so it’s probably those spots that are so sensitive.

Any tips or stretching ideas that can help alleviate this pain so I can complete my projects?

Thanks so much!

#2

I use these exercises all the time and I do okay, even though my job is transcription which is constant typing, and the rest of the time I either knit or crochet:
I also sometimes put on my Hand-Eze gloves.

http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/ctexercise.htm

#3

Thank you! That’s just the sort of thing I was looking for.

#4

If your wrists are hurting that badly, you could be doing permanent damage to your joints. Let them rest and recover for a few days the pain will subside after they’ve had time to heal. Do some carpal tunnel research on the internet, I think you will be surprised at how serious the condition can be. Don’t hurt yourself over Valentines gifts.

#5

Here are some tips too:

http://beadlizard.blogspot.com/2006/02/olympic-speed-knitting.html

#6

I found rest to be the best medicine in my situation - I had a repetitive stress injury that lasted a few weeks.

Avoiding other tasks that contributed to fatigue helped (I banned myself from video games), and changing around my workspace to make it more ergonomic helped also. In addition I set max. time limits for typing/computer work, and took frequent breaks.

You may find you need to immobilize your wrist(s) at night. Oh, and DON’T do what I did initially, which was to take an aspirin and try to work through the pain. It was a Dumb Thing To Do™.

hugs I hope you feel better soon!

-Wynn

#7

I have a few pain issues myself. My best advice is to check your posture.
Make sure your arms are relaxed and that you are not holding your knitting either too high or too far from your body.

Also watch those long needles. If your work area is cramped you may be unconciously arranging yourself to accomodate needles in tight places. Causing strain.

#8

I actually began to pay attention to this several weeks ago, to remind myself to flex my shoulders during long knitting “spells”. That has helped tremendously and has made knitting quite comfortable. The wrist thing is new and due to overuse, I am afraid. Plus, when you break a bone, I think you always feel it to some degree in a certain type of weather. It’s been cold and yuck here, so that’s a part of it too.

Thanks for all the advice. :smiley: I knew I wasn’t the only one.

Happy knitting everybody!

#9

I have carpal tunnel, so I usually wear my wrist brace when it acts up. (the kind with the metal strip)

#10

I posted something about this a while back:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7987&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

#11

I usually have to give my wrists a break or change chairs… If I knit to long on the couch they bother me… but if I move to a straight back chair and knit I’m ok… you’d think I’d learn my lesson and just knit in the rocking chair… but I get comfy and cozy on the couch and reach for the needles… :smiley:

#12

I will not work through the pain… I even gave up ALL crafts for over three months just before Christmas 2004 due to the pain. I take a low-dose ibuprofen daily when my hands are acting up. I have the freezable gel hot/cold packs and ice my wrists when they get really bad. Hand-eez gloves are the best thing I found to use while knitting and crocheting. I have splints {somewhere!} that I can use while sleeping. I also like to keep different types of projects on the go, because switching can help too… like going from crocheting a fine doily to knitting a bulky sweater.