Help! I suddenly have developed alot of pain in my knitting hand! I’m sure others have dealt with this. I can only knit about six rows before I have to quit for the day. Any suggestions?
Thanks
I have knit myself into hand pain…I have tried soaking them in hot water with epsom salts, but I usually can’t get very far with that as I can’t stand my fingers getting pruney…but you could give it a shot…
Also…Badger balm, is a hand cream, doesn’t really help in the long run, but it doesnt hurt…
I don’t know the name of them, but I know there are quilters hand creams out there that are mint laced…and that does help!
I take hand pain now and again. I use Handeze support gloves which really help. Also take plenty of breaks. Hope this helps.
That must be very frustrating! I’m so sorry you’re hurting. Have you done any marathon knitting projects lately that could account for the pain? If so, maybe a hand massage would help.
Also, I take B vitamins as a preventive measure, since I’ve read that low levels of B6 are associated with hand pain from carpal tunnel syndrome. Here’s an interesting link:
http://alternative-medicine-and-health.com/conditions/carpal.htm
I hope you’re better soon!
Try a little massage on your arm muscles between the wrist and elbow. These muscles control the movements of your fingers and hands and may be tight. Try some ice just on the part of your hand that has the pain, no need to soak. I get some pain on my left hand between the 4th/5th fingers and the wrist from them curling around the needle when I knit too long on 1 size. You could extend your arm and gently pull back on the fingers, helps stretch out tight spots.
That happened to me the first month I knitted. I had to change the way I put the yarn around the needle. I had pain in my right index finger that went all the way up my arm. And when I changed my “system” of knitting it all went away,Thank Goodness!!
I wrap the yarn around my index finger twice. That forces me to use my whole hand when I put the yarn around the needle. Worked like a charm.
Heather
[QUOTE=suzeeq;1117027 I get some pain on my left hand between the 4th/5th fingers and the wrist from them curling around the needle when I knit too long on 1 size. [/QUOTE]
Oh me too…Actually…I sometimes lose feeling in my pinky fingers when I am am knitting on tiny needles…
Thanks so much for all the help. This is the first chance I’ve had to reply. Seeing a doctor today for advice. Will try all the suggestions.
oh i get this as well. i have found the more i knit the better it gets, but i have to take a break when it gets bad or my hand swells up.
hope your doc can offer some advise
I wouldn’t expect too much from the doctor, but then again, I’m suspicious of the profession. I think I’m getting carpal tunnel from too much knitting. Search carpal tunnel stretches and you get some nice stretches you can do. They seem to help. I’m trying to not knit for a few days but so far, I haven’t even made it one! I ordered some support glove thingies too.
The majority of what people think is carpal tunnel symptoms is actually from muscles that are too tight. There can be tight ones from your lower arm all the way up to the neck and shoulder, squeezing the nerves and blood vessels, causing numbness and restricted blood flow. Most MDs are not very good with this type of thing, massage therapists are better. Sometimes PTs, but it’s hard to stretch a muscle that’s tight, needs to be loosened up first, then you can stretch it easier.
Chiropractors can be of help too if you have bones in your wrists that have become misaligned (which puts pressure on the nerves that run from your wrist to your hand). They can also recommend exercises and nutritional supplements that might help.
Ow! yes, that’s what happened to my wrist bones. I did acupuncture; 2 treatments, it got worse for a couple days, then rapidly better. Not a problem since.
Hi,
I had the exact same thing. I almost had to stop before I even started. I had to find a different way of holding the yarn. When i first started I used my index finger to wrap it around the needle. That had to stop so I wraped the yarn around my index finger twice and had absolutely no pain from them on. This way I don’t just use 1 finger, which puts a strain on it, I use my whole hand.
Hope it feels better!
I have the same problem. What helped me the most was getting some chinese therapy balls (I think that’s what they’re called). They’re hollow metal balls that you roll around your hands using your fingers. It really helped to relax my tight hand muscles.
I hope you find something that works for you!