Ahah, you now know why lace knitters use, not just stitch markers, but also “life lines”.
If you place a smooth, cotton thread (I like undyed crochet cotton) through an entire row of stitches after each pattern repeat, you’ll never have to rip further than the problematic pattern repeat. The thread holds the stitches, YOs and all, ready for you to pick up after the painful task of tearing apart.