aaargh! RSI in left hand - no more crocheting?

[whatdoesittake48]

Ok, my job as a writer might be more to blame, but I am currently in agony with pain in my left hand, extending up to my elbow and this means I can't crochet! Plus I teach crocheting sometimes and that might be out the window too.

I have been working on an advent calendar project - 24 little boots to put gifts in. I am half way through and have had to stop. Just a few days to go and I won't be able to get them made.:(

Just a moan. i really hoping a few days rest and i will be able to start again. i am so far struggling to type, by taking pain killers, but crocheting is my passion. i can't live with out it.

Anyone else suffered with this? I find that moving my thumb is the worst. Any techniques which might help prevent more damage? i usually grasp the wool between my thumb and finger.

Boo hoo :(

Can you teach yourself to crotchet with the other hand?

yeah i guess i could - but crocheting is a two handed pursuit...can't think how to do it one handed. maybe I could strap the hook to my hand!! Or maybe a larger handle might be useful so it is easier to hold.

Yes, I realise that - but its surely possible to work a different way for certain things that will mean that your hurt hand can manage them and your good hand can do the stuff that hurts at the moment? I know with knitting I very conciously have to ensure that my tension is loose so that I have relaxed hands - even if it means using a smaller needle size than the pattern suggests to achieve the right tension.

Is it your hooking hand or the other one that's hurt?

it is the hand I feed the wool with. But i think i could swap hands bt it would be slow going.
I am thinking that if I loop the wool around my fingers so I don't need to hold it I could just move the hook with my good hand.

Maybe there is a one handed crochet machine out there. if not, someone needs to invent one.

Sorry wasn't meaning to come across as "all knowledgeable" :)

OK - well when I was knitting I was gripping the wool between my fingers - and if I need the tighter tension I now wrap the wool over the top of my ring finger and back down under my little finger - and that helps tensioning much more gently.

Maybe there is a one handed crochet machine out there. if not, someone needs to invent one.

I'm sure I saw a description of how a one handed person crochets - probably on one of the Ravelry forums.

Have you had this diagnosed or are you just assuming it to be RSI?

Where is the pain exactly? base of thumb? or is it starting at your elbow?

You can get supports that may help but you should really go see your GP and get a referral to a hand therapist if necessary.

It might take a bit more than a few days of rest though.

Can you feed the yarn between your first and second fingers? That's how I do it anyway, is my right hand that gets sore from gripping the hook too hard.

You need to look at how you are using your joints and aim for a gross movement rather that fine motor iyswim
you could try splints to hold the joint steady
if its the wrist try a wrist brace or you can get a thumb spica which will hold the joint steady
if you only use the splints whilst crocheting they shouldnt cause any problems
you can but them or you could ask for a referral to an occupational therapist who may supply them for you
good luck, crochet is my passion too

I feel your pain :(
I sew, and a should injury has mean nothing much done since June, and I ad such plans for Christmas goodies. :(

Good news - after a few days rest my wrist is healing. it feels better, but i can only crochet for about 30 mins before it gets sore again - but it is a start.

Not sure what to do to prevent it in the future - a referral to an occupational therapist might be wise. Thanks for all the kind words!

I have the yarn running over my first finger, under the next two and then over my little finger.

Do you knit? I only mention this because I also teach a few crochet classes and the knitters often use their right hand for holding the hook and the yarn as they're so used to doing it like that for knitting.

I was a knitter who defected to crochet. I hold my work with my left hand and use my right hand for both the hook and wool, so left hand does very little work.
It is also worth trying different hooks as I have inflammatory condition of all joints and certain hooks make it much worse. For me the Knit Pro New Waves hooks which have a reasonably big handle, but are soft work well for me.

No advice, but I feel your pain as I am getting numb fingers and pain in my wrists. I'm a knitter. I've also just got a really painful shoulder that I think might be bursitis so going to the doc tomorrow.

It's really really upsetting when doing the thing you love causes you pain.