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General => The Shed => Topic started by: star on November 07, 2008, 12:54:34
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Yup I got it.............................from KNITTING!!!!
Ive knitted for years and suddenly, got so much pain in my wrist I now have to rest it. So there goes all hopes (unless it heals quickly) of getting GD's birthday prezzie done before the 28th of Nov. :(
So that has made me pretty grumpy....................... >:(
Anyone else had RSI and how long did it take to get over it?
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Apparently its common on the isie of wight. ::)
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Why have I got it then??
Or are there a lot of knits on the IOW ;D
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;D ;D
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RSI is usually just an injury if you are claiming compensation. How come after all those years knitting has it come to light?. After all it usually manifests itself after after a few days typing on the computor. But it did not seem to happen for the first 100 or so years on the typewriter.
You have just twisted your wrist.
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i have had it and it was awful i used a wrist splint i found if i wore the splint over night the wrist was better during the day, you can wear the splint and do things though it does inhibit you a bit, they are called futura splints i think (we issue them at work but after a week off my brain isnt functioning) a and e department you may also find that anti inflammatories like ibuprofen help too.
the technical name is tenosynovitis, inflammation of the tendon cover
touch wood mine cleared up and i get very rare flare ups
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it's not carpal tunnel is it, my sisiter has developed it from working at a computer at work..or I did both my wrists picking people up while caring for them, they both flare up if I do too much..whatever it is, the splints do help ..my physio gave me some, I also have fingerless glove-type things, also from the physio as arthritis is affecting all my finger joints
just take care, :)
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ACE........I would have agreed with you that this wouldnt develop after years of doing the same thing,But its the first time I have used very large needles on a large project. So the angle of your hands are different. Its certainly not the same pain as when I have sprained a wrist ;)
Debster......It is worth me getting a splint, anything to help get over it. Im sure the OH has some old wood in the garage ;D.
Manics.........No, its not carpel tunnel, its in the wrong place. It starts at the base of the thumb and goes down the arm and mostly when I use a movement similar to holding a needle ;)
Hopefully it will clear up soon, got soooo much to do :-\ :)
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the splint i have looks like this picture and it really helps.
i developed RSI after typing for years so from doing the same thing regularly it did feel at times as though i had sprained it but i hadnt. try your doctors/practice nurse or WIC or even a and e and good luck its a horrible thing
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Thanks for the pic Debs, Im sure I have seen them before, that seems just the ticket.
Cheers Hun x
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very welcome, i have one somewhere not sure which hand which hand is dodgy for you if i find it i see which side it is pretty sure its my left as i say dont get any trouble anymore however would also be a good idea to get it checked with your gp etc
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I used to love a bit of knitting but gave up about 15 years back as It brought on rhumatic type pains in my fingers, but such a shame you have to give up something that you enjoy star x
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Debs, it is my left as well, thank goodness. I could not manage if it was the right one. Are you offering that I may borrow it? That would be sterling....if I am not being too presumptuous. Yes the doc would be a good idea ;)
Oh Honeybee, Ive no intention of giving up unless I really cant carry on. I will just use normal sized needles in future :D.
Its a shame you had to give it up, have you tried crochet? That may be gentler on your hands.
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My wife's got it.
Constant waggin' her finger at me!
;D
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;D ;D ;D ;D
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When my children were young and had chicken pox and whooping cough so I couldn't go out for weeks I made a rug. As I was doing the same movement for several days, weeks by the time I had finished the rug I couldn't move my shoulder or right hand. I also got a lump come up under my arm/right breast but luckily it was just doing the same movement too many times. When the rug was finished and the children recovered I got better. I have had periods of intensive knitting and I think the answer is 'little and often'. I have typed for over 60 years, sometimes for long periods, but must admit to having cigarette breaks/coffee breaks when working and toilet, make up/ chat breaks. I did get a frozen shoulder from tennis, but had to have an injection from the doctor for that, so painful, couldn't wash, sleep or get dressed. I suppose what I want to say is vary what you do and do not keep repeating the same action as our bodies can't cope with it. Best of luck and if it doesn't get better see the doctor.
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ok star i have just found it and yes it is the left hand but i wont lend it yer you can keep it cos if i ever need one again i can get one at work. if you pm you address i will get it posted to you but will probably be tues before i can post it out is that ok?
debs
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Hi, Star, sorry to hear about your RSI. I know someone who got it from knitting (she had been doing a lot of aran work). I've also had it myself, (both from PC work and from gardening - in this case potting on plants!)but have been ok for some years now, except for the odd flare up. things that helped me - checking my posture when I was sitting at a task and getting up regularly to stretch and move around, alternating tasks that use different methods and need different working positions. You could have some neck damage from sitting at the knitting. Apparently the tendons run all the way down from the neck down the arms and into the hands, so if something is not right in the neck or shoulder, this can manifest itself with pain in the hands! (I've simplified it, but you get the drift!)Setting a timer to see how long I could type before it started to hurt, then stopping straight away, and in future typing for 10 minutes less than that time helped too I still use a timer if I am doing something repetitive, to remind me to stop and take a break. Exercises from my physiotherapist were the best thing ever, although it can take some weeks or even months in some cases to have a real effect, and its important to do the exercises every day. A physio should also be able to give suggestions about improving your position when you knit, if you ask him / her. When it first started, my gp recommended 3x 200 mg ibuprofen 3 times a day for 6 weeks, to get the inflamation down. I know this sounds a lot, but it did work for me, but please check with your gp that its safe for you to do this before trying! Once RSI has happened, you may be more vulnerable in future, so you may have to be just that little more aware when doing repetitive things, but there's no reason why it shouldnt get better, especially as you've caught it early. Good luck!
Kitty Katt
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ok star i have just found it and yes it is the left hand but i wont lend it yer you can keep it cos if i ever need one again i can get one at work. if you pm you address i will get it posted to you but will probably be tues before i can post it out is that ok?
debs
Debs.........thank you very much have pm'd you x
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no pm received :( ???
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Should have it now :D
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got it now and replied ;D
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Deb................ ;)
Kitty kat..........Its reasuring to know Im not the only nit........erm, knit to get it this way :D.
Yes I know muscle pain can originate somewhere other than where it presents itself, I didnt realise this did the same. So thanks ;) It must be time to call on DD for a massage :D
I love the idea of setting a timer, I shall do that :D
As it happens I am waiting to see the physio for my psychiatric nerve...........another little job for him/her ;D
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Hope you're feeling better soon Star. I had RSI when I worked for a Community Development Charity. I used to publish the newspaper and have to turn over reams of paper constantly, then stuff envelopes, all after typing the d**n thing. I wore one of those splints and it seemed to do the trick because it makes you not do the things you shouldn't be doing! Also Ibuprofen works. Touch wood, not had it for a few years. I also use a wheatie on it if I do get a problem with it.
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Star are you sure youre seeing someone about your psychiatric nerve not your sciatic?? ;D
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Star are you sure youre seeing someone about your psychiatric nerve not your sciatic?? ;D
nah, I reckon she got it right the first time ;D
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;D ;D :P
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I have RSI in my shoulder, the Doc says it's due to me using a mouse for around 8 hours a day. I also get it in my wrists from typing. I found that I had to change what I'm doing on a regular basis. Several things that helped for me were taking up embourdery and latch hooking. They have very different movements and it helped release the muscles. My hubby also bought me a heat blanket to help with the pain. It's only a foot square but has a long lead and I can curl up in the sofa with it wrapped around the painful bits.
The last thing that helped was when I started taking glucosamene (sp). I started taking it for my rhumatoid arthritis but it also eased the RSI. d**n good stuff and I don't need anywhere near as many pain killers now either.
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Where do you get your Glucosomine from Solorn? I have tried some but it didnt seem to help (arthritis). I took the ones I got for 3 months to give it a fair shot. I understand there a few different types and some are better than others :)
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I get mine from Holland and Barratt. they do several different types but I get the Glucosamene Sulphate with fish oils, not always available but worth getting. With some people you just need a slightly higher dosage. I also found that comfrey balm helps if you rub it in. It's supposed to be used for bruising but it helps me a lot. I make my own or it would cost me a fortune!
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Thanks hun, I will keep my eye open for it :D
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Well I must be very lucky. I have not got RSI. My shoulder was not damaged by the repitition of swinging a pickaxe for nearly 30 years. My aching wrists and arthritic hands were not caused by the repeatedly banging a fork or spade into hard stony ground for even longer. My knees that are so bad my doctor said I should pack up work were not damaged by the repetition of pushing against a shovel handle for half a life time.
I am so lucky that none of these injuries are associated with RSI, they are just plain old wear and tear and do not come under any compensation scheme. In fact the knee joints don't even need replacing for a few years yet as I am still young enough to put up with the pain.
All my own fault as I wanted to work out in the open air instead of in a dangerous office where I could have ripped a nail using a paper clip. Then sent home until I felt I could return to work, after counselling.
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;D ;D
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Also worth a try is rosehip capsules. They can apparently reverse - to a degree - the effects of arthritis. I bought some for both my wrists that were stiff and sore in the mornings = took them for a couple of weeks - and - touching wood - haven't had a recurrance of the problem!
Check it out on the internet - but I heard about it from an article in The Daily Mail!
Old Bird
;D
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Well I must be very lucky. I have not got RSI. My shoulder was not damaged by the repitition of swinging a pickaxe for nearly 30 years. My aching wrists and arthritic hands were not caused by the repeatedly banging a fork or spade into hard stony ground for even longer. My knees that are so bad my doctor said I should pack up work were not damaged by the repetition of pushing against a shovel handle for half a life time.
I am so lucky that none of these injuries are associated with RSI, they are just plain old wear and tear and do not come under any compensation scheme. In fact the knee joints don't even need replacing for a few years yet as I am still young enough to put up with the pain.
All my own fault as I wanted to work out in the open air instead of in a dangerous office where I could have ripped a nail using a paper clip. Then sent home until I felt I could return to work, after counselling.
;D
Counseling.....................of course, now why didn't I think of that ;D ;D
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Also worth a try is rosehip capsules. They can apparently reverse - to a degree - the effects of arthritis. I bought some for both my wrists that were stiff and sore in the mornings = took them for a couple of weeks - and - touching wood - haven't had a recurrance of the problem!
Check it out on the internet - but I heard about it from an article in The Daily Mail!
Old Bird
;D
Its amazing how many things can help, thanks OB. Its always great to have an arsenal of things to try ;D
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ACE, RSI is repetitive strain injury. It is quite obvious, if you do the same action for too long it affects you. If it starts hurting stop. I play a lot of tennis, have played since 11, now 65. I felt my right shoulder whilst serving but carried on the finish the set/game. Next day I could not move it or get dressed, etc. etc. Could not sleep because of the pain. Had been previously been to an ostopath who I think made it worse. I worked as a typist/word processing operator for 50 years but always had breaks, ie filing, answering the phone. If you knit all day or type all day, one needs breaks. My son got 'water on the knee' when he was a shop fitter, kneeling all day without knee pads. I am sure people do not want compensation just a bit of sympathy for what can be very painful. Little and often is the answer and even if digging the allotment have plenty of breaks, for chatting or dead heading so you do a different action.
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Now I know where I went wrong.
BOSS. Have you finished that job yet
ME . No I felt a pain coming on so I left it to someone else
BOSS. Get your cards
WIFE AND FAMILY Why are we being evicted?
Perhaps things are different on your planet.
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ACE seems to be convinced that as soon as we mention the magic phrase 'RSI', we desk-workers get sent home sick, or given hefty compensation. Uh?!
Nope... we get damaged joints, and deal with it, just like everyone here has been describing. Just because it's from a mouse and not a pickaxe doesn't make it non-existent!
Solorn: mouses are terrible things for it. I got RSI in my hand, wrist, arm and shoulder from too much mousing. Got myself a Kensington ball mouse, and now mouse left-handed, and it is *fantastic*! (Didn't take long at all to get used to it.) You can allocate various tasks (e.g. page up, page down, return, etc) to the 4 buttons on the mouse which saves effort too.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kensington-Expert-Mouse-Trackball-compatible/dp/B00009KH63/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1226330932&sr=8-1
It might seem pricey but it's well worth it if you work at a computer all day.
Also, I guess the muscles and joints get less elastic and less resistant to strain as you get older. Recently I found that intensive use of secateurs can leave my hands painful and stiff for weeks after. So I went and got myself a pair of ratchet secateurs, and the problem almost vanished - though I'm also more careful to pace myself now.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-34478-RATCHET-ACTION-SECATEUR/dp/B00023T8YE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=diy&qid=1226330876&sr=1-2
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i woulda shot you years ago ACE and put yer out of yer misery
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RSI doesn't stop you working at all. You just have to change 'how' you work. I'm a busy mother of 3 kids with RSI, rhumatoid arthritis, sciatic nerve issues, and not once has it stopped me. Even on days I can't actually walk I get things done, just different things than normal, and I keep going through the pain when I can. On my good days I can swing a pick axe like a good'un! Last week I dug two new beds on my lottie in the rain on clay soil that stuck to everything like baby poo!
I don't know why certain people on these forums like to slam everyone who voices an opinion or asks a question, recent cases in point are RSI and fireworks. I'm all for freedom of speak but if all you can do is put people down, poke fun, or make people feel insignificant then perhaps you should just log off or read a different thread.
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i woulda shot you years ago ACE and put yer out of yer misery
No you wouldn't, Ned. Not allowed, see. ACE is a Protected Species. Unique, he is.
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Have to say I don't agree with you Solorn, I enjoy reading all the different characters posts on here, they remind me so much of the characters down my allotment site.
We all come over differently and what one finds rude, poke fun of other's, the next person wouldn't see it that way at all.
I find this forum a well balanced cross section of the general public and hope it doesn't change.
Sorry to have gone off topic.
Sinbad
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I think for anyone new to the forum, some posts can come over as being insensitive. Some indeed are, but most are just taking the mickey :D.
What Im saying is, that it takes time to get to know different personalities and the way we all work as individuals. That takes time of course. I was offended when I first started here...........it turned out someone was having a bad day, and I wasn't 'up' on forum chat either.
We are all capable of coming across badly if our posts are worded wrongly, thats the trouble with text :-\.
Star x