Knitting for Pain?

miaswe

I don't know if anyone on here knits or crochets, i've just come across a website that recommends these to overcome chronic pain, it was set up by a retired nurse who specialised in elderly care and neurology for over thirty years, she realised that even maximum doses of medication were ineffective if the core issue of self esteem, anxiety and an unoccupied mind left to worry about problems were not provided for. She started to research the therapeutic effects of knitting and stitching. People with long term pain easily become isolated and unhappy, and the action of knitting has an effect on the brain by decreasing stress hormones and increasing feel-good serotonin and dopamine. She has set up knitting groups who knit garments for special care babies in hospital and children with Aids in Africa so its all for a good cause as well as making you feel better. There is much more detail if anyone is interested on the website: stitchlinks.com

wallysatt

Hi miaswe,

I have been knitting since January this year. I started because a couple of my friends were pregnant and one of them was showing me some lovely booties that another friend had made for her. I thought that I'd like to have a go at it and I haven't stopped since. I now belong to two groups and would knit all the time if my joints would allow it.

I’m 27 and am unable to work because of my arthritis. I finished a part time Masters Degree last year and really felt like I had nothing to get up for, but since I’ve been knitting my family and boyfriend say that it has lifted my mood and it has given me a focus and a new lease of life. I have had JIA in all my joints since I was 6 and my hands are very affected. In fact went to see a hand surgeon today and he injected my finger and is talking about fusing my wrist. Despite the pain and the stiffness in my hands I feel that knitting has improved my life and the knitting community both online and off is bigger than you think making it a social event as well as a lovely hobby. The only problem is that once you tell people that you've started knitting the requests start pouring in!

Happy knitting.

Sally.

mash65

i was taught by my nan to knit & chochet from about 4yrs old.i crochets all my 1st daughters blankets,pram then bed.then back to dolls & clothes.i used to lay in bed chocheting in the early morn. when pregnant,til i fell asleep.was just talking to o/h about starting to draw again,as i hobby when i saw this post.may go back to the chochet to make me fal asleeep.then drawing when pain eventually subsides.debs

woodbon

I've always knitted and it is just something I do when watching TV. I do have tto be careful now, when knitting heavy things as that can put a strain on the wiists, so if its heavy towards the end I have frequent breaks. Sue

melbland

Hiya

I do feel some benefit from knitting.

I have been making my mum a knit your own eeyore cuddly toy and it has been a mammoth task. My hands are badly affected but I found that despite the pain, I would push through and feel gratification at finishing something myself.

It does work and if anyone asks if it is good for my arthur, I say that it's physiotherapy

woodbon

I've just remembered, my Mum had bad arthur in her hands and had to give up knitting, (apart from sorting out my mistakes!), and she took up crochet instead. She said it was easier to hold and not so painful. I can crochet but, not properly, somehow it gets narrower with each row :oops: Anyone got a use for long pointy things. Sue

wallysatt

In some of the knitting magazines they advertise a knitting aid to help people with arthritis. It says that it won an award by Arthritis Care in the North of England. I’m not sure weather it would help anyone.

mash65

wallysatt wrote:

In some of the knitting magazines they advertise a knitting aid to help people with arthritis. It says that it won an award by Arthritis Care in the North of England. I’m not sure weather it would help anyone.

hi,sue sew it together & use it as a .........,CARROT warmer debs

woodbon

Yessssss........................I'll just go and measure the carrots Sue

Wonkylegs

came on here to post a thread about knitting and found you had beaten me to it!!!

I don't knit ...... but talking to my (latest! :roll: ) physiotherapist this morning he was tellling me that he understood that for people with Arthritis - and in particaular RA - that using wooded needles was much better than using metal ones as the wooden ones don't wick away heat from your hands.

Apparently the wooden needles actually help to keep hands warm whilst you knit! ( :oops: :oops: my fingers typed knot there - now you know why I don't knit!! )

magenta

Hello,
My mum is a beautiful knitter, has been knitting for over 50yrs! She has had to stop doing it ( she still does wee bits here and there-takes her 2hrs to knit something that would take me 2 days!) cos she has fibro and it gives her terriible pain in her shoulders.
Magenta