I have been crocheting off and on for probably 50 years and never had an issue with pain in my hand/wrist until recently. I’m sure it’s from overuse of my hand since I’m selling oodles of crochet cloths…hence I’m crocheting for hours every day.
In an effort to alleviate the pain, I tried a number of different things from widening my grip with a foam cushion to investing in different hooks and gadgets. The changes helped, but didn’t really do the trick in stopping the pain.
Then I finally evaluated why my wrist hurt. The bottom line was my hand position. I took roughly a month to force myself to change my hand position and finally, finally (!!) the pain stopped. Now I can crochet all I need to without issue. No surgery, no special braces, no doctor visits.
Take a few minutes to watch my video below as I explain what I did to discover the source of my hand/wrist pain and how I stopped it. You too can do this!
Judi
English
I’m so excited to try your tips. They really do seem the most practical as far as I have seen with all of the googling. I have been worried that I would have to give up crocheting! Thank you for caring enough to post about this topic!
Well thank you Tabitha for such nice comments! I appreciate your vote of confidence! If you read other comments on this topic along with my replies, I have another tip to add (that wasn’t included before). It’s an anti-inflammatory cream that I found. It has over 10,000 5-star reviews and I’m one of them. It’s called Penetrex. (And just so you know, I have NO affiliation with the company nor will I get any financial rewards from recommending it. I’m just one very happy customer who likes to share what works.) The cream can be found online in many places and in just about any local pharmacy. It’s a bit pricey (about $20 for a small jar), however, a very little does go a long way. I found that whenever I have flareups of pain, I’ll use it once or twice in a day for a few days. Then as the pain dies down, I cut back on the cream and possibly use it once a day, or not at all. Along with the other things I’ve suggested, this cream helps a lot. I always keep a jar on hand. And by using it very sparingly, a jar will last me for months. So…if you need something more, give it a try! I hope all this helps. Thanks for commenting 🙂
I only started crocheting two years ago and now suffer from trigger finger on my non dominant hand on the middle finger and am quite disappointed that the doctor told me not crochet anymore
Confused how it affected the non dominant hand and on what to do
Hi Paula! Thanks for chiming in on this topic. When we crochet, we’re using both hands in repetitive movements or static positions. Either, but often both, hands can be affected. Sorry the doc suggested you stop your needlework. Obviously, he/she doesn’t do such things and doesn’t understand one’s desire to create like that. There are some things you can try on your own. I’ve had success with these things: (1) Change hand positions, such as moving from a “fork holding” position to a “knife holding” position. This helped me, but wasn’t the complete answer. (2) Wear a fingerless craft glove. These can be purchased, and I’ve bought my share of them. BUT, in ALL cases, I found they just weren’t right for me. Either they were too tight all the way around, the fingers were too tight when I had to bend my fingers, or the finger sleeves were too long, or the wrist part was too short. I ended up cutting the finger sleeves off of most that I bought and that made them usable. HOWEVER, the absolute BEST type of “glove” I found that helped me the most (by keeping the hand/wrist warm, hence inviting added blood there which seems to help keep inflammation down), is this…I take an old sock and cut off the foot. I place it on my hand to see where my thumb lies, then I snip a small slit there for my thumb. Hence, I end up with a fingerless glove with a hole for my thumb, and enough length to cover my wrist and slightly up the forearm. It’s REALLY effective in keeping pain under control and has really helped me a LOT in preventing carpal tunnel syndrome. (3) I also use a cream that can be purchased online or at most pharmacies. It’s “Penetrex” cream and it comes in a 2 oz jar. It is moderately priced and may seem a tad expensive at first. However, that small jar will go a LONG way. So in the long run, it’s relatively cheap and can be used as often as you want. Apply it lightly to the affected area. When I have issues, I may use it in the morning and evening. Otherwise, usually just in the evenings. Again…a light application is plenty, so it should be used sparingly. With that, it will last you a long time and is well worth every dollar spent on it.
With the combination of those three things I outlined above, I have prevented major problems in my hands. I continue to do all three and I crochet items that I sell online, so most days I crochet for hours (literally!). I urge you to look into my tips above and at least give them a try. You may be surprised at the results!
Let me know if these things help you. I truly hope they do!
Best wishes,
Judi
I meant thanks. Not ethanol, lol!
You’re very welcome! 🙂
Ethanol you again! This is exactly what I was looking for. For some reason they did not come up on my YouTube search. The yarn handling and hand position is very clear.
Thank you so much! I was able to slow down the video and get a better look at your hands in motion as you work. I will be trying it today. Following your blog so I’ll be able to see all your cool stuff. Are there any videos where you show more crocheting or teach the basics?
Loving your other info too on money saving and recipes. Best regards, Bec
Hi Bec! Thanks for commenting and I’m glad you’re enjoying some things I’ve uploaded! I have a few crochet videos out there on basics. Here are the links:
Chain stitching… https://youtu.be/H-3orWjrc5I
Single crochet: https://youtu.be/Z_mrRR_ScEQ
Half double crochet: https://youtu.be/EThL-zWt9eI
Double crochet: https://youtu.be/2qQlokufrQo
How to tie off yarn: https://youtu.be/YPeDSAJsggU
How to make a crochet top towel: https://youtu.be/v_lWOGDNrdg
I hope these help!
Judi
Excellent video on pain free crochet. Thank you. I am very interested in how you hold your yarn and maintain tension. In the video it seemed that you were not having to extend your index finger on your non-dominant hand but I couldn’t quite figure out how the yarn was being held. I would appreciate any help or advice you can give me.
Hi Rebecca,
When I learned to crochet (in elementary school), extending the index finger wasn’t part of the package. Hence, I never have crocheted that way. I hold the project with my index finger and thumb. The yarn is held and tension maintained with my 3 remaining fingers on my non-dominant hand (in my case, my right hand)…my middle, ring, and little fingers. It’s very easy to me, but may be hard for someone else who learned the other way. Thanks for asking!