Problem

 First, let me thank all for all of your very lovely comments about my grey alpaca flower shawl.  I am always so thankful for all the wonderful people who take the time to comment on my blog.  I feel blessed to have each and everyone of you in my blog life, and I want you to know that you are appreciated.

Now for my problem.  My hand and wrists are not cooperating.  I have recently been feeling tingling in my fingers, and I absolutely know why.  I have been giving myself carpal tunnel syndrome from too much time with a crochet hook or knitting needles. 

Maybe I should have said that I am reactivating the carpal tunnel syndrome I have had on and off for years.  I am pretty ticked off because this is getting in the way of some serious yarn time.  About 13 years ago my Mother had a breast cancer scare.  I flew up to be with my parents as my Mom underwent a mastectomy.  She was cancer free after this and remains so to this day.  But I was a wreck at the time, first I was worried about my parents.  And it was the first time I was away from my kids, who were pretty little at the time.  So what did I do?  I knit like a crazy woman.  I knit on the plane trips and layovers.  I knit on the 1 1/2 hour ride to the hospital and home, everyday.  I knit while waiting at the hospital, and when I got home.  And I gave myself some serious wrist and hand pain.  When I got home I couldn't even pick up my youngest who was 2 1/2 at the time.  Now being an Occupational Therapist I should have known better, but it was a stress reliever and I just couldn't stop.

On and off since that time I have felt a tingle here and there until about 3 years ago.  I was finishing a whole bunch of knitted shawls for Christmas presents.  I loved the simple drop stitch pattern, and of course with my obsessive personality, had to make a million of them.  I had time constraints to get things wrapped and shipped on time, so you guessed it, I did it to myself again.  This time along with numbness, I had sharp pains  into my thumbs on both hands.  I couldn't even touch my thumb to my fingers without wanting to scream.  

So I find myself again seeing the all too familiar signs heading my way.  I am not happy.  Knitting and crocheting are such a big part of my life that I am not quite sure what to do with myself when I can't do them.  I am trying to be a big girl and rest my hands and wrists, but it is so hard.  I can't watch TV without a project in my hands.  It is baseball season and the Rays aren't doing so hot, so at least I don't feel like I am waisting  my time watching them if I am doing something constructive at the same time.  I tried playing with my ipad, and I have been reading a bit more, but I have to tell you I am not a happy camper.

 My wrists and fingers are getting in the way of me trying to figure out how to make my first crochet sweater.  It is a wrap sweater that I had the gauge with initially, but seem to be stitching a lot tighter now.  I will have to work that out.

My wrists and fingers are getting in the way of me working on the knitted dress.  It is my car project and even though the work has been slow, I still can't do anything on it for the time being. 

Obviously I know with all the issues in the world, my wrists and hands are not all that important.  But working with yarn makes me who I am.  And right now I feel a little off kilter.  What do you do when you can't work with yarn, or scrapbook, sew, etc.?