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Sewing through the pain ... sigh!

5/3/2017

13 Comments

 
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I love my job ... really I do. BUT it is a job, which means I have to do it even when I don't feel like it and even when I am not feel well. AND even if I am having some physical problems. Which is what I want to talk about today.

​I have been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and multiple trigger points along my right neck and shoulder.

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I alway thought I would never have to deal with repetitive stress issues because I'm rarely in the same position for long. I'm at my cutting table, then the sewing machine, then the ironing board, then at a dress form and at the computer, too. But, last fall my entire right arm started going numb every night in bed. And sometimes my right hand would loose feeling while I worked. So, finally, I got myself to the doctor, who sent me to a physical therapist.

We all have projects that HAVE to get finished, even if sewing is done for pleasure, so I want to share some of the stuff I learned. Maybe you can avoid my problems or at least know what can be done, if you have similar issues.
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I now own 4 wrist braces. They help a lot.

The first (beige) one is great for heavy work like gardening. But, a friend of mine had the more delicate pale blue one (made for women, by women!) so I bought one, loved it, and now own two so one can be washed while wearing the other. They get dirty really fast. So I've taken to cutting the fingers off a surgical glove and covering it while I work to keep it clean.

I can work all day with it on. It is very comfortable.
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Also, I am trying to pace myself while I work, breaking up the different tasks, so I'm not literally sewing for hours at a stretch like I used to do in my 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s without blinking an eye!!! 
Now, if I have sewn for too long a period. I wrap my wrist with a ice pack for 15 minutes or so. I keep this in the freezer at the ready for when I'm sewing.
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My 4th brace is for sleeping ... it keeps my wrist in a neutral position all night. Otherwise it will go numb.
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My therapist and I talked about ways I could modify my workspace. She said it is best to work with your elbows by your side with your forearms at a right angle. So, I lowered my ironing board a bit since I use my sleeve board all the time which was requiring me to lift my elbow quite high when holding the iron.
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Because of the trigger points in my shoulder I have gone back to using my lighter home iron as much as possible. The gravity feed iron only gets used when I must have LOTS of steam.
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To save stress on my right wrist I bought the largest rotary mat I could find.
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I use my right hand for scissors ...
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But am really a lefty, so use my left have for rotary cutting, which I am doing as much as possible,  even to cut patterns.

Although, that back fired on me. I was rotary cutting so much that my left shoulder started hurting so now I alternate scissors with my right hand and rotary with my left depending on how I'm feeling at the time.
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Last and really, really not least is stretching and warming up everyday.

This whole experience has made me think of sewing as an Olympic Sport. We need to warm up, sew smartly and cool down with ice, if necessary. There are lots of suggested hand, wrist and arm stretches to be found on line. And doing them is probably never bad.

BUT, please, if you are having problems that won't go away. Go to a professional. They can tell you what's best for your specific problems and massage you, etc. There are more things that can be done, that I may have to resort to. The first is a cortisone shot and then final solution is surgery to release the carpal tunnel, which I really, really, really don't want to do, although many people have said it is a routine treatment. I just don't like knives. For now, I'm managing.

Please write in, if you have dealt with similar issues and have devised ways of dealing. I feel your pain ... or numbness ... !
13 Comments
Samantha link
5/3/2017 06:41:50 am

I definitely feel your pain! I have De Quervain's tenosynovitis and I sew for a living... and I'm only 26! It's been very frustrating and disheartening at times but it's really taught me to listen to my body and take it easy. I did PT, cortisone shots, and finally surgery but nothing has helped...

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Cahira
5/3/2017 07:45:01 am

I don't have carpal tunnel, but I have a hip issue due to my evening secondary job of belly dance instructor. For me, I've had a lot of soft tissue work done that was helpful. I don't know if it translates to carpal tunnel very well, but these are things that have helped me over the years:
-- chiropractic adjustment
-- Graston technique (muscle scar tissue stripping)
-- acupuncture
-- Structural Integration (It's similar to Rolfing, though it is its own creature)
-- deep tissue massage

Again, I don't know how well any of those would work for carpal tunnel. But I've had a lot of success with them for my hip/psoas issues.

Also, I now have to remember that when it starts to hurt, TAKE A BREAK RIGHT THEN! :-) (that's me shouting at myself because it's still tough to stop dancing when you're illustrating something for your students...but I'm trying to make myself)

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Shelley Peters
5/3/2017 08:18:21 am

How nice you could avoid this until now. I have been wearing the wrist braces at night for about 20 years now and so far have avoided having the surgery. But a day of sewing sends me looking for the ibuprofen bottle. I have also treated it with acupuncture.

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Trudy Leonard
5/3/2017 10:23:48 am

Oh, wow! This is exactly what's been happening to me for the last year! I sleep on my left side, and couldn't figure out why my right arm would go numb at night, and sometimes when I was just sitting and reading. I told my doctor about it last year, and she had them x-ray my shoulder, but didn't see anything wrong. I don't think either of us considered carpel tunnel because "that's just in your wrists and fingers". Will definitely show her your blog. Thank you!

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Andrea
5/3/2017 12:18:12 pm

Carpal Tunnel is my main problem, BUT when I went to the physical therapist she found "trigger points" (muscle knots) that were squeezing my nerves in my shoulder and neck. The right kind of massage helped me. You might consider that, as well.

Andrea

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Lisa Logan
5/3/2017 12:21:14 pm

I'd encourage you to get a cutting mat that covers your whole table. I use a 4 x 8' "pinnable" mat which allows me to use those 5/8" aluminum pushpins. I've been using a cutting mat for 21 years; I'm on my second mat, so they last quite a while. I find those thin green ones very difficult to use. Also, I don't know if it will make a difference or not, but you might consider using a larger rotary wheel. I use the 45mm for almost everything. The size you're using in the photo is too small for me, most of the time, and the next size up, too big. (Goldilocks of the rotary cutters.) I do 99% of my cutting, both patterns and fabric, with a rotary cutter. I only use scissors for draping, clipping, and, on occasion, trimming seams.

It worries me that you've got your index finger pushing down; that can't be good! The cutting strength in rotary cutting should come from the bicep/shoulder area, not the wrist or fingers.

Hope this helps.

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Andrea
5/3/2017 06:08:35 pm

Thanks, Lisa. Hmm. I thought that little out cropping on the rotary blade was for your finger to help control it. I have a larger one, but find the smaller one easier for curves, etc. But, I will try using the larger one and not use my finger!
Andrea

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Ann
5/3/2017 04:13:07 pm

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear this! I have a gimpy shoulder from an accident 6 years ago. Not carpal tunnel (touch wood) but it does hurt to lift heavy things if I don't do it correctly. If you need a bigger mat, Mega Mat sells all different sizes (http://quiltersrule.com/ProductThumbs.php?category=15) NAYY, just hope it helps and hope you feel better soon!

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Samantha
5/4/2017 05:50:15 pm

Hello! I am newish to your blog but enjoy it very much. I developed carpal tunnel symptoms when I got pregnant the 1st time 20 years ago. My chiropractor uses an interferential STIM machine on my upper neck and back which helps me tremendously whenever it flairs. I at times wasnt able to hold anything in front of me and feel my hands (scissors, a knife, rolling pin, etc). But this helps a lot. Hope you are feeling better soon.

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KT
5/6/2017 09:39:22 pm

I have thoracic outlet syndrome after being misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. The shoulder stuff you are describing sounds like you might have both. The physical therapist I went to also specialized in Pilates. The exercises she prescribed for me helped more than everything else I did.

I wish you all the best and thank you for the tips to help prevent this in all of us.

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Meigan link
5/18/2017 05:40:54 am

I've had carpal tunnel for the past ~20 years. I've slept with a brace on and off during that time. At its worst, I did see a specialist and neck x-rays showed compressed discs in my neck which were pinching the nerves in my arm and hand. Professional advice is a must for wrist pain! Some excellent PT made a huge difference, and I had minimal symptoms for a long time. I still see a chiropractor for regular adjustments and a massage therapist to loosen things up.
Recently I've been doing lots of hands on work and the carpal tunnel has flared up again. Next up is a steroid shot.

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Katie
1/3/2018 02:47:28 pm

I have issues with my upper back, right hand and knee. Proper positioning in my work space is a must! Also, I have found that taking a 2 minute break every hour to stretch has really helped me.

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Merriann McKillip
10/20/2018 07:38:45 am

I had De Quervains surgery in June and had to go in for extended PT. I have good days and bad. Sewing and quilting are my stress release so this is frustrating. I found an ergonomic rotary cutter but im really looking for scissors or shears that are designed for there's roots of conditions. Any luck?

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    I am a commercial pattern maker who is now "sewing over 50"!
    I love to sew and hope to encourage others to come back to sewing.
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