Knitting tension with nerve damage

[ariandar]

Hi all. I've been watching this community for a while, and finally had a question arise for me that I feel I need help with.

I have some nerve damage. It's not actually in my right hand, but the cervical-7 nerve root, where I have a tumor merrily gnawing at it. The doctors aren't really sure whether I will lose more motor control than I already have, as we try a second time to eradicate it. Anyway, it translates to motor control issues and some numbness and most often pain in my right hand. When I type too long, knit too long, sew for too long, etc etc, my pinkie and ring finger first will stop listening to me and just flop around uselessly, until I stop and stretch them backward in a way that makes people cringe. And then second, the pinkie, ring and middle finger will cramp and curl inward, painfully, while I try not to drop my knitting. It's really aggravating.

So... I know the first thing people will suggest is to knit Continental instead of English. I am miserable at Continental, and have been since before all this happened. I can't see myself going that route and not just giving up knitting altogether, if that is my only option.

I've been looking at these tension ring things - cro-knit and something from Clover for stranded knitting, as well as something they're calling a knitting thimble? Has anyone used any of these devices, and are they worth trying to hold the tension of the yarn? Because more often than not, what is triggering my troubles isn't throwing the yarn so much as trying to hold the tension.

Especially since I just up and decided to try my hand at socks on DPNs for the first time. 'Cause I'm a glutton for punishment. ;-)

If you have any thoughts on this, I would be grateful for the input. Thanks!

Comments

[indeliblesasha]

I don't have any issues with my hands, so I have no idea if this suggestion will be workable for you, but I wanted to suggest the way I hold my yarn, as a fellow thrower.

Let's see if I can figure out how to explain this....

Hold the yarn so it's on the palm of your right hand, pull it back through the first and middle fingers, and then forward under the middle finger. When I move it over my needle it hooks over the top of my middle finger. I control my tension by squeezing my first and middle finger's together.

Now, obviously this works better with thicker yarns. When I need more tension with fingering weight and the like, I just wrap it around my middle finger again. I also make sure I am holding everything very gently and lightly, and account for the fact my tension is very loose. But, I can knit for hours on end without any sort of cramping at all, so I think it's worthwhile.

I'm so sorry to hear about your tumor, and I hope they can get rid of it. ♥ If you do lose more motor control, you might find sticking to bulky yarns and large needles is the best options to keep you knitting, short of switching styles. (I am working on a cabled purse on size 13's right now, it's a blast.)

[ariandar]

Thank you. I do find bulky yarns & larger needles easier, and I gave up on the idea I'd ever do knitted lace. But I so wanted to make socks. :-\

Consciously moving where I hold the yarn may be the very thing. I so automatically loop it over my ring finger and pinky, without considering the other fingers.

[indeliblesasha]

Well you know, I just finished a lace scarf in aran weight yarn, and you can totally knit socks in worsted :) so really, you don't have to give up on either ;)

And yay! I hope you can adjust to a different way of holding your yarn without having to change hands. I'm not any good with my left hand either. :)

[geeksdoitbetter]

i'm here to second the idea of lace fabric being made in other weights of yarn

also, lace fabric wants to get made with crazy large needles (like size 8 needles for lace weight yarn)