Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Thumbless

After knitting sweaters for my daughters and stepdaughter I noticed that my thumbs were hurting a lot. Of course, then I launched the two mystery shawls, two pairs of gloves, one pair of socks, and a pair of fancy wrist warmers. Then my thumbs REALLY hurt. Sometimes they would wake me up they hurt so much.

I finally went to the hand doctor and got to pay him to tell me what I already knew. I have arthrosis in my thumbs. So I'm in thumb braces which make it impossible to knit and difficult to use the computer.

Did you know there is a difference between arthritis (inflammation of joint) and arthosis (cartilage has worn away)?

Now I've bought a rigid heddle loom and I'm trying to suck up quantities of stash wool by weaving scarves (you don't need thumbs for that).

I've also gotten more involved in Bobbin lace (tho it does hurt sometimes to pick up the bobbins). I've joined a Bobbin Lace club that meets once a month. I've already learned a lot from a couple of the members. But I HAVE to knit. So I only do a little bit each day. When it starts to hurt, I put the braces back on.

I don't think my sister is doing very well. She's been fighting Uterine Cancer and now she's having lots of fluid build up in her lungs and abdomen. She's had so much bad luck, it's time for her to have something good happen.