Hand/arm falling asleep while knitting...

[cristeen]

Anyone had this happen? Any ideas on causes/ways to avoid? It's really annoying, especially since I'm in a knitting co-op and have a deadline to meet.

[mom2snugbugs]

All the time- especially if I've been doing it a lot. I usually shake it out- but sometimes I have to take a rest. HTH

[4evermom]

Would knitting on circulars help? I think someone told me that straight needles makes her carpal tunnel syndrome act up... I only knit on circulars so I can't compare.

[Mama~Love]

It happenes to me too, even on circulars. I knit Continental, and it's my right hand that usually goes numb. I just take a break. Not sure what else would help.

[jrabbit]

I've been wondering if those compression gloves would help. I don't know what I'm talking about, but I have this vivid memory of seeing something at a quilt show years ago that was designed to help with carpal tunnel but allow crafting ....

I knit & crochet in bed mostly, and this happens all the time, regardless of the craft. I shake it off, then try to lower my arms (which can be hard because then I can't SEE the project). My chiropractor suggested a stretch where you stand in a doorway, and hold your arms up to the side, bent at elbows, hands at ear level, and push into the doorway til you feel the stretch. I don't do it nearly enough to see an improvement, but I'm trying.

[dillonandmarasmom]

carpal tunnel

I had it bad when i was pregnant with DS2. It is still very, very slight in both hands, but it is going away.

It sucks. Sorry you are experiencing it.

[AllieFaye]

My chiropractor is a knitter herself. She has some exercise techniques for sane knitters. However, she acknowledges that pregnant women and really serious knitters just need frequent adjustments. I should know; my nesting urge takes the form of maniacal knitting and crocheting.

[tchambers216]

I'm not sure when my arms started to go numb, but I do know it happened occasionally when I was regularly seeing a chiropractor to help fix my back after a car accident. I'm glad I found this thread as I was just knitting a scarf for a Christmas present and both my arms were going numb before I could get through the end of a row of 40 stitches. I'm interested in hearing what some stretches I could do are.

[branditopolis]

ugh it's probably carpel tunnel.  I have it so bad it takes me FOREVER to finish a project.  my hands go completely numb, usually at the base of my thumb first.  I know there's a surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve there, but i doubt I'll go that route.  I'm actually glad i found this, i'd like to know how to fix it myself :)

[adoremybabe]

it is carpel. go to a chiro for an adjustment and exercise/stretch advice.

[Katie T]

I have this issue in my left hand. I used to have it in my right as well before I had the surgery to fix it. (SO WORTH IT!)  

I tried the chiro with no help. Changing positions will help for short amounts of time and I have never tried the compression gloves but worth a try!

Be careful, I think me ignoring the pain of carpel tunnel made it worse quickly and in a short time it soon got so bad in my right wrist that I could not sleep a wink without a wrist splint on and that only minimally helped. Listed to your body and rest when needed!

If it gets so bad that you decide surgery is a good option my heal time was very quickly and I needed no physical therapy I think in part due to knitting as soon as I could after surgery.

Good luck. : )