Guest guest Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 I can't do anything crafty and it has nothing to do with arthritis<g>. Lack of creativity, maybe? I can write, but I'm kind of too lazy to really work at that. I'm still working(teaching, more or less), but what I do to feel productive and as if I'm contributing to society is dog rescue, Chihuahua specifically. It does take energy and commitment, but not much small motor skill. The more you use your mind, no matter what drugs you're on, the sharper it will get. Surf the net if you can't do anything else -- read and do research on anything and everything you can think of. There's a whole world out there and it's right at our fingertips -- every country, all kinds of people, and more information than we could possibly absorb in ten lifetimes. ----- Original Message ----- From: dbargad@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 3:20 AM Subject: Painful Crafts Hi everyone- I have found the theraputic wonders of knitting. I decided to buy some huge knitting needles because I cant hold the smaller ones. Am I paying for it now. I am so frustrated that simple things like "fingers" other people take for granted, can be the source of so much aggravation because of my limits here. I like doing something to feel productive. Like so many other things, I will have to walk away from it. I suppose I have no business even trying this when I need my hands for important things like cooking and cleaning which I do very little of these days. My mind feels like a ball of clay and the meds are making it even worse. Its getting so I cant think of anything unless its right in front of me. Does anyone have any advice how to cope here? Id appreciate it greatly. Debbie in ME Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.4 - Release Date: 03/18/2005 Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.4 - Release Date: 03/18/2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 I usually just read without commenting, but I am able to knit in small doses. For me, if I overdo it, I pay for it, but doing short stretches actually seems to be exercise for my fingers and keep me more mobile. Try short stints and see if it makes a difference (I hope!) I agree that not being able to do things you enjoy is one of the huge frustrations with this disease! Lucinda aka Knittingmom ----- Original Message ----- From: dbargad@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 2:20 AM Subject: Painful Crafts Hi everyone- I have found the theraputic wonders of knitting. I decided to buy some huge knitting needles because I cant hold the smaller ones. Am I paying for it now. I am so frustrated that simple things like "fingers" other people take for granted, can be the source of so much aggravation because of my limits here. I like doing something to feel productive. Like so many other things, I will have to walk away from it. I suppose I have no business even trying this when I need my hands for important things like cooking and cleaning which I do very little of these days. My mind feels like a ball of clay and the meds are making it even worse. Its getting so I cant think of anything unless its right in front of me. Does anyone have any advice how to cope here? Id appreciate it greatly. Debbie in ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 I love crafts of all kinds. I find if I do each one for just a short time I do not get as sore. It is when I get carried away and do it to the point of hurting I really pay. I have the trigger finger too.It tuns all whitte and throbs with pain and won't bend. I like to knit and crochet. I found it very hard on my hands and always found it hard to stop doing it before I ended up hurting. I brought a knitting machine and it works great. I got the bond Machine. Here is a link to it http://bond-america.com/products/product.html I also found beading to be easy. I learned to do it on the net where there is also free patterns. Here is a link to one of the sites I used. http://www.bead-patterns.com/ No matter what craft you do you need to set a time and stop before it begins to hurt. By rotating crafts throught the day you will use different joints in different ways so as not to keep stressing the same ones. I have been working on a woodcarving of a Boxer dog for over a year. I can only work on it a couple times a week for about 10 minutes. That is in a good week. Rue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2005 Report Share Posted March 25, 2005 I don’t know what’s the matter with me, then, because I never stop reading and studying (= first love, lol) I’m working on three languages right now, writing daily, composing, doing a moderate amount of research. Maybe I’ve just passed the goofy stage and moved directly into dementia. Lol Love/peace/brainpower to all y’all Yellow -----Original Message----- From: Hasenstab [mailto:saludo@...] Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 6:10 AM To: Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: Painful Crafts I can't do anything crafty and it has nothing to do with arthritis<g>. Lack of creativity, maybe? I can write, but I'm kind of too lazy to really work at that. I'm still working(teaching, more or less), but what I do to feel productive and as if I'm contributing to society is dog rescue, Chihuahua specifically. It does take energy and commitment, but not much small motor skill. The more you use your mind, no matter what drugs you're on, the sharper it will get. Surf the net if you can't do anything else -- read and do research on anything and everything you can think of. There's a whole world out there and it's right at our fingertips -- every country, all kinds of people, and more information than we could possibly absorb in ten lifetimes. ----- Original Message ----- From: dbargad@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 3:20 AM Subject: Painful Crafts Hi everyone- I have found the theraputic wonders of knitting. I decided to buy some huge knitting needles because I cant hold the smaller ones. Am I paying for it now. I am so frustrated that simple things like " fingers " other people take for granted, can be the source of so much aggravation because of my limits here. I like doing something to feel productive. Like so many other things, I will have to walk away from it. I suppose I have no business even trying this when I need my hands for important things like cooking and cleaning which I do very little of these days. My mind feels like a ball of clay and the meds are making it even worse. Its getting so I cant think of anything unless its right in front of me. Does anyone have any advice how to cope here? Id appreciate it greatly. Debbie in ME Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.4 - Release Date: 03/18/2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Yellow- It didnt occur to me about the painting. Paint by number for me. LOL. Have a great day, and if you havent tried them yet. www.oldfashionedknittingboard.com try looms. Atleast they are easy on the digits. Yours, Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Thanks for the suggestion. Everyone has such good ideas about ways to keep crafting. For now I'm staying with my needles, but I've bookmarked the knitting board for the future. Lucinda ----- Original Message ----- From: dbargad@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 2:27 PM Subject: Re: Painful Crafts Dear Lucinda, Thanks so much. Over doing and I am paying. Do try www.oldfashionedknittingboard.com for knitting. I can use that for a long time without too much discomfort. I cant convert patterns but if you knit well, youd find it a breeze I am sure. I am knitting a fun fur bag, and a pink easter shawl. THey are coming out so beautifully that I cant seem to stop until I woke up today and my hands were outraged with me. I will hold myself back. Thanks so very very much. Maybe we should start a board for knitters like us. Thanks again. Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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