The bad news: I suspect I'm going to have to take a break in needlework. Tuesday evening I spent an hour or so trimming the hexagons I've been working on. The company from which I bought the precut papers suggested using 2 1/2" squares do fabric for my 1" hexagons. Since I am the queen of anti-preparation (I am NOT a fan of any kind of prep work, including quilting. I'm always too anxious to get right to work on my projects), being able to quickly cut my 2 1/2" strips and 5" charms into 2 1/2" squares so I could start basting my hexagons sooner was music to my ears.
The hexagon on the left is an untrimmed one; the hexagon on the right has been trimmed. I figured that trimming back the excess after the hexagons were basted would be a fairly mindless task that I could do while watching TV ... and during that night's ball game, it seemed like a perfect time to trim.
After an hour or so, I noticed that my index finger on my right (dominant) hand was rubbing the scissors (a standard pair of 4" fabric scissors), causing some pain. I assumed that a blister was forming, but when I looked at my finger, it looked fine so I kept trimming. When I was done, I discovered that the pain I was feeling was due to what I suspect is some kind of nerve issue - I'm guessing that there's a nerve on the outer part of my finger which was rubbing/pressing against the scissors? I have to admit that I was a bit concerned when the tingliness and pins-and-needles feeling were still present when I got up Wednesday morning. The finger is not numb - there's feeling in the finger, but there's also pain - not enough to incapacitate me/my finger, but enough that I find myself favoring that finger and using other fingers as much as possible.
I tried quilting Wednesday afternoon ... and while I could quilt, I needed my needle grabber to pull my stitches through the fabric and my stitches were slightly less consistently sized. I quilted for a couple of hours that afternoon, and after dinner, I thought that I'd trying basting hexagons ... I thought that perhaps basting hexagons might be easier on that finger, but after basting a half dozen or so, I realized that I used that finger more for basting than I did for quilting. While I can't be sure whether the pain is any worse this morning, I can't help but wonder if either or both activities were good for that nerve? The thought of not being able to quilt or do any kind of needlework - even temporarily - is causing me much distress. I love quilting enough that I'd be willing to suffer through the pain - if I could be assured that I'm not causing any long-term or permanent damage.
My first inclination was to just deal with this, figuring it would pass ... but now I'm wondering if I ought not go see my doctor ... if for no other reason than to know how to treat it and to know if/when it is safe to work with my needle and thread. :-(
Hope Blogger works on your iPad. I installed it on mine and have never tried it - my photos are always somewhere else!
ReplyDeleteTake care of your finger! My hand pain is arthritis- at times it sure does hinder sewing. I sympathize with you. I'd go to the dr so you know what's going on. Good Luck!
~Jeanne
I notice if I do lots of knitting, crochet or quilting then my right hand cramps up and I need to stop everything for a few days for it to heal. I also throw on the special glove that just tightens and heats the hand and it feels better in a few days. With a finger? I'd call your Dr's office and talk to them (nurses are great!) and explain what happened and their thoughts. Maybe taking a couple days off and some Aleve or Advil will help?
ReplyDeleteHugs.
I hope your finger gets better quickly!
ReplyDeleteOh Kathy I hate things like this...soo frustrating. My guess would be that it is just from repetitive use and a few days off will solve the problem. Some nerve is tweaked somewhere, probably do to inflammation, so maybe an anti-inflammatory of some sort would help such as Aleve. However, if I didn't notice at least an improvement in a couple of days I'd head on in to the docs. Maybe at the machine sewing instead? Annoying I know, my body fights my sewing for too long of period of times sometimes....oh to be 35 again haha. Praying this is over quickly for you and it turns out to be something that is healed quickly and completely. HUGS
ReplyDeleteOh no! I hope that it feels better soon. I always tend to head for the ice first when I do something like that.
ReplyDeleteThis does not sound fun!
ReplyDeleteHaving a Doc tell me what was happening and how to treat it would be helpful. Hope you get some answers and relief soon!
I don't like prep work either, Kathy. When I do hexies now I hold the paper on the fabric, eyeballing it, and I trim away the corners, then baste. I think trimming afterward is harder on my hand to cut through the folded layers. Just a thought.
That is just terrible. I know how bad my hand is on my right and how I have to stop for days and not be able to sew a thing, sometimes it gets so bad I can't even use my hand to open the door.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you figure out why it would do that and how to make it better. I also hope your I Pad works so you can blog.
Well I hope it goes away soon. I am so sorry.
Hi there, I use blogger on my mini ipad-so I think it should work on yours. Sorry about your finger-sounds like just overuse to me. Of course I've got osteo arthritis in my index finger, I'm sure from over use as well. My finger is now crocked-not pretty.
ReplyDeleteHope you figure it out.
Hugs, Noreen
Oh, Kathy, I'm so sorry. We get pretty complacent, expecting our bodies to work as they aways have and then they go and rebel on us. Don't take it! Hope you find a quick and easy solution. Keep us informed.
ReplyDeleteMy right hand cramps up when I crochet too long. Do wait, go to the drs!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the iPad though.
I meant DON"T WAIT. =)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about this. Praying that it will heal soon but I do think you should go see the doctor.
ReplyDeleteOh, Kathy, I am so sorry about this and I would definitely go to the Dr. just for peace of mind. I know how aggravating it can be to have to lay aside something you love. So, I do hope you will be "good as new" very soon! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI've just been reading back and catching up with what's been going on with you. I loved the picture of you with T4. I hope she had a great birthday!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your finger. Having something wrong with a hand is annoying anytime, but especially when you love to do needlework. Hope it heals SOON!