Actual Content (and why tendonitis sucks)

 

To say that having tendonitis is inconvenient wouldn't begin to cover it. I've been dealing with it for the better part of the past year and it's been a challenge. I'm not sure what I did to get tendonitis in the first place. I think there is more to it than just the doctor's explanation that I'm "getting older" which I think is doctor speak for "I don't really know, but you are over forty so I'm going with this." There was never a satisfactory answer as to why I could knit with no problem one day and the very next day I was in pain within ten minutes of picking up my needles. The good doctor's suggestion was to not use my hands for six weeks. To his credit he did smile halfway through, acknowledging that it was a ridiculous idea.

It wasn't just my hands. It was my wrists and elbows too. Without my usual diversion and stress reliever, knitting, I decided to walk everyday. That woke up the tendons in my knees. There is no reason that should have happened. I was walking every other day so walking every day shouldn't not have been such a stress. I don't care how old I am I shouldn't have gone from fine to broken over night without a reason.

My doctor had no answer for me so I went to my chiropractor. He wasn't able to figure out why it happened either but he did keep all my bones in alignment on a regular basis which minimized the pain.

He also taught me some stretching exercises and massaged the muscles in my forearms which all made moving much easier. After weeks and weeks of ice and ibuprofen I started knitting again. I could only manage ten minutes at a time at first. At that rate I was never going to be able to knit up all the yarn I bought when I couldn't knit. It was all very frustrating. At one point I aggravated my wrist by reading a book. Yeah, I'm a wild one.

So, I couldn't knit, crochet, read or type. I produced very little and had a hard time destressing. It took me all summer to knit that one Noro sock I showed you. In 2008 I barely posted to the blog. Shopping therapy will only get you so far and it's not as much fun when you are buying beautiful yarn you can't knit.

Slowly but surely I got it all back. One day I picked up my needles and knit a whole Noro Scarf while watching almost every episode of Firefly. Then over the following week I knit the Falling Water Scarf for Grandma Ellen for Christmas. I made the Feather and Fan Organic Wrap from Jane Thornley for myself in shades of green. I enjoyed that so much I made one in pinks and purples for Lori for Christmas. It felt like I'd been cured overnight.

I had lots of plans for keeping busy while Dennis was away. Aside from all the knitting and crocheting I had queued up, there were rooms to be painted and shelves to be hung. Those sort of things that would be easier to do with Dennis away so I could make a mess and take my time without making his life difficult. Only one room got painted and I haven't done the trim.

Once I was feeling better the last thing I wanted to do was paint walls and trim. Instead I made beaded necklaces for the three older girls as gifts. This one above is from Crystal Lace Patterns by Sandra Halpenny. She has more patterns on her website if you don't want to spring for the book.

I even had the wherewithal to make a necklace on commission.

 

It was inspired by Laura McCabe and is a combination of elements from her book. For Lori's birthday, before all the tendonitis nonsense, I made her one of these in amethyst. A friend and customer of Lori's wanted one for her daughter for Christmas.

  

The New Year's plan is to knit, bead, crochet and paint more often and then post all about it on the blog. Sounds good right?

Comments

[Fabi]

Hi Ellen,

I'm not sure if you remember me (Dave Van Arsdell's wife). I started to knit in August and Matthew gave me your blog info. I love it! Hope you have a wonderful 2009!

Take care!

Fabi

[Ellen-Mary]

Thanks, Fabi. I do remember you. Dave got lucky. :)
I think the last time I saw you was at Matt and Carrie's wedding.
Carrie mentioned that you started knitting when she and Matt were here for Christmas.
Fair warning: It's addictive.

[Fabi]

I'm definitely addicted! I'm thinking of starting my first sweater... For my baby of course. Not sure I can handle a sweater for myself yet. :) So far I've only knitted scarves and hats. I like the quick projects. Instant gratification...

[Joan Hayes]

You are very talented! Please have yourself checked for Rheumatoid Arthritis ASAP. It sounds like you had a flare up and then it calmed down again. It's a simple bloodtest and if the disease is in the beginning stages you can arrest the damage to your joints before it gets worse! PLEASE. There is a factor in your blood that will alert the Doctor if RA is what you have!

[Joam Turner]

I am so glad you are back and moving. I was worried about you. Hope you keep improving.