pinky finger pain whilst crocheting?

Question

I have had a look on here for similar questions, but none of them seem to be quite what i'm looking for.
Ive been crocheting for roughly a year on a regular basis. I sell my work to a shop (so i dont consider myself a beginner).
i hold my hook like a pencil, and my tension isnt very tight, so holding too tight isnt the problem.
I get a very fatigued pinky finger on my hand that holds my work and yarn. I dont use my pinky finger to hold the yarn, i simply have my yarn between my middle and index finger whilst using my thumb and index to hold my work.
my ring and pinky finger curl up so that the yarn sits inside them, and from this my pinky finger gets very sore after a while. I need to find a way to relax my pinky but i dont know how.... does anyone have any suggestions? i exercise my finger before and after everytime i do some work.

Answer 1

I don't believe there's a "one-size-fits-all" solution for pain and injuries caused by the repetitive use of our hands.



I've been knitting since age 7 and crocheting since age 10, I was an office worker who used a keyboard up to 10 hours a day, and I taught keyboarding for a number of years. I've never had a repetitive stress injury from any of that, which might mean I'm phenominally lucky or it might mean that I hold my hands and arms in a way that avoids stress. I once offered a suggestion for changing hand position to prevent repetitive stress injury, and the person I mentioned this to informed me she was a typing instructor and I didn't know what I was talking about--so I tread lightly in this area, particularly when I cannot see exactly how you're holding your hands.



What you might want to do is have a consultation with a physical therapist to determine if there are minor changes you can make in the way you hold and tension the yarn, the way you hold your hands, the position of your arms, and so on that will relieve stress in just the way YOU need to relieve stress. If you have already been diagnosed with RSI, your insurance should pay for periodic visits to a physical therapist.

Answer 2

I think some of the responders have misread your question in that they suggest you change the type of hook you use but it's not the pinky of the hand that holds the hook, is it? It's the one that holds the yarn.



In which case I have the same issue ..



I came to this page while looking for some kind of solution as well. It hurts when I try to stretch it out, right at the base. Is that where yours hurts as well? Have you found what's causing it?



I'm 51 and have been crocheting just about 2 years but this pain has only recently begun. I'm not a beginner either but I've had no luck selling much of anything (so congrats!), but I do crochet pretty much constantly. I'm also diagnosed with Lupus and RA and joint problems are chronic. No carpal issues so far though ..



I'll keep looking. Maybe a ring that holds the yarn to maybe help me with the tension so my hand doesn't have to do any of it .. If I find something, maybe I'll be able to find my way back and post what I find.



Hope you've gotten some relief!

Answer 3

You can buy ergonomic crochet hooks which are shaped differently and allow you to hold the hook as you would hold a spoon. I've been crocheting for many years and also get the same pain as you , I don't hold the yarn in the same manner as you but seem to keep my little finger (pinky ) bent and this gives me occasional pain . The ergonomic hooks are widely available and are expensive but they have good reviews and would be a worthwhile investment.

Answer 4

I seem to have the same problem. Also, I have carpal tunnel syndrome. I have tried using the more expensive hooks instead of those tiny metal ones. The ones I use now are wooden and have a flat part in the middle. It makes it MUCH easier to crochet with my carpal tunnel, and I don't have nearly as much pain after finishing a crocheting session. Good luck!

Answer 5

I know I'm yrs off answering this question. But I know exactly what you're speaking of. Changing hooks does not help since it's not the fingers that hold the hook. It's our pinky because of it being curled for long period of time. My aches badly and even goes numb and won't grip. If you happen to to read this, wear a thick but flexible bandaid on that finger. It helps me tremendously.

Answer 6

That's very common. The muscles in that area are not used to doing this work, and they are protesting the new exercise. Just take some aspirin or Tylenol as directed on the bottle, and try not to go overboard with your new skill. Some sort of warmth will help relax the muscles, such as a heating pad or hot water bottle. If you don't overdo it, your hand will probably feel better in a couple of days.

Answer 7

I know I'm pretty late to answer, but I have the exact same problem!



One thing that helps me a lot is that I wrap a little piece of fabric around my whole pinky and tie it on, which prevents it from curling. It is awkward at first, but after a lil while I kind of forget about it :)

I think I'm going to crochet a "pinky slip" that I can slide on...cute, huh? But I'm still searching for some other solutions.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Definitely check out the ergonomic hook that divip suggested, and you might also want to check out some of the info about hand/arm problems when doing crocheting and other things, repetitive motions, etc:

http://glassattic.com/polymer/disabilities.htm (click on the category called *Muscle, Hand, Arm*)



.

Answer 9

arthritis might be setting in

many crocheters have carpal tunnel syndrome