Tag crochet injury

Common Fiber Arts Injuries

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Given that this is the month of the WTF series, and I have never actually discussed the common injuries that most of us in the fiber arts industries get, I figured that today would be a good day for that.

Fiber arts, encompassing activities such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and weaving, are beloved pastimes for many. However, these creative endeavors can sometimes lead to unexpected injuries. In this blog post, we delve into common fiber art injuries and offer valuable tips to help you avoid them, ensuring that your passion remains both enjoyable and safe.

Common Fiber Art Injuries

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs)

Repetitive strain injuries are a frequent concern among fiber artists. These injuries occur due to the repetitive motion of hands and fingers when stitching, knitting, or weaving. Common RSIs include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.

Symptoms of RSIs can include:

  • Pain and tenderness in the hands, wrists, or forearms
  • Numbness or tingling sensations
  • Weakness in the hands

To prevent RSIs, it is essential to:

  • Take regular breaks to stretch and rest your hands
  • Maintain an ergonomic workspace
  • Use tools that are comfortable and easy to grip

Eye Strain

Working on intricate patterns and detailed designs can put a significant strain on your eyes. Staring at fine stitches for extended periods without proper lighting can lead to eye strain and discomfort.

To reduce eye strain, consider the following tips:

  1. Ensure your workspace is well-lit, ideally with natural light
  2. Take frequent breaks to rest your eyes
  3. Use magnifying glasses or lamps for detailed work

Back and Neck Pain

Long hours spent hunched over your projects can contribute to poor posture, leading to back and neck pain. Poor posture can cause strain on your muscles and joints, resulting in chronic discomfort.

Ways to prevent back and neck pain include:

  • Setting up an ergonomic workstation
  • Using a comfortable chair with good lumbar support
  • Practicing good posture by sitting up straight and keeping your shoulders relaxed

Tools and Techniques for Injury Prevention

Ergonomic Tools

Investing in ergonomic tools can make a significant difference in preventing injuries. Ergonomic knitting needles, crochet hooks, and scissors are designed to reduce strain on your hands and wrists.

Look for tools that offer:

  • Soft, cushioned grips
  • Lightweight materials
  • Adjustable lengths and sizes

Stretching and Exercises

Incorporating regular stretching and exercises into your routine can help keep your muscles flexible and reduce the risk of injuries. Consider these simple exercises:

  1. Wrist stretches: Extend your arm with your palm facing down and gently pull your fingers back with your other hand.
  2. Finger stretches: Spread your fingers wide apart and then close them into a fist.
  3. Neck stretches: Gently tilt your head from side to side and forward and backward.

Conclusion

While fiber arts are a delightful and fulfilling hobby, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential injuries associated with these activities. By taking preventive measures, using ergonomic tools, and incorporating stretching exercises, you can enjoy your creative pursuits without compromising your health. Remember, a little attention to ergonomics and regular breaks can go a long way in ensuring your fiber art journey remains joyful and pain-free.

Alcohol and A Crochet Hook

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This one is actually fairly recent, circa 2009. I will admit that coming up with a title was not easy.

So I didn’t find much about this one, just an article in a small newspaper in Huntsville.

A guy had drinks with his ex, they ended up in bed together. He woke up around 11pm to find a crochet needle in his urethra. He claims that he has no idea how it got there.

After an x-ray, doctors were able to remove the hook.

A couple of things with this one. First off, i have my own theories on how the hook ended up where it did. If it’s a kink thing, that’s fine, more power to them. We don’t kink shame. However, if its not, i want to know what he did to her, to make her want to shove a perfectly good crochet hook where she did.

I Really Don’t Recommend Using A Crochet Hook This Way

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This WTF story comes with a trigger warning, as it has to do with self harm.

In April of 1934 at the Rochester State Hospital, a 55 year old woman was admitted for having a number 12 crochet hook in her head.

This woman had thrust the hook herself into her right temple, she used the heel of her slipper to hammer it further after her hand couldn’t move it further. That worked to get it into her left temporal orbital wall. The hook was completely buried under her skin. Surprisingly she did not loose her vision.

After having the hook removed, she went on to have a full recovery, with no lose of vision or disturbance of ocular mobility.

A CASE OF DEATH FROM PUNCTURE OF THE BRAIN BY A CROCHET-HOOK

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On Wednesday, April 19, 1876, A post-mortem examination took place in which the founding conclusions are as follows: death had resulted from injury to the brain by a crochet-hook.

Follow along with me…

    Florence B–, aged two years and a half, was playing by the fireplace with her sisters, when she either fell down or rolled over. A crochet-hook, which in some way was fixed by the fender or hearth-rug, penetrated her head for about two inches immediately above the left ear. One of her sisters pulled it out at once, without breaking it, “heard it grate” against something as she did so, and noticed that there was no bleeding. This happened on Monday evening, April 17th, at about eight o’clock. The child is then described as having become very restless, and convulsed during the night. The next day she was noticed to be drowsy at intervals, occasionally waking up and screaming. No paralysis was observed, and both pupils were natural. Towards night she became semi-comatose, and died about four o’clock on the morning of the following day (Wednesday), some thirty-two hours after the injury had been sustained. AT NO POINT WAS A DOCTOR CALLED….I mean really….NO DOCTOR WAS CALLED. 

    The autopsy, twelve hours after death.-The body was that of a well-formed and well-nourished child; rigor mortis slightly marked. The left temporal region was found to be somewhat swollen and cadematous; and with a little difficulty a small punctured wound was found where the needle had penetrated. Supposing a line to be drawn from the summit of the left ear to the eyebrow of the same side, the position of the wound would be in this line at a point some what nearer to the eyebrow than the ear. On removal of the scalp there was evidence of extensive extravasation of blood in the left temporal region. When the superior attachment of the temporal muscle and the temporal fasciae and all clot had been carefully removed, a pinhole opening was seen at once just above the temporal ridge of the frontal bone and a little anterior to the coronal suture. Blood oozed through this opening directly it was cleared. There was no blood between the dura mater and the bone, and the opening in the dura mater was readily recognized. The dura mater was carefully removed from the brain, and immediately beneath it in this left temporal region there had been abundant hemorrhage, so much so that the clot formed was, in its centre (which corresponded with the puncture), about half an inch thick, and its area was somewhat larger than a crown-piece. No morbid appearances were noticed in the brain-substance itself, and there was no hemorrhage into the ventricles. The head alone was examined.

    It is believed that should the child have been seen by a doctor they might well have survived. More to the point, I know we let our children play but please take note and be careful. 

Crochet Injuries: Ear Cleaning?

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So for this next injury-not vaginal and not penis related (though readers I promise there are a few more of them in the future) Our next injury occurred when a young man perhaps had and itch; though he said he was cleaning out his ear) and decided to use a Tunisian Crochet needle…..like what???

    Ossicular injuries usually occur in association with fractures of the temporal bone, with longitudinal fractures being more commonly associated than transverse fractures. Dislocations of the ossicular chain can also occur without fractures, either due to a penetrating injury or blunt trauma. We are presenting here a case of an ossicular injury which was caused by a metallic Tunisian needle, when the patient had made an attempt to clean his external ear canal. A young male presented to E.N.T Department with severe vertigo and conductive hearing loss. Patient’s symptoms started soon after he was trying to clean his ear with a metallic Tunisian needle and he injured his ear drum. Patient was sent to Radiology Department for a high resolution CT scan of the temporal bone. High resolution CT scan revealed a stapediovestibular dislocation with anteriorly displaced stapes foot plate, abutting the opening of eustachian tube (external rotation), along with a malleoincudal dislocation. Although dislocation of stapes can be associated with perilymph fistulas, however, no fluid was seen in the tympanic cavity in this case. Still, a diagnosis of a stapediovestibular and a malleoincudal dislocation associated with perilymph fistula was given, due to complaint of vertigo. To the best of our knowledge, the dislocation of ossicular chain by direct trauma caused by a needle after an ear drum perforation is a rare entity. Patient was given complete bed rest and vertin (betahistdine) for controlling vertigo, after which he recovered.

    Sooo…maybe use a Q-tip next time….or…anything else…k? K.