IBQLTN

When I worked at a quilt store I developed 'fabric bolt elbow' ... gee, I could have called that workers comp! But then I loved being around the fabric every day.

The good thing that happened as a result of working there, physically, was that I had dislocated my shoulder about a year prior and could not reach behind my back to tie a bow, even after physical therapy. After about 4 months of working at the quilt shop, I got my mobility back!

klgreene

Oh absolutely. Not sure that is the name, but any repetative movement can cause troubles. My ankle doesn't bother me when I'm sewing so much as my knee does. And yes I have carpal tunnel, thumbs both ache. And I get back aches and shoulder pain all the time. Do I quit quilting? Heck NO, if I can't quilt I might as well be dead.

bettysew

I've had that problem too, so I just change which foot I'm using and that has solved my problem.

Grambi

Try a phonebook or other books to raise the level of your heel up. Good luck, hope the pain goes away.

BizyStitches

That's what I do, I never even plug in my foot pedal (don't even remember the name of it) lol. Hope you feel better soon.

desertrose

It's very possible to arthritis form in joints that receive repetive use and not have it in other joints. Everyone's is different. I could also be just a case of over worked muscle sets you don't use on a regular basis. Try aspirin, tylenol and heat and see if that helps. Good Luck

quilterlois

I switch feet often. It really helps alot.

kaykwilts

To all my quilting friends:

As a Licensed Massage Therapist, I can tell you that ANY joint can develop "carpal tunnel" type symptoms. And, as we all know, this really hurts. As many of you noted, repetitive moment is the biggest culprit, but joints do swell, and as we age and the sonovial(sp?)fluid in our joints diminishes, so we feel that pain even more ....

So many good suggestions here and many of them are so very true....use good ergonomics when sewing (meaning position your chair, foot pedal, light and sewing machine to be the most comfortable as possible), get up and move often, and switch feet from time to time so all of one leg doesn't get all that "abuse"....

But let me make one more very important suggestion....

GO GET A MASSAGE!!!!

When you find yourself hurting, take just a smidge of that fabric/quilting money and go relax with a massage. Don't be afraid to talk to your therapist about where exactly you are hurting...and request that she spend some time massaging and stretching the joints that are all "quilted out"!! Don't be afraid to express where you hurt and what you want worked on.

Remember..it may take more than one session to correct whatever has gone wrong...so don't just get one, go away hurting and not try again. I have many clients that don't start to see positive results until after the third session.

And, if the unthinkable should happen, and you don't get with a therapist that does a good job...don't give up. Just look for someone else....ask around. My profession has some not so good therapists....and many outstanding ones.

The $60-100 that you will spend for a good, one hour massage will be so very well worth it.

Happy and relaxed quilting, my friends
k

ann31039

face it friends, we're falling apart!!! my first day in 2 weeks out on the jobsite after helping in the office. i'm sunburnt and just plain hurt. wasn't a problem 20 years ago! lol

Mary M

As some of you know, I have been trying to get caught up with my UFO. Last thursday my daughter took me out for a B-day lunch and all of a sudden my rib cage started to hurt. I thought, oh heck, I have probably over done the quilting. Well Friday came and it hurt even more...felt like a knife was in my left side back and the right part of my shoulder. It hurt! Saturday was no better and I started seeing a rash from the middle of my front and around to the middle of the back. I was taking every kind of pill I had from previous surgerys. The rash was burning like a hot iron was on it. Finally Mondat comes and I head for the doctor to find out what was going on. By this time I was in tears even though I claim to be so tough. Doctor immediately diagnosed it as "shingles". Well at least I now knew what it was and couldn't blame it on too much quilting. I was given a prednisone shot, a viral medication and some very strong pain killers. Finally, today I started feeling better. I had heard of shingles but never been around anyone that had it. I think that was 4 days of some of the most extreme pain I have ever had. I actually think I will be able to get back to my quilts tomorrow! I know the quilting can be hard on our backs but we just can't give it up.