Wednesday, November 21, 2007

The Knitter Is Down!!!

Let's get the medics in here! We are in a crisis situation, people! Quit yer rubber-neckin' and either help or get out of the way!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not, I repeat, not a drill!!!

We have an injury. And no, I am not being overly dramatic. I heard you guys in the back muttering...I've got my eye on you. You just hush up and keep your opinions to yourself. I'm having a crisis and don't have time to monitor the rabble-rousers.

I'm sure that, by now, everyone is thinking that I am still sore from my two days of teaching crisis intervention strategies at my school district's workshop sessions. And, yes, I am. In fact, I have pulled my neck badly enough that I have to put smelly stuff on it and I can't toss my hair fetchingly. But, I could live with that. My current ailment is far, far worse. It is hobbling. If you are weak of constitution, then you'd best just surf away to a happier blog right now. This will be more than you can stomach.

I've hurt my thumb.

Yes, that's right. My thumb. In fact, it is my right thumb. And I am right handed. All you knitters and spinners just take a minute and page through your mental files on "motor memory." Are you starting to get a handle on this? Are you realizing just how much your thumb is involved in your day to day fiber activities? Are you starting to get a general sense of the state of emergency going on here????

I should hope so.

The recent marathon spinning sessions resulted in my finishing the sock yarn that turned out to be laceweight yarn. My life was forever changed and I ascended into that golden light that all lace spinners know so well. But there was an admission fee required at the gates of the Promised Land. And it was a pound of flesh.

OK...now I'm exaggerating. It was a couple layers of thumb skin. But, I'm "in the moment" so just go with me. It was my knittin' thumb so I deserve a little leeway on this.

It wasn't all that bad at first. Just a little rough patch with some raggedy skin around it. No blood or anything. So I did what any reasonable person would do in this situation. I picked at it. Probably more than I should, but you can see how this might happen.

By last night, it was really rather sore. I began to realize that my knitting was now somewhat affected. The cotton content in my sock yarn was not being all that kind to my little boo-boo and I started to panic just a bit. I also went into "treatment" mode and began regular applications of antibiotic ointment at fifteen minute intervals.

Now, a rookie knitter would have taken a break at this point and admitted that the sock was a more powerful force. There might have been more of the resting and recuperating. This is, after all, a grave injury for a yarnie. But, all evidence to the contrary, I am not a rookie. I am, if I do say so myself, A Brave Little Soldier. Hobbled I may be, but I will knit on!

And so,  armed with my antibiotic ointment, various pain relievers and local emergency services alerted to my act of bravery, I knit. I made the magic happen. My beautiful purply sock really does look best in living color...




But I look better in sepia so that's what you're getting. I may be a Brave Little Soldier and all that, but I'm not crazy.



The thumb is progressing nicely in spite of my brave, yet foolish actions. I'm giving full credit to the medical advances made by the great men and women who understand the importance of a fully functioning digit. They are the real heroes here.

And I'm assuming that not picking at it probably helped a bit, too...

SA

18 comments:

The Kelly Green Rogue said...

LOL! I hope the thumb heels nicely and you can get some turkey day knitting done!

Teri S. said...

Oh no! Not a thumb injury! Anything but that! I (being in the throes of a knitting injury myself) recommend drinking plenty of fluids, lots of rest, and liberal application of antibiotic goo. Otherwise, you might need to curtail the knitting and spinning activities for a longer period. And that would truly be a tragedy, given that you are have ascended the heights to become a Master Laceweight Spinner.

sheep#100 said...

Knitter doon!

Been there, done that. Got the scar to prove it. Sorry about the thumb!

Marianne said...

Yeah but... we're all about the picking,eh?
Heal on little thumb. Make me proud.

Mouse said...

Oh no! I hope your thumb heals quickly.. I hear eating obscene quantities of stuffing helps the healing process. Happy Turkey Day Sheepie!

Denise said...

Poor Sheep!

I have knitting injury right now on my right index finger so I can really empathize. I tend to give my needle a little helper push while knitting, which is usually not a problem except that the knit picks 2.75 mm I'm using right now are a bit 'stabby'.

As a result I have a lovely couple of holes in my finger. This has caused Mr. CPA to worry endlessly (and certainly not silently) about the possibility of infection or blood poisoning (think male Hysterical Mind here).

I have found that a small piece of waterproof medical tape while knitting protects the spot and allows me to keep knitting without further injury and keeps Mr. CPA's blood pressure on an even keel (then antibiotic ointment at night - no tape). I don't know if that would work for you but it might be worth a try.

I hope your thumb is better soon!

Anonymous said...

NO, not the thumb! I am so proud of you for knitting on even with your severe injury; a lesser knitter would have succumbed to the pain.

Enjoy your Turkey (and stuffing) day!

Anonymous said...

Dr. Kat prescribes gravy taken by mouth as needed (not rubbed on the thumb). Accompanying mashed potato and turkey, etc. therapy as well.

Mel said...

I'm a big believer in Band-Aids. Which is why we have something like half a dozen jumbo boxes of them in our cupboard at all times.

Knitting Linguist said...

Oh, no! Not a Debilitating Thumb Injury! DTI is a common cause of painful knitting and uneven spinning, and should be treated carefully and with a large helping of pie and whipped cream (what is with all the stuffing suggestions above?! dessert, people, dessert!). Hope it feels better very quickly :)

Anonymous said...

Oh dear! This is certainly bad news. I hope you'll be able to overcome this unfortunate obstacle. By the way, that's a nice picture! I like the sepia.

Jeanne said...

Wrap the thumb in turkey slices, slather on gravy, and vegetate for the next 24 hours.

Rabbitch said...

You should probably put the thumb in a sling, and then drink bourbon until the pain goes away.

Repeat as necessary.

Anonymous said...

I was really worried but you know antibiotic cream is a miracle so you should be fine.
The sock is looking great!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/

Anonymous said...

That is the sweetest pic of you oh Sheepy!!! Ya didn't need the sepia but nice effect all the same.

So sorry to hear about the thumb throes....hope its all better soon.

Happy Thanksgiving! :<)

Cathy said...

You just did the sepia thing so we couldn't see the stuffing line around your mouth, right?

Hope the thumb heals quickly - but I am most impressed you didn't get burned playing with the oven.

Ruth said...

Hey, Annie ... I hurt my right thumb, too! Although I have no idea how or when.

I'm taking Advil and knitting through the pain. The holidays are coming, you know.

mehitabel said...

Ah, you have just given me the answer to why I have a busted wing--it's Sympathetic Injury! Falling up stairs is just as traumatic as falling down, and my scraped and swollen right paw is no longer able to hold a knitting needle. It can type for maybe twenty keystrokes before cursing at me...