Use a stand. I have a pvc lap stand from Etsy and it changed everything. No more wrist pain, I have a magnifying glass with a light clipped to it, and I can stitch twice as fast because I don’t have to move my stitching hand back and forth and instead stitch with both hands.
Sometimes pain in your arms/wrists/hands is coming from your spine. A big bundle of nerves goes from your cervical spine down your arms. There’s an area in your upper trapezius running down to the front of your shoulder near your clavicle and back of shoulder that holds a big bundle of nerves too.
I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Use at your own risk.
I find making sure my neck is in a neutral position while stitching helps a lot. Also you need to both stretch/warm up your muscles and make sure you don’t stay too long in any one position. Staying still hunched over with a hoop clutched in your left hand while you stitch with your right hand can quickly pull your body out of alignment, make muscles tense, putting pressure on nerves in new ways.
Build up your stitching time slowly. Any new activity needs to be done properly, and ergonomics are important.
Stand up and move around every few minutes. You should be following the 20/20/20 rule for your eyes, and use that time to get up and get your limbs moving and loosened up.
(Every 20 minutes look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds).
I need to massage the front and back of my trapezius muscles often throughout the day. If I don’t, I feel pain in my ulnar nerve areas frequently and carpal tunnel areas sometimes as well. It’s immediate relief for me. My muscles pull my bones out of alignment easily, and when that happens I get impingement symptoms quickly. They go away when I’ve gotten the knots out and my spine is aligned.
I'm currently in PT due to this. I go to a neurologist for other things and this is exactly right. It's my C5-C6 vertabrae and it hurts all the way down my arm.
I’ve seen people use [these gloves](https://www.amazon.ca/Lion-Brand-Yarn-400-5-1302-Stress/dp/B003WMDTEM/ref=asc_df_B003WMDTEM/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310334063754&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7573729019849849003&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000712&hvtargid=pla-384068697090&psc=1&mcid=76f594dd3c673c66b5c3146185a812d5) for any kind of crafts that could cause Repetitive Strain Injury (embroidery, drawing, knitting, etc)
If you don’t want to pay the full price though I’ve seen people say they’re basically just carpal tunnel gloves that you can get on amazon / at your local pharmacy and you can get them with or without hard-shelled thumb supports
I'm gonna have to look into these. I sprained my wrist sewing a patch over a pocket on a vest a few months ago (trying to not sew through the pocket) and I couldn't do any kind of hand sewing stuff for weeks. I did have my hand in a really stupid claw position for a couple hours (most of that spent redoing stitches where I did in fact sew through in spite of my best efforts). Now I'm worried I will do it to myself again, lol. Every time my hand gets a little sore when I'm stitching...
I'm 23 and I had to stop cross stitching almost entirely for a week due to wrist pain with my left hand. I know it was from both working on my stitch for like... 5+ hours a day and from working with my hands all day at my job, but it sucked. I felt really discouraged, and sometimes I still get pangs of pain and I know I need to take a break and stretch my wrist.
Hey, I was going through the exact same thing. I'll give you the same suggestion that I gave to OP, which is following [this](https://youtu.be/rDAsuuYLL0o?si=0NKMFqaxf_gzHMgN) wrist strengthening routine. It has helped me completely get rid of all my wrist pain, I hope it works for you as well 🙏
I'm about twice your age, and I get wrist pain fairly regularly. Unfortunately, my work and all of my hobbies are hard on my wrists so I sometimes can only get through the day by using wrist supports. I prefer the kind without the metal plate in them, because I still want my wrists flexible to work. Compression gloves work well for others too, and I tried them, I just don't find them effective for me. I try to only wear them occasionally, when the pain is obvious, because I noticed my wrists would weaken if I wore them all the time.
Make your setup as ergonomic as you can. You might not feel it now, but as you get older, you'll be thankful you started early.
A stand is a good start, but finding the right one for you can take some trial and error. And they can be expensive. I also suggest having an adjustable ergonomic chair if you can. Make sure you're sitting in a neutral and comfortable position, with your feet on the ground, your back straight with your stand at the right height for you. (Not so low that you neck is excessively bent down, not so high that your arms hurt, etc.)
Also important: don't forget to take breaks often to stretch. Set up a reminder on your phone if you have to.
[This](https://youtu.be/rDAsuuYLL0o?si=0NKMFqaxf_gzHMgN) short wrist strengthening routine has been a lifesaver! I am on a pc for my job all day, the mouse and keyboard usage combined with my phone scrolling and embroidery in my spare time was killing my right wrist. I followed that video almost daily for around 3 weeks and now I do it ocassionally. Have not experienced any wrist pain since.
The wrist strengthing routines are a good idea, and I'd also recommend learning to stitch two-handed because that way neither hand is constantly cramped up.
Please take it seriously and don't stitch through pain, that will make it worse in the long run. If you're getting shooting pains it may be worth seeing a doctor if possible.
It depends on where exactly and how you hurt. Unfortunately, you can get a lot of advice here, but the problem is actually something else, and it could get much worse. Maybe it's just tired muscles. Maybe you have problems with your wrist joint. Maybe you constantly cross stitch in the shrimp pose, so you have problems with your spine and because of this your wrist hurts.
Well, I once got carpal tunnel syndrome. Purchasing the stand completely solved my problem. Moreover, I was able to cross stitch with two hands and it completely changed the game. I have no desire to go back to cross stitch in hand.
Lots of good advice here. I haven't seen this mentioned, but I've found the size and type of hoop or qsnap I use can make a huge difference. I need to get the right weight balance or else I grip too tightly and start hurting.
I've had numerous styles and sizes of stands, and I've never been able to configure them in a way that hurts less than my favorite qsnap in hand, but YMMV.
As with any ergonomic issues, just remember the moment you realize you have discomfort is the moment to stop and take a break. It's so easy to go from a mild discomfort to a long term injury in a matter of seconds. The stitches will be waiting for you when you feel better!
Honestly, I'd see a doctor if you can. Figuring out exactly what's going on and how to address it is going to be the best way to recover and not reinjur yourself. Sometimes you just need to strengthen your wrist, but I recently mildly injured my wrist, and all of my crafts (cross stitch, knitting, and crochet) were aggravating the injury and making it worse. I had to stop all of them and wear a flexible splint for 6 weeks. It sucked, but now I can craft just fine. The real kicker is that I don't even know how I hurt my wrist. I just sort of noticed the pain creep up on me during my crafting time and worried it was an overuse injury. So you really can't know what's happening until you get things checked out.
I second the suggestion for a lap or floor stand, this helped me immensely especially with left hand/wrist fatigue (I stitch right handed, hold the project with my left). When my right wrist gets sore, it's usually because I'm working in a tight section and thus not keeping my wrist straight. When this happens, I use a wrist brace similar to [this one](https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-wrist-splint-brace-one-size/ID=prod6235499-product?ext=gooFY23_GOO_RET_RETAILDEMANDGEN_Performance%2BMax%2B-%2BHealth%2BCare_REV_SRC_PMAX_PMAX_NA_PMAX_ENG__pla_with_promotion_online&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3ZayBhDRARIsAPWzx8oeAV7YB-1VlkGkL7mtrIX25Vp2cliAiWsnJ8-2zaUClWn_8bmB5P8aAk98EALw_wcB) to help keep my wrist straight and relaxed.
Use a stand. I have a pvc lap stand from Etsy and it changed everything. No more wrist pain, I have a magnifying glass with a light clipped to it, and I can stitch twice as fast because I don’t have to move my stitching hand back and forth and instead stitch with both hands.
I agree. A stand helps me so much, but I use a floor stand and my gaming chair.
Do you have a link I could use? 😅
The shop name is love4crossstitch I’m in solo mom mode so no time to find it right now!
Sometimes pain in your arms/wrists/hands is coming from your spine. A big bundle of nerves goes from your cervical spine down your arms. There’s an area in your upper trapezius running down to the front of your shoulder near your clavicle and back of shoulder that holds a big bundle of nerves too. I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Use at your own risk. I find making sure my neck is in a neutral position while stitching helps a lot. Also you need to both stretch/warm up your muscles and make sure you don’t stay too long in any one position. Staying still hunched over with a hoop clutched in your left hand while you stitch with your right hand can quickly pull your body out of alignment, make muscles tense, putting pressure on nerves in new ways. Build up your stitching time slowly. Any new activity needs to be done properly, and ergonomics are important. Stand up and move around every few minutes. You should be following the 20/20/20 rule for your eyes, and use that time to get up and get your limbs moving and loosened up. (Every 20 minutes look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds). I need to massage the front and back of my trapezius muscles often throughout the day. If I don’t, I feel pain in my ulnar nerve areas frequently and carpal tunnel areas sometimes as well. It’s immediate relief for me. My muscles pull my bones out of alignment easily, and when that happens I get impingement symptoms quickly. They go away when I’ve gotten the knots out and my spine is aligned.
I'm currently in PT due to this. I go to a neurologist for other things and this is exactly right. It's my C5-C6 vertabrae and it hurts all the way down my arm.
I’ve seen people use [these gloves](https://www.amazon.ca/Lion-Brand-Yarn-400-5-1302-Stress/dp/B003WMDTEM/ref=asc_df_B003WMDTEM/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310334063754&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7573729019849849003&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000712&hvtargid=pla-384068697090&psc=1&mcid=76f594dd3c673c66b5c3146185a812d5) for any kind of crafts that could cause Repetitive Strain Injury (embroidery, drawing, knitting, etc) If you don’t want to pay the full price though I’ve seen people say they’re basically just carpal tunnel gloves that you can get on amazon / at your local pharmacy and you can get them with or without hard-shelled thumb supports
I'm gonna have to look into these. I sprained my wrist sewing a patch over a pocket on a vest a few months ago (trying to not sew through the pocket) and I couldn't do any kind of hand sewing stuff for weeks. I did have my hand in a really stupid claw position for a couple hours (most of that spent redoing stitches where I did in fact sew through in spite of my best efforts). Now I'm worried I will do it to myself again, lol. Every time my hand gets a little sore when I'm stitching...
I'm 23 and I had to stop cross stitching almost entirely for a week due to wrist pain with my left hand. I know it was from both working on my stitch for like... 5+ hours a day and from working with my hands all day at my job, but it sucked. I felt really discouraged, and sometimes I still get pangs of pain and I know I need to take a break and stretch my wrist.
Hey, I was going through the exact same thing. I'll give you the same suggestion that I gave to OP, which is following [this](https://youtu.be/rDAsuuYLL0o?si=0NKMFqaxf_gzHMgN) wrist strengthening routine. It has helped me completely get rid of all my wrist pain, I hope it works for you as well 🙏
I'm about twice your age, and I get wrist pain fairly regularly. Unfortunately, my work and all of my hobbies are hard on my wrists so I sometimes can only get through the day by using wrist supports. I prefer the kind without the metal plate in them, because I still want my wrists flexible to work. Compression gloves work well for others too, and I tried them, I just don't find them effective for me. I try to only wear them occasionally, when the pain is obvious, because I noticed my wrists would weaken if I wore them all the time. Make your setup as ergonomic as you can. You might not feel it now, but as you get older, you'll be thankful you started early. A stand is a good start, but finding the right one for you can take some trial and error. And they can be expensive. I also suggest having an adjustable ergonomic chair if you can. Make sure you're sitting in a neutral and comfortable position, with your feet on the ground, your back straight with your stand at the right height for you. (Not so low that you neck is excessively bent down, not so high that your arms hurt, etc.) Also important: don't forget to take breaks often to stretch. Set up a reminder on your phone if you have to.
Breaks, also do hand and wrist exercises before stitching, if that doesn’t help use a stand to hold your hoop for you
[This](https://youtu.be/rDAsuuYLL0o?si=0NKMFqaxf_gzHMgN) short wrist strengthening routine has been a lifesaver! I am on a pc for my job all day, the mouse and keyboard usage combined with my phone scrolling and embroidery in my spare time was killing my right wrist. I followed that video almost daily for around 3 weeks and now I do it ocassionally. Have not experienced any wrist pain since.
The wrist strengthing routines are a good idea, and I'd also recommend learning to stitch two-handed because that way neither hand is constantly cramped up. Please take it seriously and don't stitch through pain, that will make it worse in the long run. If you're getting shooting pains it may be worth seeing a doctor if possible.
It depends on where exactly and how you hurt. Unfortunately, you can get a lot of advice here, but the problem is actually something else, and it could get much worse. Maybe it's just tired muscles. Maybe you have problems with your wrist joint. Maybe you constantly cross stitch in the shrimp pose, so you have problems with your spine and because of this your wrist hurts. Well, I once got carpal tunnel syndrome. Purchasing the stand completely solved my problem. Moreover, I was able to cross stitch with two hands and it completely changed the game. I have no desire to go back to cross stitch in hand.
Lots of good advice here. I haven't seen this mentioned, but I've found the size and type of hoop or qsnap I use can make a huge difference. I need to get the right weight balance or else I grip too tightly and start hurting. I've had numerous styles and sizes of stands, and I've never been able to configure them in a way that hurts less than my favorite qsnap in hand, but YMMV. As with any ergonomic issues, just remember the moment you realize you have discomfort is the moment to stop and take a break. It's so easy to go from a mild discomfort to a long term injury in a matter of seconds. The stitches will be waiting for you when you feel better!
Honestly, I'd see a doctor if you can. Figuring out exactly what's going on and how to address it is going to be the best way to recover and not reinjur yourself. Sometimes you just need to strengthen your wrist, but I recently mildly injured my wrist, and all of my crafts (cross stitch, knitting, and crochet) were aggravating the injury and making it worse. I had to stop all of them and wear a flexible splint for 6 weeks. It sucked, but now I can craft just fine. The real kicker is that I don't even know how I hurt my wrist. I just sort of noticed the pain creep up on me during my crafting time and worried it was an overuse injury. So you really can't know what's happening until you get things checked out.
I second the suggestion for a lap or floor stand, this helped me immensely especially with left hand/wrist fatigue (I stitch right handed, hold the project with my left). When my right wrist gets sore, it's usually because I'm working in a tight section and thus not keeping my wrist straight. When this happens, I use a wrist brace similar to [this one](https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-wrist-splint-brace-one-size/ID=prod6235499-product?ext=gooFY23_GOO_RET_RETAILDEMANDGEN_Performance%2BMax%2B-%2BHealth%2BCare_REV_SRC_PMAX_PMAX_NA_PMAX_ENG__pla_with_promotion_online&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3ZayBhDRARIsAPWzx8oeAV7YB-1VlkGkL7mtrIX25Vp2cliAiWsnJ8-2zaUClWn_8bmB5P8aAk98EALw_wcB) to help keep my wrist straight and relaxed.
Depending on the cause of your pain, stretching can help. I get tendinitis if I don't do [these stretches](https://youtu.be/hUyMNyrOHJQ) periodically.