Knitting: A wonderful painkiller

Last week I wrote about knitting and its health benefits.  I wrote that because I had nothing to write about since it was all I had been doing. To my surprise five people wanted knitting lessons. Then suddenly I received text from someone saying that she had been sick with a complex arthritis and fibromyalgia.  Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals. This I looked up on Google.  She had so much pain and so much medication. But, Dr. Karol Ong writes, she couldn’t stay in bed doing nothing. It made her more anxious. So she got up and began to crochet dolls but she didn’t find them huggable enough.

She went to her computer and learned how to knit  on YouTube and on www.craftsy.com that gives lessons from experts.  Karol tells me that she loves working on her knitting projects. She finds herself concentrating and focusing on her knitting and just forgets her pain. Today she takes only half the original dose of the medicines prescribed to her. “But I think the best benefit I achieved with knitting is that I was able to change my attitude. I am a more positive person who is more accepting of my limitations.”

And she sent me a photo of a wonderful huggable — apparently knitted toy animals that are soft and huggable. It’s an adorable zebra.  I think it’s so cute and Karol’s story so wonderful.

 Then she said that Carissa Mabasa, who teaches Ikebana as a form of therapy, passed her my knitting article. Carissa is a dear friend of mine and a graduate of my Joy of Writing course. I am thrilled that she passed on my column.

Karol not only wrote about her experience but passed on my questions to Lady Imana Alonzo, who taught her how to knit.  Imana has lupus. She was in and out of the hospital from 2009 to 2012, taking tons of medicine, including several cycles of chemotherapy, some alternative medicines, hoping she could go back to her 8-5 job.  But she soon realized she couldn’t do that so, since she had a sister who had taught her the knitting basics, she decided to sit down and knit. Knitting made her forget her pain.

  Imana had a nephew who studied at the Waldorf School, where three of my grandsons studied and all learned to knit.  Anyway now Imana teaches knitting.  If you want to learn from her  you can visit her on FaceBook and on https://www.facebook.com/Knitting-with-Lady-Imana-287944834748408/. She also recommends joining Ravelry, a website for knitters and crocheters.  I just joined though it’s too early to talk to you about it but you might want to explore and take the tour.  Her final lessons for this year are happening on Nov. 15. I just visited the site of knit-up-Philippines but everyone is so young so I’m not sure I would be comfortable joining that group. But two more tips.  To buy knitting materials you can go to Dreams Yarn Shoppe in Glorietta 5 or visit gantsilyoguru.com on the web and order, or visit at unit 306, 3rd floor, Emerald Place, 604 Shaw Boulevard, Bgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig, the same building as 2Go.

 What is the importance of this article?  Here we have two people with very serious illnesses who decided to look (I hate this cliché) out of the box and turned to crafts to assist their healing. And perhaps more of us should consider that.  You can crochet, or knit, or embroider, or sew, or make patchwork quilts, or make jewelry, or paint, or do collages. You can work with your hands and focus on something outside of your pain. You can ignore what the doctors say and ask yourself what you enjoy doing.

 I hate to admit it once again because I was genuinely fond of my neurologist but not of the medicines she prescribed.  First, they were too expensive. Second, they were too chemical-based and therefore more dangerous to health. However, this does not mean I am totally opposed to chemicals because I have a jar of pills by my bedside  — antihistamines, antipyretics, and some pill that is sure to put me to sleep when all else fails. But I only take them when necessary. But I don’t take anything for high blood pressure.  I don’t even take my blood pressure anymore. What for? I am no longer stressed. My hobbies, the things I do with my hands, take care of my stress.

In my life what I have discovered is stress is the biggest killer. I know. I’ve had a stroke. If you don’t want stress, pick a hobby and study it and keep yourself busy with it. You will be a much happier person.

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