PATIENTS are being encouraged to knit to beat the pain in a new initiative at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
The belief that knitting can have therapeutic effects has led to the setting up of a new patients group in the pain clinic called Stitch, Links and Chatter.
The group, which meets twice a month, was set up by nurse practitioner Carol Davidson who said: "There is substantial anecdotal evidence that the repetitive nature of knitting and the distraction it provides, allows people to be less aware of their pain.
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"It's also a valuable social interaction for our patients, many of whom are isolated because of the chronic nature of their conditions."
Betsan Corkhill, a physiotherapist who helped get the group off the ground, has been gathering evidence on the positive effects of knitting and cross stitching on her website Stitchlink.com
"The testimonies I have collected strongly suggest that knitting and stitching could be effective therapies for a number of conditions like chronic pain, depression and could help in breaking addictive habits"
The belief that knitting can help patients both physically and mentally is being scientifically tested by researchers at Cardiff University.
A pilot study is looking at whether the rhythm involved in knitting can help eliminate negative thought cycles and rumination.
Set up in the summer, the group has eight members with a further 30 interested in getting involved.
Some of the women knit for friends and family but have discovered an outlet for their talents in the hospital itself - by knitting for premature babies in the neo natal intensive care unit.
Posted by: CHIRPY GIRL, Box on 11:27pm Mon 15 Oct 07
[quote][bold]zena marshall[/bold] wrote:
WHATS WRONG WITH THE NHS NOW RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR PAINKILLERS[/quote] It is not three comments but only the same one from Zena! How does she do it? Anyway! the NHS has not run out of painkillers but many therapeutic occupations & hobbies can help patients to be less aware of their pain. They meet in a group and make new friends and do something constructive with their lives. Get real Zena.
zena marshall wrote:
WHATS WRONG WITH THE NHS NOW RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR PAINKILLERS
It is not three comments but only the same one from Zena! How does she do it? Anyway! the NHS has not run out of painkillers but many therapeutic occupations & hobbies can help patients to be less aware of their pain. They meet in a group and make new friends and do something constructive with their lives. Get real Zena.
Only someone who doesn't suffer from chronic pain could think this would work! I thought I would give it a go but with my crippling arthritis I could not quite manage it! Also I was in so much pain I couldn't even sit still! Someone pass me my pills!!
Only someone who doesn't suffer from chronic pain could think this would work! I thought I would give it a go but with my crippling arthritis I could not quite manage it! Also I was in so much pain I couldn't even sit still! Someone pass me my pills!!
[quote][bold]CHIRPY GIRL[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]zena marshall[/bold] wrote: WHATS WRONG WITH THE NHS NOW RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR PAINKILLERS[/quote] It is not three comments but only the same one from Zena! How does she do it? Anyway! the NHS has not run out of painkillers but many therapeutic occupations & hobbies can help patients to be less aware of their pain. They meet in a group and make new friends and do something constructive with their lives. Get real Zena.[/quote] im sorry about the 3 identical comments computer went mad, and yes take your mind off the pain, ok how about some communication skill training for staff in the hospital as it is very lacking and even when someone is in pain there are no nurses to be found to give the painkillwers so how will they have time to help you knit so yea i can picture a few situations when knitting will be useful especially in the throws of giving birth i am being real and i think that being real yourself would be good as id like to see you knitting whilst in pain or do you think that pain is just a mind over matter thing and not real. so how would you feel when in pain to be given needles and wool instead of medication, what will they think of next.
CHIRPY GIRL wrote:
zena marshall wrote: WHATS WRONG WITH THE NHS NOW RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR PAINKILLERS
It is not three comments but only the same one from Zena! How does she do it? Anyway! the NHS has not run out of painkillers but many therapeutic occupations & hobbies can help patients to be less aware of their pain. They meet in a group and make new friends and do something constructive with their lives. Get real Zena.
im sorry about the 3 identical comments computer went mad, and yes take your mind off the pain, ok how about some communication skill training for staff in the hospital as it is very lacking and even when someone is in pain there are no nurses to be found to give the painkillwers so how will they have time to help you knit so yea i can picture a few situations when knitting will be useful especially in the throws of giving birth i am being real and i think that being real yourself would be good as id like to see you knitting whilst in pain or do you think that pain is just a mind over matter thing and not real. so how would you feel when in pain to be given needles and wool instead of medication, what will they think of next.
Posted by: Public Spirit, Wiltshire on 10:23am Sun 21 Oct 07
[quote][bold]zena marshall[/bold] wrote:
WHATS WRONG WITH THE NHS NOW RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR PAINKILLERS[/quote] You are quite right, Zena, anything to save money. I hope the intention is only to use this "therapy" for mild pain and is not intended to replace pain killers. However, such is our shared lack of faith in the management of the NHS that any crackpot idea could run riot to save money.
My computer does repeats sometimes too - a little more tolerance, perhaps, Chirpy Girl???
zena marshall wrote:
WHATS WRONG WITH THE NHS NOW RAN OUT OF MONEY FOR PAINKILLERS
You are quite right, Zena, anything to save money. I hope the intention is only to use this "therapy" for mild pain and is not intended to replace pain killers. However, such is our shared lack of faith in the management of the NHS that any crackpot idea could run riot to save money.
My computer does repeats sometimes too - a little more tolerance, perhaps, Chirpy Girl???
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