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Hello. Interesting conversation to me as I definitely have connected my increased difficulty in writing to my PN. My PN has been a 12 year path. Some years ago (while I was still working), I noticed I started writing all my notes (especially stickie reminders) at a slant. My penmanship had always been really nice, but now it was still nice…but at a slant. As my PN progressed, the deterioration in my ability to write increased to where (today) it’s difficult to sign my name. My handwriting is now a scrawl. Tedious forms frustrate me to tears. Along with the loss of handwriting, came my distrust of my right hand to do anything without me watching it (e.g. carrying a cup of coffee). It’s been a series of losses, but I am most sad about my handwriting. Currently, I’m looking at things that might help such as pencil grips, hand brace, OT by a hand specialist, compression glove/sleeve and maybe using verbal dictation more to make notes on my phone or journal on my computer. I’m thankful I can still use a keyboard (even if I have to retype 2-3 times.). I remind myself daily there are worse things in life. To those struggling with buttons, I noticed Duluth Trading has some nice men’s shirts with magnetic buttons that look totally real. For earrings, I’m finding I do better with types of closures that don’t have a separate back. Etsy gave me some new options. Wishing the best all to everyone here…stay encouraged…there are worse things in life! 😉
Replies to "Hello. Interesting conversation to me as I definitely have connected my increased difficulty in writing to..."
Magnetic buttons! Wow...if they make it, there is a market for it. I will let my wife know, she is always scratching her head trying to figure out what to get me for Christmas and birthday gifts. Very interesting, thanks.
Brilliant idea magnetic buttons! I’m going to start googling for women’s garments. I have had Occupational Therapy over the years for my hands. Wherever I lived, my legs/walking fell under “Physical” Therapy and my hands fell under “Occupational” Therapy, so it was an extra appointment scheduling burden since I had to have different therapists, so I don’t do the hand therapy anymore. But I do a lot of the exercises they gave me which have been really helpful.
My favorite is taking skittles or jelly beans and picking them up individually to separate them into colors. Then I eat some as a reward when done (don’t do if you’re diabetic, find a different small object, but it helps me with picking up pills) Dice games are a good way to exercise too in a fun way, but pick-up sticks and jacks were too hard for me. I no longer use the fat pencils and special grips for forks and knives, but I’m not ashamed for my regular cup at home to have a slide top so I’m safe if I accidentally knock my cup over; and I know not to even attempt stemmed water glasses anywhere I go!
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"It's been a series of losses, but I am most sad about my handwriting."
Me, too, @lautwell. Because I'd never learned to touch-type, I'm acutely aware of the loss of legible handwriting.
When I sit with pen and paper, I can keep up with my thoughts: what comes out of my pen is usually only a nano-second behind the thought I'd had only a nano-second before. Sure, my handwriting will look like ****, but that's a price I'm willing to pay.
However, when I sit at a keyboard with my thoughts zipping along but my unschooled fingertips with no chance of keeping up, it's like the MS Word cursor on my Mac screen is forever hollering at me, 'Come on, Ray, shake a leg!' 🙂
Ray (@ray666)