I can't write properly!

Starburst

I was filling in a short form today and couldn't finish it myself, I had to get someone else to write my details for me. It was too painful and I couldn't grip the pen. I can sign my name but anything much more causes me intense pain and I'm very stiff when trying to grip the pen.

Does anyone else have this problem?

In the last few months, I've really begun to notice how much this arthritis is affecting me. It seems to be getting worse, not better, despite medication and it's scaring me.

snowball

Hi princess01 i have r/a and i find i difficult to write my fingers become stiff and painful, try a pen with a wide bottem. Try not to let it upset you i have to get my forms filled in for me. If you have the option some forms can be filled in on the internet then printed off for you to sign
julie

breane

Hi Princess,I have OA and RA and if I have to write a letter I find gripping the pen for any length of time quite painful. My handwriting has become worse over the past year and I find it much easier and quicker to type.I've noticed I don't have much grip or strength in my hands now especially first thing in the morning. Breane.x

cutieclaire

Hi Princess,

I do hope you are feeling a little better but I really know how u must feel. I have had problems with writing and they provided me with a bit of pipe lagging stuff to fit around my pen. It helps as it is thicker to grip.
I was at work the first time I had a seeze with my hands at the keyboard. My boss was joking around with me and I couldn't move my hand at all and it really upset me, so so that I just cried. I don't think people get how painful it is and how debilitating it is too.

I find it hard to accept at times, what I have taken for granted so long and now just got to take one day at a time. I also use the wrist splints when writing and typing. I am off work sick at the moment as no way can I type for 4 hours. I can just write this and then have a break for a few hours.
Hope it gets easier and ask your OT for the lagging tubes for your pens and hopefully it helps

Take care

Love Claire
xxxxxxx

barbara12

Hi Princess,
I don't have a problem with my hands, so I can't help, I just wanted to give you my support and send lots of Hugs((((((((((((())))))))))) I do hope things improve very soon,
You take care
Barbara xx

Wonkylegs

sorry you are having problems with your hands. Me too.

Have you tried gripping your pen in a different way?

Try resting the pen between your first and middle finger, and then just using your thumb to hold the pen in position - doesn't need much pressure from any of the fingers or thumb and I can write for longer that way.

Also helps to use a pen with flowing ink rather than a ball point pen.

hope that helps
Hugs Wonky xxxx

09angel11

HI Princess
I have Cevical spondylosis also oa in spine, which is affecting my right arm and hand, so at the moment i find it difficult to write, also i can drop things when my arm goes weakl, so you are not on your own as you can see from others on here also. I am waitingfor mr MRI at the end of the month. I can use my two fingers to use the keyboard, which is good. Take care

Monica

valval

hi princes i had lots of probs with hands before meds kicked in holding a pen was so hard and painfull. but things are much better now i use a pen with rubber grip and try not to grip it to hard the exercises on here do help strenthen your hands and are worth doing even when it hard mine got very weak when they were bad but our much better still stiff and painfull some days. i know how you feel it very scary not knowing what the future will bring but when they get the right meds for you things will improve so try to stay positive even though it so hard

dorcas

Hi princess,
I can't write at all now because of arther in wrists and fingers, so I know how difficult it is for you just now. But it did take a long time for me to reach this stage (joints damaged) and I did have times when it got a whole lot better, so don't lose heart!

As others have said, try altering how you hold the pen, use pen aids and gel pens rather than the other kind. I also bought a hot wax hand 'tub'....hot wax is very soothing and makes the tendons loosen up which also helps.

Ot and physio can give you strengthening exercises which will help if it's the swelling/ inflammation rather than joint damage that's causing the loss of grip.

It's also important to make sure you're getting the right meds to reduce inflammation?
I hope it eases and that with the right treatment/ aids you do get some flexibility back. Irisx

theresa4

HI
I know how you feel I used to have beautiful penmanship now I can barely hold a pen to sign my name. my fingers hurt so much just filling in a short form and it is often illegible.
I also have problems with cups with samll handles (you know the ones with enough room for 2 fingers) my fingers lock around the handle and I cant let go its so embarrassing, my local hospital cafe uses these and Ive now had to ask for the takeaway plastic cups as many times ive spilled my drink as I cant put it down.

Hopefully things will improve when the meds kick in xxx

(((hugs)))
Theresa

nick55

I have no problems writing. using a pen is easy for me,
no problem at all, trouble is no one can read it, not even I can !!!!

joking apart, I had a stiffening of the fingers a few years ago, and typing with the computer keyboard was becoming rather hard work. so, I bought a graphics tablet, and used the virtual keyboard all computers seem to have. It went very well, then the stiffness in my fingers all of a sudden vanished!!!
this may be one solution for you, as for handwriting, I have no answer for that, but others might. A cheap graphics tablet will allow you to type though , off the computer screen,

best wishes,

Nick

princess01 wrote:

I was filling in a short form today and couldn't finish it myself, I had to get someone else to write my details for me. It was too painful and I couldn't grip the pen. I can sign my name but anything much more causes me intense pain and I'm very stiff when trying to grip the pen.

Does anyone else have this problem?

In the last few months, I've really begun to notice how much this arthritis is affecting me. It seems to be getting worse, not better, despite medication and it's scaring me.

woodbon

Hi,
I find that a large pen helps, one with a rubber grip, which is soft on the fingers and easier to hold. The ordenary ones seem to slip through my fingers. Thats so frustrating.
Love Sue

chile168

Hi Princess,

I have RA and know what you mean. I find some days are worse than others and do get worried at is becoming worse.

Sorry to hear you are having the same problems.

Eve

Starburst

I could've sworn I'd replied to this but obviously not! Thank you for all the supportive replies and suggestions. I was having more of a moan than anything else. :oops: I have my 2nd OT assessment next week and I'm def going to bring it up then. Fortunately, my job doesn't need me to write much at all, so it doesn't affect me there.

madness1985

Hi Princess,

I have ra and i have pain when i write. To be honest i crnt grip a pen at the best of time my partner fills all my forms in and i order greeting cards off-line and type what i want then send them directly! I know its a bit of a cheat but gives me that bit of independance to write a cheecky message to my friends that my partner wouldnt write!

I hope you feel better soon

take care
xx

mouseymousey

Me too
I now use pencils all the time with the rubber grip thingie. I find they are much lighter and that helps me.