United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

1. Write with your BPI hand?
2. Can you type?
3. Drive a stick shift?
4. Play any instruments?


Me-
1. Nope- I can barely hold a pencil with it.
2. Yes- but I don't type with the "correct" fingers. I mostly use my index,middle, and ring fingers to do it all.
3. Nope. I just don't have the strength to move the gear shift. (my RIGHT arm has the BPI)
4. I can play the piano, but it took a LOT of training and practice. I try to use all my fingers, but it doesn't always work that way. My parents signed me up when I was probably 10 because they thought it would be a good hand strengthening exercise. I took it for almost 10 years.

Excellent questions. It'll be interesting to read the responses.

1. Probably could print but not very well. Never really tried.
2. I can type but it is the hunt and peck method. I can't lay my ROBPI hand over the keyboard to use more than one finger.
3. Hey, I learned to drive with a stick shift!! There weren't very many automatics back then and my parents couldn't afford one anyway. My pickup truck is a stick shift and I can reach all of the gears but have to lean forward a little to reach 3rd and OD.
4. Nope, never tried or had the interest.

John P.

1. I can print about as good a beggining child but I have to concentrate real hard and often end up in a lot of pain (this along with coloring is one of my PT exercises).

2. Yes and I'm pretty fast though I often mix up letters between hands (hit k instead of d and so on) I also have to take frequent breaks and use a rest for my wrist and my arm.

3. Yes but I have LOBPI. It is hard for me to hold the wheel straight though when I shift.

4. When I was younger I took piano lessons but I just couldn't get my left hand not to copy the right. I also played the violin as a child which ended up being exellent therapy for me. I can't play anymore though. I stil lhave my violin though and would love to start playing again if I could get my arm up to par. I've also attempted other instruments such as the clarinet, handbells and a few others.

Hi Katy82,..& John too(how r you Marlene doin'anyway?),
1. Cannot write with left BPI hand.
2. I type one-handed with left hand pointy finger can hold down 1 key-the Shift key for Caps-- but don't dare let it do any other key or it messes up my typing!When I was a senior in high school I was sent to the local Vocational school for a class in one-handed typing but I never used their finger-placement system but found my own way using my "good right hand & that 1 pointy finger on my LOBPI hand.
3. I only learned to drive an automatic,AT AGE 22 @ a driving school...I bet I coud drive a shift if I could learn to coordinate the clutch and shift at the same time...I'm quite "Clutzy" so I'm not sure....
4. I was made to take piano lessons for 3-4 yrs. using only my "good" right hand AND that 1 pointy finger (next to thumb) on the LOBPI hand. Consequently pointy finger is quite bent and hurts like h--- when I use it, even now.

Very interesting questions,Katy!
Hug all around,
Carolyn J

1.its pretty messy
2. yeah i type pretty well
3. yeah i drive a manual car!
4. i had any music ability in me i would know!

1. yes, badly and can't lift my hand from the paper easily so...
2. yes, can type very well, almost able to touch type
3. first off, wish I could drive! But yes I would be able to, I am LOBPI
4. played piano(2 yrs), recorder(6 yrs) and clarinet (8 yrs), now ask me if I can sing! LOL (the answer is NO)

Marieke

1. I can write with my right bpi hand but am much faster and neater with my left.
2. I am not able to pronate(turn my hand palm down) so I cant type with my right hand at all but am getting very good with just my left.
3. I have never tried to drive a stick but when I took my test to get my liscense they told me I would have to re-take the test if I wanted to drive a stick. Personally once was enough, I can live with out driving a stick.
4. I tried to play the drums and the trumpet with little success in both. Actually the band director suggested that I just be in chior. So I was just in chior through out school.
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN

1. Yes, but it looks like the first attempts of a child, is very time-consuming, and is not worth the effort.

2. Like Carolyn, I use the index finger of my left (LOBPI) hand on the shift key.

3. I've never tried driving a stick shift. I once had a letter from the state BMV stating that I could learn a stick shift. This letter would have functioned as a learner's permit, but I couldn't find anyone with a stick shift, who would teach me. The drivers' training schools all had automatic.

4. When I was in elementary school, my whole class had to learn the flute-a-phone (sp?). I couldn't do it right. I've never tried an instument since then, except "doodling" on pianos with my right hand. I love to sing, even if I hit some wrong notes.

l.
I had no choice when I was schools insisted I write with my right hand.
It was painful and horrible time for me and took a toll on my school work.
I had a horrible penmanship in school...
I don't know how or when it happened but I developed a very good handwriting as an adult better than average.
I failed pennmanship every year in elementary school because they taught the palmer method and I had such a struggle.
I can write on a blackboard with my left hand but only with chalk...
The handwriting is the same as my script using robpi hand...

2.
I can type as fast as I think using both hands.
I have a pronated hand so that makes it easier.

3.
No, I did not have the ROM or strength to learn on it when I was young and have no desire now.

4.
I had to take piano lessons as a child it was hard because my ring finger and pinky have so little strength...
I don't play and hated it ( all ten years of lessons)it was another method of therapy.
Everyone in my family plays an instrument or two and all play the piano.

Great questions Katy!

Kath(adult/robpi)

1. No
2. No, I type one handed
3. I tried I could probably do it in an emergency situation,but it is very very difficult to shift the gears for me.
4. I tried playing the guitar, but didn't succeed very well.
I am supinated.
Palm up Judy (the slow writer!)