United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My daughter is 22 months and I wonder how you have dealt positively with handwriting issues using your nondominant hand.

Thanks for any input.
Cheryl

Well, generally I do not write with my bpi hand. That said...I can...barely. And it is important to learn to if you can. If something happens to your non-bpi hand, it is needed.

When I was in 6th grade I had a bad bike accident. They thought I broke my knuckles in my right hand. Luckily I didn't but it was bad. I had to wear a splint for, I think it was, 2 weeks. So 2 weeks of school work written with my left hand. What a mess! But, even though messy, it was (somewhat) legible. I have really appreciated the work my Mom did with me to teach me how to write a bit with my bpi hand

Just keep practicing it will come along soon enough. Don't be discouraged if your daughter writes every thing backwards I think that just come with switching at the early age. I used to write every thing backwards but by first grade I straightened out for the most part, there is still an occational letter that pops out backwards. I would also encourage to teach her typing when she is a bit older. I have been on computer since 1st grade and I canb type faster one-handed than some of the kids that use two hands.

Hope that helps you.
Amy
hope16_05@hotmail.com

Personally, I would encourage learning to write with both hands. Due to the overuse that I have, my handwriting is barely legible in the non BPI hand and I never learned to write with the BPI one--although I think the reason for that has to do with not having the muscle groups to sustain long periods of time when writing. The BPI hand just wears out or goes into spasms. I don't think there is a solid answer. See how your child gravitates in his hand usage with a pen and take it from there.Good luck. Pat

I was forced to write with my bpi hand... very painful however I cannot write left handed on paper but on a blackboard I have the exact same hand writing! It amazed me when I had to write on a blackboard for the first time in almost 50 years and just did it automatic. I can't lift bpi arm to do that... I developed small motor skills in both hands. I can paint with either hand, sew, do crafts, I put on make up with left hand and I am right obpi. I even put my contact lenses on with just my left hand.
I think once our hands are affected we have to learn to use both of them.
One thing I discovered - I use to squeeze a pencil to death as a child and would get more cramps in my hands and of course more tears every time I had a long writing assignment. I realize now that a pencil is so light I can't really feel it in my hand - I prefer to hold a cold fat pen and then I am much better. I just can't manage the light weight of a pencil... I guess its because some feeling is missing.
I hope this helps
Kath

I was never really able to write with my bpi hand. I always gave up. I never thought it was important to keep up with it. I fell through glass dining room table when I was 12. I had massive stitches in my right hand (dominant hand). I couldn't even begin to write with my left. I had to suffer great amounts of pain and ridicule by writing with my right hand and many stitches. I would really reccomend teaching your daughter to write with both. Even though she might use her other one more, at least she can use her bpi hand if needed. I am almost 24 and my writing in my left looks like a child first learning to write. Hope this helps.
Brian

Hi Cheryl,
I am a fifty year old man, right-handed, and luckily I
am left-BP injured. I write exclusively with my right
hand because my left hand simply can't make the
movements necessary for writing, nor grip a pencil or
pen. I frequently use a clipboard because holding the
paper steady with the left hand is very difficult,
especially small items like personal checks. I
remember that as a child I was encouraged to practice
writing with the left hand but it became obvious after
a short while that I wouldn't be able to write with the
injured hand. It's worth a try though. I have a friend who is right-handed and right-BP injured. He says that writing is very difficult for him and that he has never really gotten used to it. Don't be to discouraged if this is the case with Brooke. My friend, D, has a bachelors degree in geography (tuition was paid by Office of Vocational Rehabilitation OVR) and he taught the subject for twelve years. Typing is likely to cause carpal-tunnel in the none affected hand and arm as it has in my case after I had typed professionally for 2 years. I still type but not professionally. I hope this helps.
Best Regards, Cliff