Sometimes we just don't appreciate something till it is gone. I have been happily right handed all my life and never really gave my left hand much thought. It was just kind of there to be decorative and to balance things out so I wouldn't look lopsided. It was also convenient when two hands were called for.
Suddenly ole lefty has become my primary appendage, especially when at the computer.
I blame it on a game I had been playing on the internet that came with my advent calendar from Jacquie Lawson. I got a bit hooked on the game and my mouse and hand flew trying to win the game. After several days of this, I noticed a slight pain in my wrist. Yikes--according to Dr. Google, the beginnings of carpal tunnel.
Doc Google suggested the best thing was to rest it so I moved my mouse to my left hand. Holy Moly what an awkward klutz I became. Trust me, try switching to your non-dominant hand to operate your mouse. It makes you feel very child like.
What really surprised me was when I tried to paste something on an email. I couldn't remember how to do it. I was thinking, good grief first the hand then the mind. I was all set to Google "how to copy and paste" when it came to me in a flash. Right click on the mouse to paste. My left hand did not have "right click" in its muscle memory. It was not a reflexive act but took conscious thought. Phew, what a relief when that worked.
Kind of took me back to when I was in the Bahamas and had to drive on the left hand side of the road. At least this is at the most awkward but not life threatening like that was.
So far ole carpal tunnel is not progressing and my wrist is feeling much better. Hopefully I caught it early enough. Who knows, I may become a whiz at being a lefty. I am getting a little better. I hear using your non-dominant hand is good for the mind so I should be sharp as a tack soon.
Have you had to deal with something similar? Any hints.
No hints, sorry. But I live with a man who was taught by two left-handers. (Bud's right handed). Thing is, he does everything backward for me...rolling up cord, tying his shoes, for example. I follow him around and make stuff for a right-hander after he's done.
ReplyDeleteAnni
DeleteWell it is kind of cool that he can use both hands so well and he has you to straighten out what he leaves left handed.
It is that old saying 'If you don't use it you will lose it!' I'd better start using my left hand a bit more.
ReplyDeleteFun60
DeleteTruest words ever spoken. Not too late to limber up that left hand.
I tried a few things while reading this and completely gave up. How in the world can a person do this with their non practiced appendage? Perhaps that is why I have had carpal tunnel syndrome over and over and several surgeries.
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
DeleteOuch, so sorry you have had so many surgeries. Hope that is behind you. It is amazing just how useless or non-dominant hands are.
I once broke a bone in my right hand and had to wear a brace for a few months. I was also completely flummoxed at how to perform certain acts that seemed perfectly obvious until I couldn't do them any more. I reverted right back to "normal" once the brace was gone. :-)
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteA few months would have been rough. So glad normal should be right around the corner. I'm ready.
I'm going to have to try it! I've seen people from out of the country come here to visit turn directly into oncoming traffic - scary!
ReplyDeleteMartha,
DeleteThat is when driving on the opposite side of the road gets bad. When you come to a stop, you automatically revert to the familiar way to drive. Scary.
Good grief, very sorry to read about Granny Annie’s several surgeries for this syndrome. I worked 30+ years in various offices, and there was always at least 2-3 people wearing wrist casts from surgeries. Patti, I sure hope you caught that in time; but I have to tell you, you continue to impress & surprise me! For someone who is the “new sixty”, you’ve pretty much blown every preconceived image I had of how someone your age should be. I’m just glad you’re continuing those games with your left, and keeping those brain connectors firing, I should be writing this stuff down! Anyway, I wish I could offer something helpful but I’m a “mostly lefty”... but I’m keeping fingers crossed on both hands for ya my dear friend. PS. Sorry for the long ramble...
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteI know it is a common ailment especially with computers. Lots of it going around.
You never ramble Doug, you just converse which is really good. Thanks for the crossed fingers on both hands. So far I am getting better each day using ole lefty.
I write with my left hand but everything else is pretty much ambidextrous. I do butter bread with my left and then switch to the right to cut it in half. I've had carpel tunnel off and on (knitting is the worst) but it always goes away with rest and a wrist brace. Take care!
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteThanks. Good to know rest is the key. I will be getting a wrist brace today. Think I will try to use my left hand more in the future.
I never thought much about my left hand. I am a right-y. But when I cut the tip of my middle finger off of my left hand I quickly learned how much I actually do use my left hand. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't use my right hand, but I think it might be an interesting test to try it and see. I hope your carpal tunnel goes away soon. Take care there.
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteI remember when you did that.
Just try using the mouse left handed. That is a real eye opener.
I've had issues and then wear a wrist brace I got at walgreens. It helps along with resting it. But when my right arm had a torn labrum and rotator cuff surgery it was a sling 1 foot from my side for 24/7 and 4 weeks. I could do nothing. The week prior to my surgery my husband would yell each time I entered the powder room - use your left hand. It made me laugh. He said when you have surgery and can't use your right hand you'll have wish you tried this sooner. Only he would think of this!
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteYikes that had to have been miserable. Toilet yes but even dressing and bathing. Tell you what, Rick is probably right and I may keep trying to get this mouse thing right. Can't hurt.
I'm a lefty but do a lot with my right hand. For example, I use the mouse with my right hand rather than my left. I did have a left handed mouse for awhile at work when I was wearing a brace on my right hand (I was having pain like you), and I did okay with it. But writing or even eating with my right hand is difficult. It can be done but it's generally a mess. :)
ReplyDeleteTake care, stay well!
Eileen,
DeleteYou are smart to keep both hands functional. I am just getting use to the mouse. Don't have a clue about writing and am sure that would be miserable.
I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand more than 10 years ago and feel fine now. David had surgery on both hands with no problems. I hope you don't need surgery, though. Sometimes, resting it helps.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteI know several people who have had the surgery and it was quite successful. Trying to avoid it though.
Nothing is more confusing that trying to use your mouse with the opposite hand than you're used to! Been there, tried that.
ReplyDeleteI have a confirmed case of Carpel tunnel that I need surgery on but I'm waiting until summer with the virus calms down.
Jean,
DeleteI know, that little cursor seems to have a mind of its own.
So sorry you are going to have to have the surgery. Smart to wait though.
Things do begin to ache and break apart as time passes. I have had to use my left hand and 'it ain't funny'. Merry Christmas
ReplyDeleteLatane,
DeleteIsn't it amazing how the left had just ignores orders from the brain?
That sounds hard so I tried it, hahaha. Couldn't do the mouse at all. I am slightly ambidextrous, deal cards left handed, shoot baskets left handed, other small things but no mouse talents. Hope you mend soon.
ReplyDeleteCelia,
DeleteI know, the mouse just lurches all over the page with no purpose:)) At least you can use it for other things.
Patti, I've found that I play Animal Crossings on my nintendo switch so much that my thumbs sometimes twitch - from overuse I imagine. But since it is a two handed game, one hand is not overused. My room-mate broke her wrist ice-skating in college and I remember the trouble she had writing and getting things done with her left hand that whole semester.
ReplyDeleteRian
ReplyDeleteYou had me envious of Animal Crossings but now knowing how easily I become addicted, maybe I'll pass:)) I might end up with it in both hands.
Oh no... You just got me trying to use my left hand and it was awful. If I end up needing to use my left hand, I'm sunk! My daughter is a lefty but she was taught to use her right for the mouse in high school. To this day, she uses her right hand for the mouse. I cannot use any of her scissors in her office. When I complained about that she said, "Welcome to my world."
ReplyDeleteKay,
DeleteThank you. I was hoping someone would try it and realize how hopeless it is. Actually, I am getting better and think I will alternate right and left hands in the future to keep it a useful appendage.
Just wanted to let you know I copied your comment to an email and sent to Fran's son Blake.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteThank you so very much. That news really floored me and I am grateful you sent my sentiments on to her son.
Yes, I know what you're talking about. I was born left-handed like my dad, but the teacher got me to write with my right hand at my mother's request. About two months ago, at the age of 76, I decided I was going to go back to my left-handedness. You're right, it's awkward, and I couldn't spell words without thinking for a minute. I've been forcing myself to write something ever day with my left hand, and I bought a left-handed work-book for 5 to 6-year-olds that I connect dots and color in. Believe it or not, I can write a letter now, and the problem with spelling words is no longer a problem. The penmanship isn't great, but neither is it great with my right hand. My left-handed writing isn't difficult for others to read, so I wrote my sister a letter with my left hand and sent it to her. I erase a lot, have trouble with loops like those on L and H, but I'm going to keep on trying every day. When people ask me what I did during the pandemic, I'll tell then, "I became a lefty again!"
ReplyDeleteDonna,
DeleteThank you so much for stopping by and for reinforcing my shock at how the mind and the had don't always work together. Bless you for being able to write lefty. I haven't even attempted it. Kudos on sticking with it and "becoming a lefty again."
I was pretty lost at first when I had carpel tunnel surgery on my right hand years ago and had to use my left hand for everything. There are some personal hygiene issues that were pretty awkward too.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteOh my, I guess that would be a whole nuther skill set needed:))
I'm a right hander but do use my left hand for a lot of things, which came in handy when my right shoulder tendon tore and the shoulder froze. There are a few things I cannot do with my left hand so things were awkward for a while, but eventually the shoulder was in working order again.
ReplyDeleteRiver,
DeleteSo glad your shoulder is back in business and feel for the trauma you went through. Gosh, even dressing would have been a challenge.
Hi Patti, my oldest son is left-handed and many times over the years I've tried to do the same. No luck ... I can't find any other person in his family or mine that is left handed so wonder where it came from. He's the "intellect" in the family and I wonder if that's a clue???
ReplyDeleteGinnie,
DeleteAll the lefties I have met all seemed to be unique in a special way. Maybe we need to exercise that side of our bodies and see what happens.
I had to switch to my left hand over 10-years ago for the same reason. I am really used to it now. Good luck!!!!
ReplyDeleteSuz,
ReplyDeleteWay to go. I am hoping I keep some of the dexterity I am slowly gaining. Sure can't hurt.
LOL When my hand doc rebuilt my thumbs, he did both hands at once. What an error. Yes, got to your neighborhood drug store, and get a well padded hand brace.
ReplyDeleteYikes, what was he thinking? Mercy, bet you kept George busy.
DeleteYep, I got a wrist band for my left so I don't wear it out also and a brace for my right hand for sleeping. Doing much better.
Yes, a few years ago I injured the middle finger of my right hand and had to wear a non-bendable splint. That was when I concluded among many aids I needed a bidet. I finally have one now but since it arrived just after Covid-19 I haven't wanted to have anyone in to install it. My finger healed several years ago so that's not an issue.
ReplyDeleteYears ago I thought everybody should make an effort to be ambidextrous just in case they ever needed to use the non-dominant hand for any reason. I still think it's a good idea but have made little personal effort to train myself. As we age the idea becomes even more meaningful since more parts may wear out or whatever. Glad your carpal issues under control.
Dear Patti, I've never had to switch hands, but I did read a a number of articles about a study by a group of U of Minnesota scientists who did a longitudinal study of the brain with a group of nuns in a convent in southern MN. I won't go into detail, but they did discover the importance of "branching our dendrites" by learning new things--such as chess or square dancing or how to play a musical instrument--and one of the things that was mentioned in the many articles I read while living in Minnesota was that learning to use the non-dominant hand when brushing the teeth, etc. could really help the brain branching those all-important dendrites. So I think you're doing something that is really good for you!!!! congratulations. Peace.
ReplyDeleteI sympathize. When I worked in the library I got carpal tunnel and a frozen shoulder. The cure was rest, and like you, I shifted mouse use to the other hand. For a while at work the doctor had me wear a loose sling to remind me to not use that arm! The sling was a good idea. Plus it attracted lots of sympathy! Be well.
ReplyDeleteHope your wrist is better by now. My friend, Pete, just had surgery for his carpel tunnel. He's a woodworker and gardener so uses the dominant wrist a lot. I've read that it's good for the brain to switch hands sometimes. I tried it with an electric toothbrush one time and nearly knocked my teeth out. Anytime you switch an ingrained pattern, your brain has to work harder. I think it's good for us, but NOT EASY!
ReplyDeleteAck! What? You're going to the hospital? I'm sorry you're having trouble with Blogger, Patti. Fingers crossed that gets fixed with whatever you're getting fixed at the hospital.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Patti
ReplyDelete