Do you ever get weak hands that makes writing unpleasant?

[GrumpiestOldWoman]

Posted in chat for traffic.

Periodically I have times where my hands/wrists are a bit 'weak', usually a day or two. Its most/mainly noticeable because writing or tasks needing manual dexterity become unpleasant and require alot more effort - e.g. gripping a pen. The rest of me is usually ok, just hands/wrists.

I'm 40.

I've always assumed everyone gets this from time to time and it's normal but sometimes I wonder.

Does anyone else get this?

Nope, never had it and wouldn't consider it normal either. I assume you've looked up what it might be like carpal tunnel?
www.nhs.uk/conditions/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/

My family member has weakness when gripping a pen which makes handwriting difficult, but I don't think it's only on certain days. He has dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder).

Yes, I do. But I guess it is a minor symptom of my rare neurological condition.

I have RA which, among other things, makes using a pen difficult. Try to get a fat one, with a grip, and see if that makes things easier.

Hello yes I struggle to grasp things, especially towards the end of the day when my hands are very fatigued. Ties in with my hyper mobility. Speak to your Gp. I accessed help really quickly with a rheumatologist via zoom during lockdown.

@Elouera

Good point. I do suffer from CT sometimes but the symptoms then are very different - numbness, tingling and pain, I didn't think about connecting the two...

Might also be tendonitis?

I have this quite often, but it is a symptom of my lupus flaring. Worth getting checked out for autoimmune conditions.

I'm 46 and have the start of arthritis in my thumb joints which makes writing and holding a pen for a length of time causes a sort of crushing, cramp feeling. When I try to put the pen down I can't let go or stretch my hand and fingers back out.
Old age does not come on its own I'm afraid.

Yes I get this and always have as far back as I can remember to about age 4 - I'm 27 now.

It probably happens once every few months, it's like I lose all grip in my fingers and can't hold a pen to write - usually lasts a few minutes.

Googling has shed no light and the doctors have never been interested 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes! I remember having it as a child too as I called it tickly hands. It makes things a bit tricky for a while but so far no long term effects.

For me it only lasts a couple of hours at most though.

Sounds like it's not just me then!

I'm hypermobile and 50 and there are days when my thumbs have forgotten that the are opposable and my pincer grip is lost. My handwriting looks like a spider has crawled through some ink, on those days.

Loss of grip can be caused by carpal tunnel

Yup exactly the same as @emcero1 - lasts a couple of minutes but I can’t grip pens / hair straighteners etc. My sister has the same thing.

I have this though don't use pens much so mainly notice it when holding cutlery, think it may be one sided as I am fine with knife and fork but not just a fork, happens everytime with me rather than occassional. No idea what causes it, slightly older than you but its more annoying that anything so never mentioned it. I did have checks through neurology recently - I never mentioned my hands - and they said I had small vessel disease on brain MRI but no idea if that is connected. Not treatable anyway if its that.

I lost the ability to open up my right hand for almost 3 years, it was bunched up like a claw.

This happened the week before I started a higher education course this was 20 years ago so I did the 2 year course while being unable to hold a pen or physically write. It certainly kept things interesting.

What helped?
Physiotherapy
Therapy putty (there are various strengths, it's like adult playdo)
Warm water soaking to try and relax it
Bracing as needed
The writing bird pen grip
Pencil grips and learning to write again in pencil and finally progressing to pen and then typing on a keyboard

Trying to find out what might be potentially causing it was a side issue and in my case it was medication related, very rare but it took a long time to work out that it might potentially be the cause and coming off the medication was brutal (I lost 4 stone in under 6 weeks) it was hard but worth it.

Just wanted to add that when I get this it's usually accompanied by wrinkly fingertips as if I've been in the bath - but I haven't. Does anybody know why this is?

My DS is hyper mobile and really struggles with writing... I am not, but, I am on the bendier side of “normal” and yes, if I have to write more than a lbit or if I’m already tired my hands get tired and a bit achey.

They seem better today - it goes as suddenly as it comes.

Thanks everyone for the advice I'll try some of the tips when it happens again as doubtless it will!

yes I get this as a result of my Developmental Coordination Disorder

I also have a perminant lump on my finger caused from soft tissue damage when holding a pen because I cant get the pressure right... I only used a pen in school (so prior to 2005) and now everything is typed so not much of an issue