I’m right handed (sort of- I’ll explain) & the pain in my elbow from writing even a few sentences, has driven me to buy penmanship books, so I can learn to write with my left hand. The pain lasts for days, if not weeks, even with icing, NSAIDS, compression, & bracing after. My doctors (PCP, Rheumatologist, PT, massage therapist, & chiropractor) do not know what is causing this pain, and have given up trying to figure it out. I’m not sure what other doctors to ask. I did not injure this arm. With what I know about this (which admittedly, is very little), I have to assume it’s just an EDS related pain, that we’ll never get to the bottom of. So since everyone gave up on trying to help me with this, I’m figuring out my own solution.
When I was small, I was naturally a lefty, but my parents decided that was not allowed, I guess? So every time I picked up a crayon, or spoon etc. with my left hand, they took it from me, & put it in my right hand. In pee-wee sports, they told me I was doing it wrong, & that I wouldn’t be allowed on the team, unless I “did it right” meaning, right-handed. So it probably feels less un-natural to me, than for the average person, to use their “non-dominant” hand, since this was originally, my dominant hand. But imagine my surprise, frustration, & anger, when I went to my brother’s T-ball game & saw a kid batting “wrong” because he was a lefty, & there he was, ON THE TEAM. I still don’t know if my lack of coordination is an EDS thing, or a “neither side is my dominant side- nothing feels natural” thing.
I’ve also been eating, cooking, & brushing my teeth with my left hand. Are there any tips for using tools built for right handed people? I’m doing fine with scissors, but I haven’t had to use a can opener yet. Will that trip me up? Are there certain tools built for lefty’s that you’ve found were worth the money? Does anyone have tips for learning to write, with EDS?
Thank you to anyone who has any advice, or experience to share! I greatly appreciate it!