I re-read my earlier post and realized I left out some explanations.

Cutting things like steak, I use my right hand to stick the fork in the steak, then switch to my left and try to hold it as steady as possible while I use the knife with my right hand. It's painful, challenging, slow, and doesn't always work, but I try. If I can't do it, my hubby usually takes my plate and does it for me...or my friends shake their hands at me and say, "Why won't you ask for help?!" You have to try thing, but you also have to be willing to ask for help.

Tying shoes is still very painful, slow, takes lots of concentration, and not done tight. But I was soooo happy the first time I tied my shoes a couple years ago!!

For typing, I'm only able to use my right hand and left middle finger. Because my wrist doesn't move and the proximal row of wrist bones were removed (along with a small portion of the radius and all the nerves in my wrist), I can't reach the keys properly. But I've noticed that I've gotten faster over the years.

Also, just as a suggestion that I found helpful, try playing video games with a controller like Xbox or something. It's difficult, but I found that playing the game distracted me some from the pain and worked as therapy for my hand. I talked to my hand specialist about it, and he said they use video games in children's hospitals for therapy for just that reason.