Evening all

Just wondering if anyone has switched their dominant side for handedness….

I'm thinking that that might be the easiest way to deal with everything. I am right hand dominant, but having awful symptoms in my right arm/hand such that it is not really all that useful. It has got to the point where it feels so heavy and tight at the slightest use that I physically recoil. So I'm thinking I will teach myself to use my left hand instead.

And yes, that is my answer to this. Because it has been two solid weeks of my arm doing its own thing, I don't know how long it will be like this, and I just can't use it. It hurts too much. So this is my solution. The only one I can come up with.

Would appreciate any thoughts/experience. Thanks!!!

I haven't switched and remain right hand dominant, but necessity pretty much dictates which appendage is going to be doing things from day to day. Sometimes it is numbness, sometimes pain, sometimes joint dyfunction...whatever is the deciding factor. We do what we can, with what ever is working at the time .

Hang in there.

With love, Erika

I believe I could switch sides, as I was almost equal in handedness earlier in life. I don't know if that's still true. About 30 years ago I was in the trial for Xanax (couldn't take it) and while I was in the trial a doctor wanted to test me to see if I had equal handedness, as that, he suspected, was a sign of depression. I never found out any results from his survey, and I suspect it is bogus. My grandson is left handed and I cautioned his parents, who wanted to encourage him to go with the right hand. It's not an important thing which hand you use, unless of course you have an impairment on one side. Most of my deficits are on the R. side, my dominant side, and it might be well to encourage the left hand to do more things. As it is, I eat with it, cut food with it, just don't write with it.

Thanks for your replies. I guess I do have the concern that if I stop using it (for the stated reasons) it may stiffen up more.

I'm really just thinking out loud I think.

They do say necessity is the mother of invention. Perhaps it is also the mother of handedness?? LOL.

Ah well. Trying to remain rational in these circumstances is proving rather trying, that much I can say!

That trial sounds interesting…..?!

I am at a little advantage in that I already do a lot of things with my left hand, but I have found that I am now using the mouse with my left hand, applying makeup with my left hand, and using the steering wheel with my left hand. Figure I may as well keep going and perhaps that will minimise the discomfort I am already feeling, and not aggravate.