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Ouch, My Wrist Hurts


AnneHW

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I see that there are several (probably more) posts on how to hold a pen, and I'm certain that's a big part of my problem. However, I'm having a difficult time retraining myself.

 

When I concentrate, I can produce some nice penmanship, but I seem to have a death grip on my pen. I've become very enthusiastic about practicing since finding FPN and I especially enjoy using my Safari with an italic nib.

 

Yesterday, my wrist hurt so much I had to stop. I'm 62 so I imagine that's also part of my problem! Anyway, I'm wondering if the other people who have had a problem with grip and pain have been able to overcome that and also improve their penmanship?

 

I should add that I also want to have my fingers very close to the end of the pen and I've even gotten ink on my middle finger, along with that horrible calloused bump, etc. Yes, I'm a mess!

 

I have worked at trying to move my hold back and my handwriting immediately becomes difficult to control. I've tried loosening my grip and I am able to do that for brief moments, but before I'm even aware of it, I'm back to that death grip.

 

I'm including a sample of my handwriting, and I think it looks tight (wonder why!). My main interest in fountain pens is improving my penmanship so I want to practice, but I have years of bad habits and I'd just love to hear from people who have had something similar. Thanks!

 

post-118270-0-36569600-1419087160_thumb.jpg

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Anne, I wish my handwriting was as attractive and consistent as yours is. You need to work more on how you hold your pen if pain in your wrist is your problem. You already have lovely handwriting so you're halfway there. There are some threads with pictures here on the tripod grip. Have you checked them out?

Grace and Peace are already yours because God is the Creator of all of life and Jesus Christ the Redeemer of each and every life.

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Thanks, Brian. I need to do a search for those. I found a link to another site that talks about improving penamanship and how it's about using the arm and shoulder. I guess I need to keep practicing THAT. You are very kind re my penmanship because I aspire to so much more! I've seen some writing within the forum that is stunning, and darn it, I am going to do that!! :-)

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I've found that a pen with a large section may help someone who grips their pen too tightly. I have a Danitrio Cum Laude which has a section that is about a half inch across which is very comfortable. The Safari has a section which sort of determines for you how you should hold it and perhaps is causing some of your problem. If you have a chance go to a shop that has a variety of pens and see how a pen with a large diameter section feels to you.

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post-118270-0-79272300-1419108489.jpgpost-118270-0-49283600-1419108490.jpgpost-118270-0-22926800-1419108491.jpg

Thanks Brian, I'll look into that. This is kind of an ongoing problem for me with all of my pens (including ballpoints), but you never know. Some pens are definitely easier for me to hold than others.

 

Ggaja, I had my husband take three photos, so I'm hoping I have enough room to post them. And, it looks like it worked! I probably used up all my image allotment until 2016! :)

 

 

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I just looked up the Danitrio Cum Laude and it's a beautiful pen. I found one on eBay for $89 and while I know that's not a lot for a good pen, I'm going to have to wait to spend that much. Also, I would like to "solve" my problem if I can. Like I said, if I pay attention, I do manage to lighten my grip, but it takes vigilance and I'm kind of ADD (I know, aren't we all) so before I know it, I'm right back to hanging on tightly. Just seeing my photos makes me realize I'm holding my pen incorrectly. ARGHH

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If you are not averse to some 'alternative' approaches I would recommend some of the various qigong exercises. One of the aims of these exercises is promoting flexibility and a sense of relaxed ease in the joints. However, once started you do need to practice every day (miss a day, takes 10 days to get back to that point - that's the theory). None of the exercises are strenuous or place undue stress or challenge on joints or muscles. If done correctly the exercises also promote mindfulness of the activity you are doing and how it feels.

 

 

The second thing I want to address is the myth that proper writing is all in the shoulder and arm. This is nothing more than a generalisation. The problem is that many people - particularly using ballpoint pens - employ a finger/wrist dominant method to write. Efficient writing over time requires involvement of the larger muscle groups in the shoulder and arm, but this does not mean that the fingers and wrist are not used, merely that they are emphasized less.

 

When I tried to readjust my own writing technique to include the upper arm I found that I was holding my lower arm and hand (from elbow to fingertips) rigid. While this helped me understand how the upper arm is involved in writing, it also led to fatigue in the lower arm and wrist. The lower arm muscles and joints must be soft and flexible - kind of springy - but not floppy.

 

The reality is that writing in the correct position requires engagement of muscles all the way from the lower back to the fingertips.

Edited by Cryptos
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I had carpal tunnel surgery 2 months ago. One of my symptoms was wrist pain. Not saying that you have it, but if you find you have wrist pain often, you might want to consider sleeping in a wrist brace.

 

All of the other stuff (relaxing, posture, technique, larger grip section) you have already heard.

Much Love--Virginia

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Big, fat pens help. Until you find one, try holding your pen above the black section and "sketch" your words. See how it feels.

 

I can't use Safaris as the grip hurts my hands. And I've been using FPs since childhood.

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I can't use Safaris as the grip hurts my hands. And I've been using FPs since childhood.

 

See, when I read something like this I cannot help thinking that it is entirely connected with how firmly the grip is held, and has significantly less to do with the grip shape per se. I don't have a Safari but i do have a Sheaffer Prelude that has a shaped grip. What I notice is that if I hold the pen in a sufficiently relaxed manner the shape of the grip becomes considerably less noticeable - almost to the point of making no difference to rounded grips.

 

The fact that someone has been using an FP since childhood does not automatically mean that it is being done correctly. Not saying that you do it incorrectly Ghost Plane, just adding perspective.

 

On the other hand (ha!) I do wonder about this whole pen girth/grip issue as I haven't come across a problem with any of the varied pens I have tried, fat or thin, shaped or rounded, textured or smooth... yet!

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Big, fat pens help. Until you find one, try holding your pen above the black section and "sketch" your words. See how it feels.

 

I can't use Safaris as the grip hurts my hands. And I've been using FPs since childhood.

 

With smaller pens I grip very tightly and this method works well for me.

 

I also second (especially after receiving a letter) that you have lovely handwriting.

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Thanks, Brian. I need to do a search for those. I found a link to another site that talks about improving penamanship and how it's about using the arm and shoulder. I guess I need to keep practicing THAT. You are very kind re my penmanship because I aspire to so much more! I've seen some writing within the forum that is stunning, and darn it, I am going to do that!! :-)

I understand about wanting nicer handwriting but don't "improve" to the point that your hand is exactly the same as some template of how we are "supposed" to write. If you wish to perfect your particular handwriting all power to you but make sure that those near and dear to you can look at it and know without doubt that YOU wrote it and not some stranger with a nice hand. Perfect handwriting has its place but it too often is devoid of character and personality. If mechanical precision and perfection is the goal a computer can do that for you with less work.

Grace and Peace are already yours because God is the Creator of all of life and Jesus Christ the Redeemer of each and every life.

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I might mention that I have a friend with arthritis who sold all of her smaller pens because of the small diameter section. She found that a larger section was much easier to hold with less pain. but I do think that holding the pen a bit higher up might be of some help.

 

Just found this here on FPN:https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/classifieds/item/30552-final-reduction-nos-danitrio-cum-laude-brown-celluloid-m-nib/ .

Edited by linearM
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As always, lots of great advice. I like the idea of having my own style of writing, and recently I got a DVD called "Better Handwriting for Adults." It's by John Neal and he also calls himself a "chalkboard artist." I love his writing and it has lots of character. If anyone is interested, he's on YouTube. He's trying to promote his DVD, but he has several online videos that are fun to watch.

 

Before I got interested in fountain pens, I loved ballpoints. I was very picky about them, from the the amount of "drag" the pen had and the way the ink was distributed to the shape. I remember when those slim, metal Cross pens were all the rage and I couldn't stand writing with them because my hand would slide right down the barrel.

 

This could almost be a psychology forum because after reading all the replies (and resting my hand/wrist) for a couple of days, I'm excited to give it another try. I was actually doing okay until I started sending Christmas cards! I wanted everything to look extra nice so before I knew it I was hunched over, gripping and critiquing! :rolleyes:

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If you are not averse to some 'alternative' approaches I would recommend some of the various qigong exercises. One of the aims of these exercises is promoting flexibility and a sense of relaxed ease in the joints. However, once started you do need to practice every day (miss a day, takes 10 days to get back to that point - that's the theory). None of the exercises are strenuous or place undue stress or challenge on joints or muscles. If done correctly the exercises also promote mindfulness of the activity you are doing and how it feels.

 

I found this on YouTube and I can see where it would be helpful for lots of range of motion issues. It would be good for anyone. I'm just not sure it's something I'd do every day. Still, I like what I saw and I think I might at least give it a try. Thanks!

Edited by AnneHW
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I might mention that I have a friend with arthritis who sold all of her smaller pens because of the small diameter section. She found that a larger section was much easier to hold with less pain. but I do think that holding the pen a bit higher up might be of some help.

 

Just found this here on FPN:https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/classifieds/item/30552-final-reduction-nos-danitrio-cum-laude-brown-celluloid-m-nib/ .

 

Thank you!! I just checked and it's sold, but I'll keep watching now.

 

I'm at that age where everything is starting to hurt. It takes me awhile to "loosen up" in the morning!

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...try holding your pen above the black section...See how it feels.

After nearly three years of work and regular practice, which I enjoy each and every time, and guided by suggestions from vintage method books and our members - I discovered a few months ago what Ghost Plane suggests here.

 

I use the tripod penhold as described in the Bailey and other vintage method books, and is echoed in our forum, together with a slightly modified whole arm movement style - I do rest my wrist lightly on the writing surface, and I do not rotate my wrist sufficiently to the left so that it is flat or parallel to the writing surface; it is about 45 degrees which is comfortable for me. And finally, I find that by keeping my arms extended a bit in front of me helps, too. I found my shoulder and arm would become very tense while writing with the paper held too close; everything works better, my writing is smoother/fluid-looking, and my shoulder and arm stay relaxed with the paper positioned further away.

 

With this method I am able to write comfortably and produce consistent handwriting that I have worked to achieve while writing on a desk, a lap desk, or with the journal or pad of paper on my thigh in meetings at work.

 

My handwriting improvement objective is to achieve a good looking handwriting style of my own that I'm happy with. I figured at the begining, a few years ago, that if I learned to write as was taught to my grandparent's generation I could expect the techniques, style, and penmanship capability I learned to naturally influence my handwriting. It worked and it does.

 

Ghost Plane's suggestion above was an improvement I found by chance through experimenting with small changes, and when I incorporated it into my penhold method all I could say was, "I could write like this all day long."

 

Try what Ghost Plane suggests, and experiment to see what works best for you. Likely you will find your penmanship "Holy Grail"!

 

Hugh

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Hugh, I do write all day long and this + fatter pens keep me from hand cramps. My father taught this stance when he taught me to write. I would be working and he'd lean over behind me and snatch the pen or pencil from my hand. If there was resistance, I was holding it too tightly. He used a fountain pen all his life and learned the method from my grandfather who was a writer as well. Combine this with wet nibs that offer no resistance and it's possible to put in 8 hour days with your pens if you build up to it slowly.

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