BARRIE'S STORY - An acoustic Neuroma patient

13. HANDWRITING

In the last few weeks before my operation I could no longer write and this did not improve immediately following the operation. It was several weeks before I was in a fit state to try and write. After a few exercises at the day hospital it was clear that I could still make the shapes to produce handwriting. My right arm ataxia caused a lack of control, shaking and erratic movement. This made writing very difficult and sometimes the pen would shake or move of its own accord. My writing was very shaky and slow like a very old person.

To try and improve my eye/hand coordination, I was devised an exercise using a box of old buttons and a pair of tweezers. I would tip out all the buttons onto the table, then pick up one at a time with the tweezers and place them back into the box. I think this helped so that I could write after a fashion, albeit very slowly.

My left hand would drift across to help support my right hand as I tried to write. I searched the Internet to see if I could find anyone who had tackled this problem, but I found very little information. One patient who had problems with his right arm did not have a writing problem because he luckily was left-handed! I just had to persevere with the problem. Slowly my arm was shaking less and my writing generally appeared to improve and I was left with a 'micro tremor' to my writing.

My writing is incredibly neat and readable but takes ages to produce. I have not re-established a normal flowing handwriting, instead I have to hold the pen very tightly and my hand cramps very rapidly so I have to keep stopping and stretching my hand.

At one point it was suggested that I should learn to write with my left hand! Alternatively I was told to use a keyboard. I had never been more than a two-finger typist, and now I am almost a single-finger typist just using my left hand. It is surprising how often in normal life you are required to fill out a form in your own handwriting. I can do it but it takes me considerable time.

After reaching a level where I could write but very slowly, I decided I had more important problems to overcome, so I spend less time trying to improve my writing. I do a crossword every day, giving me some practice at least writing capital letters. However I still feel that I need to improve my handwriting further.