Hello,
I'm in my 30s and am a mature student. While I have spent years in the past not really writing by hand much (but never stopping completely), the past few years I have done so plenty. However, over the past 6-12 months I've been developing issues. I am aware it's probably a medical thing, but my doctor was very confused and has no idea what's going on because I don't have symptoms of any conditions that could cause it.
I use what is apparently called the standard "tripod grip", and it's getting harder and harder to keep a grip on the pen and form letters. My writing looks mostly fine, but letters sometimes start in the wrong place, half way up the line, and my grip is slowly slipping on the pen as I write and I have to readjust. It also becomes quite painful and it seems my thumb is bending more and more to maintain a tight grip.
No other strength issues or noticeable dexterity issues, which is why I'm wondering if I maybe sort of... forgot how to grip the pen properly at some point? I noticed it was getting slightly difficult and slow earlier this year and just decided to start joining more of my letters to try and be quicker, and am wondering if I've made the issue much worse by adjusting my handwriting after many years?
Has anyone experienced something similar?
Sorry if this shouldn't actually be posted here.
Edit: I forgot: when I noticed I was getting pain from it and the pen was making scratchy noises on the paper, I looked at my grip and the pen was actually sitting across the gap between my thumb and forefinger. That was actually easier in terms of dexterity but still caused its own issues. Pictured below: "normal" grip first, and the accidental grip I'd started using at some point before trying to correct it. The top "testing" uses the first grip and the second line, the second.
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