Experiencing writer’s cramp is one of the cons of tightly holding and writing with a pen daily. Isn’t it quite unfortunate that this one activity you are passionate about, or your source of income, may begin to hurt you and cause you pain?
Writing, as lovely as it is, would become a bother if you developed this muscle problem and did not have any means of managing or treating it on time. However, the good news is that there is medication for it.
This article will help you understand this problem, its treatment, how to manage it, and how to avoid developing it as a writer. Let’s do some reading.
What is a writer’s cramp?
Simply put, a writer’s cramp is an abnormal position the wrist or fingers take during use, such as writing or engaging the fingers. Medically, it is called task-specific focal dystonia of the hand and fingers.
This task-specific focal hand dystonia affects people who do a specific activity with their hands, especially activities that focus on their fingers. For example, writers who constantly write with pen or musicians who play instruments like keyboards, guitars, or violins.
Another set of people who may experience this cramp are fashion designers who sew and handle hand sewing for the better part of the day. It is equally important to note that focal dystonia is quite different from dysgraphia, which is a type of learning disorder associated with writing.
Writers who experience this cramp discover they can not write as neatly and fast as they once did. Whenever they are ready to write, they find it hard to hold and balance a pen.
Types of writer’s cramp
The two types of this cramp known to humans are:
Simple writer’s cramp
Simple writer’s cramp happens only when the writer writes. The fingers, wrists, and elbows behave normally when they carry out other activities. The trigger is the pen and holding it to write.
Dystonic writer’s cramp
This type is more complex as it occurs every time. Writers with this condition notice that the cramp does not come only while writing. The symptom persists during other activities besides writing with a pen. Difficulties may arise while performing different activities that require flexing the wrist or finger muscles, like pressing phones, picking up a spoon, or hooking a button.
What are the symptoms of task-specific focal dystonia?
The focal dystonia symptoms are specific to individuals. Therefore, everyone affected by this may experience symptoms separate from those of the next person. Focal dystonia symptoms, however, have some general traits that help you identify it. Some of them include:
- Unable to grip a pen while writing
- Fingers and wrist not able to flex normally
- Involuntary extension of the finger or fingers while writing
- Abnormal hard tightening of the fingers around a pen
- Abnormal positioning of the writs, fingers, or elbow
- Wrist, fingers cramps
- Affected area muscle spasm
The writer’s cramp is not very age-specific. However, adults female and male, aged 30 and above to 50, are more susceptible to it and often show more symptoms, which may or may not be as painful.
Most people feel it as mild discomfort on the elbows, wrists, or fingers, while others feel outright pain. In severe cases, when the fingers are not engaged, the writer can still feel the cramp’s pain or discomfort.
Now, there is a reason for everything we experience in life, meaning that writer’s cramp has a cause. So, let us know what causes this cramp.
What causes writer’s cramps?
Regularly writing while in the wrong position can cause you to develop the cramp. Writing requires that your fine motor skills be working perfectly and regularly engaged.
Developing these cramps means that your fine motor skills movement, which is controlled by the basal ganglia of the brain, has been tampered with-perhaps sending abnormal signals to the nervous system. Many reports say that one can develop this condition due to excessive wrong use of one’s wrists and fingers for an extended period of years.
Yes, some people can develop this condition without having to write. For example, albeit rarely, children who are only burdened with who to play with and what to eat can develop this problem.
Others receive it genetically from their family gene and pass it to their offspring. Other times, injury to the nerve can cause this cramp.
For example, a writer who injures their peripheral nerve, like an injury that affects their spinal cord, can develop this cramp. You may be curious to know if this condition progresses over time.
From the onset, it may not be as painful or occur as frequently as possible. As time passes, it becomes noticeable and stays at that level.
Can a writer’s cramp be treated?
Well, oral medications can help alleviate the symptoms and make writing good content a bit less laborious. Oral medication like Benztropine or injections like Botulinum that target those muscles must be prescribed by your doctor after listening to your symptoms, medical history, and running some tests.
Can writer’s cramp be managed?
If oral medication or injections do not work for you, your best bet must be to improve the quality of your life amid the problem. How you do that is as follows:
Therapy
Therapy can help your symptoms stay manageable. It may be gradual or painful, but over time, you will begin to see the benefits.
Avoid triggers
Perhaps writing with a pen on paper triggers this cramp; you must avoid it.
Look for alternatives
Writing with a laptop or speaking your words might be a better alternative than pen or pencil on paper. Those with severe dystonia can invest in devices that can assist them with tasks that require the use of their fingers and wrists.
Support system
It may help if you locate groups where people often share their stories and wins with the cramp. It will help you to remain optimistic and offer a sense of belonging.
You can surround yourself with loving family and friends who understand your condition and willing to help you with daily tasks and movements.
How to prevent writer’s cramp
Since we can not just stop writing, there are ways to avoid developing this condition:
- Stay hydrated
- Write while in a good posture
- Exercise your fingers regularly, especially during writing
- Avoid writing for too long at a stretch
- Stretch your hands always
- Flex your fingers at intervals
- Stop writing and relax your fingers when you start feeling pain
Conclusion
Conditions like this can negatively rock a writer’s world. However, prevention and seeking early solutions can halt its progression and allow you to live a fulfilling writing life.
