Dexterity

[scooterjon]

Before my MS really got going, I was a very well-coordinated athlete. Not professional level but I could play any sport and not embarrass myself. So, in 2016 I started dropping a lot of things on the floor like food, pens, pencils, TV remotes, Coke and water bottles. That continued for a couple of years and in July of 2018 I first noticed something happening. When I was trying to button up my shirts, I couldn’t do it. I would get the forefinger of my left hand near the hole to be buttoned. Then I hold the button with the finger and thumb of my right hand. Try as I might, I couldn’t get my brain, fingers and hands to work together. Very frustrating! I figured something was up, so I went to the internet. It was there that I first read about MS and dexterity.

When winter arrived in 2018, I needed to wear a heavier coat. What happened when buttoning my shirts, the same thing happened zipping up my coat. My fingers were in the correct positions but it was like one hand was saying “screw you” to the other. About then I remembered in 1999 I gave up tying my shoes. I couldn't make the loop or tie the knot anymore. Seemed strange but at the time, I didn’t know MS affected dexterity like I do now. Anyway, I started using curly Q shoelaces. They are also called no-tie shoelaces and curly laces. These laces work great and all I have to do is slide my feet into my shoes. Obviously, my MS was affecting my dexterity 25 some years ago!

Scooterjon

[goatgal]

I too suffer the difficulty of buttons, zippers, shoelaces...and sewing needles. Things slip, leap and fall from my grasp. Here's a long ago musing on the problem:

Once in St Louis, a woman sat on a bench

Tired, I sat on the other end

My shoulder oblique to her

Into my silence, she spoke

When you are old your fingertips

Are smooth. You have no

Fingerprints. I laughed, mused aloud.

Then’s the right time for a criminal career

I’ll leave no trace behind.

As a native American, she said,

I know these things.

That was all.

Today my needle fell to the floor

I failed to pick it up, my fingertips

Too smooth.

My criminal career begins.

I’ll leave no trace behind.

I know these things.

[Amore55]

Oh, I remember that feeling. I’m better now, but my, then husband, used to have to help me get dressed if I wore anything with buttons or zippers! I still struggle sometimes with small buttons, but as I am single, I do find a way to make it work. I find that if I button cuff buttons on blouses before I put them on, it makes it easier. I hope you can find a way to keep using your fingers. One thing I did was go to occupational therapy, years ago and it helped me.

[felafelbowl]

i drop things constantly. it is very annoying. and then i can't see where they landed.

[bxrmom]

I drop things frequently and don't know why and worse when I can't find where it went. I haven't tied my shoe laces in many years. I usually tie them the first time I put them on and then slip them on/off after that. I used to wear Sketchers slip on shoes with no back for the longest time. I was dx in 2006.

[Tazmanian]

I'm starting to have trouble buttoning my shirts

[mrsmike9]

I have dexterity issues as well. My insurance at the time wouldn't pay for OT my neuro ordered. So I thumbed my nose at them and came up with the art that I do now. Reminds me! I haven't posted my last piece! I'll do it now!