Hand Mimicry

 I broke my arm again-- the left this time...

                Hand mimicry….I’ve been watching my hands teach each other for the last week.

                I now have permission to remove my splint for short periods for very gentle stretches, mostly to reduce swelling and prevent adhesions. If I want my wrist to move “well” I pray, placing my non-injured hand palm to palm with the injured one, and slowly move back and forth. The model and the support leads to greater movement and less tugging on my tendons. When I need to make a fist, both hands clenching at the same time are tighter than just one, injured hand. Once, early on, I caught my toes clenching up as well.

                I have also been training my non-dominant hand to do daily tasks—brushing my teeth, whisking eggs. Until this weekend, it was a struggle because my right hand just did not know how to do the work. But, as I gain flexibility in my left hand, it can hold the fork, whisk the egg, and remind my right hand how to take over.  I will be far less left hand dominant  and better balanced at the end of this process. We will see if I maintain it or if I backslide into my old ways.