Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body attacks its own joints and tissues. Symptoms can include pain, inflammation, severe fatigue, and occasionally mobility issues. The disease often starts in the small joints of the hands, making it particularly problematic for tasks like writing.
Typically, these patients are using a different grip to compensate for weakness or loose joints. An altered grasp is not in itself a bad thing until it creates a problem.
The problem is usually a complaint of pain with handwriting. An individual with loose joints develops an altered grasp pattern in order to increase stability when writing, thus allowing them to write clearly. An example of a modified grip is excessive extension of the tip of the fingers or thumb along with excessive flexion of the second joint of the thumb.
Hand pain from using a non-traditional grasp typically comes from the force of grasp and muscle fatigue. Joints can also be painful due to the position of the joint and the amount of stress on the joint.
Conventional pens rely on the strength of a person’s grip. But for people with these conditions gripping can be very difficult given the symptoms that they face that might include swelling of the joints, stiffness and hand tremors.
A comfortable pen can make writing much easier. An ergonomic pen that is designed for arthritis sufferers can help decrease pain from arthritis when writing.
The PenAgain ergonomic design is suitable for fingers of all sizes. This soft rubber coated pen has an area to rest your index finger for tension free writing. This helpful writing aid works for right or left handed writers.
PenAgain, takes advantage of the weight of the hand to hold the pen in place. There is no need to apply pressure to the pen avoiding pain in the finger´s joints. Its special “Y” design steadies the hand and utilizes the whole arm to write and not only the fingers, reducing gripping and squeezing when writing. It is more about guiding and less about gripping.
If RA has limited your ability to write without pain, using assistive devices can help you to keep doing what you love, and enjoy all the therapeutic benefits - emotional and physical – that writing has to offer. And even if writing isn’t for you, journaling is a great way to get your emotions out.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
PenAgain - Arthritis Writing Pen (3 PACK)
Received the 3 pens I ordered but not the 6 refills I ordered and paid for. ???
Where can you get the refills for the PenAgain Arthritis Writing Pen?
Just received item and think it will be really useful BUT thought needs to go into packaging as it arrived sealed onto cardboard with plastic which meant I needed assistance to access it.