Give her a hand
Even on a quiet day for the blog like yesterday, there were two Comments as diverse as the offer of a book about a zoo (which I am going to gratefully accept), and a poignant appeal for help with the aftermath of an injury. This continues the theme of ‘advice workshop’ which began last week when someone asked for job inteview tips. I was going to write something about this myself, and also I have some (more) observations on jet-lag, plus there’s a TYSIC summary that is incredibly long-overdue, and we need to win Eurovision, and there are some more career bits and pieces. So don’t let me forget all that stuff. Oh, also the Toblerones.
But as Misha is a very valued reader and leading organiser of all manner of things Watson-related, I am going to fast-track her enquiry, which runs as follows:
‘I’ve broken my hand and need advice on doing things one handed as I can’t use my right hand at all. This makes normal tasks, going to the loo, wearing a bra, brushing teeth etc, reallly rather hard.’
So I’m going to invite contributions from anyone with experience of, or authority on the subject of, functioning successfully with just one hand. I’d be particularly delighted to hear from anyone who only HAS one hand and could therefore be said to be the ultimate authority.
I’ve broken my arm a few times and I will simply say that it’s more possible than you think to write with your less-favoured hand. Can’t really help with wearing a bra. We all know how tricky they can be even with both your hands available. Eh, guys? Am I right?
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 24, 2011
Firstly, do hope all’s gone well for you today, Misha … I’m sure everyone joins me in wishing you a very speedy recovery …
Secondly, Bristol City drew 1 all with Hull City so a point was earned and, Jen, I feel we’re making progress … City equalised 11 minutes from full time so I can just imagine nails bitten up to the elbows!!!
* * * EARLY WARNING * * *
Next finger-crossing, nail-biting epic is as soon as Tuesday evening! At home again versus Reading…
* * * EARLY WARNING * * *
Posted by Rachael on September 24, 2011
Oooh that’s nasty. Hope it heals quickly Misha. I have no experience of being one-handed, but I have seen Holly Walsh talking about it in her set so maybe she is a font of knowledge?
Posted by Knox on September 24, 2011
just come back, realised i never put the link to our page!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/connectaphasia
Posted by LisaD on September 24, 2011
Oo! Misha, so sorry! Had a similar injury, also while working in a theater. (It’s a more challenging profession than people think.;) ) You’ve already gotten some good advice on bras and tooth brushing, as for the loo…I’m guessing this has less to do with the actual act and more to do with getting your trousers on and off. It’s tricky, especially since both the button and zipper will now be facing away from your good hand. The only thing that works is practice. Spend some time in your room taking them off and putting them on, there’s no easy short cut. (At one desperate point I did end up using the pliers on my leatherman to extend my grip range, but it didn’t help much and was more an outlet for frustration than a practical solution.) Once you’ve gotten the hang of it it’s hard to imagine why it seemed like a problem before. In the meantime: elastic waistband.
Also, don’t be afraid to use the bad hand for some things. As long as it isn’t holding any weight and you stop immediately if it hurts, you can use it to hold things steady or even just to keep your balance since you’re used to doing everything with your right side.
Posted by MusicalLottie on September 24, 2011
Aw Misha, that’s rubbish for you
Heal quickly.
I had a similar idea to lisan about putting on your bra over your head – tricky, but possible. To get it off, take your arms out of the straps, twizzle it round to the front and undo, then before putting it back on again do it up … and repeat.
Also the same with brushing your teeth – I injured my hand recently and for a couple of nights couldn’t grip, and holding the handle of the brush between your teeth to put the toothpaste on it is reasonably easy.
Going to the loo … I’m not really sure what on the toilet requires two hands, if I’m honest! The only thing I can think of is tearing off toilet roll, and for that you could hold it between your knees.
Erm, what else? Other than typing or driving, I can’t think of any other everyday task that is difficult with only one hand (and for those I have no suggestions) – maybe cooking: fill kettle / saucepans using a jug, lean sieve/colander on something in order to drain rice/boiled veg, make sure to only cook things that can be cut without needing your other hand to hold it.
Hope these may have helped, or given you ideas at least
Posted by Knox on September 24, 2011
Misha – this may help, also:
http://www.networkofyoungsurvivors.com/daily-living.html
Posted by Knox on September 24, 2011
aha – *support* vests
Posted by Knox on September 24, 2011
hey Misha – sorry to hear about your arm!!
i work with people who’ve had stroke, and some have lost/mainly lost the use of one hand. You can go on our facebook page, and maybe ask anyone (i’m thinking/hoping they would take it as a sincere ask for help, as opposed to it being patronising or insensitive).
this is possibly a random point to pick up on, but the bra one – a friend once had her arm operated on – she found those elasticated/fitted vests really helpful, as she couldn’t deal with a bra (v tired – all my vocab has gone – do you know the type of vests i mean?)
Posted by Jen on September 23, 2011
Get well soon Misha…my work mate has also broken her hand (writing hand at that) – so I’ve been doing a lot of writing,liftin,admin etc for her – so I’m a pro now at helping if you’re stuck – a hand helper that’s the solution, its the future!Take care!Jx ps ta Suzanne for alert!
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on September 23, 2011
I’m not an expert on one-handedness but I have had patients with similar injuries. You know where to find me Misha!
Watson, you also need to do a summary blog about the iPod Challenge. I’ll sulk if you don’t.
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 23, 2011
Not wishing to detract from Misha’s predicament but it has to be done:
* * * FINGER CROSSING FOR FOOTIE ALERT * * *
Saturday 24 September
BRISTOL CITY v HULL CITY
Ashton Gate: KO 3 pm BST
* * * CROSS FINGERS FOR THE CAUSE * * *
Hull City are playing well at the moment – your support is needed to turn around Bristol City’s results!!! Let’s do it for Mark!!!
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 23, 2011
Ouch, Misha … so sorry to hear about your accident and the upcoming theatre appearance … hope all goes well and you’re soon as dextrous as ever!
Why didn’t they let you authorise consent to surgery with a X … you could probably do that with your eyes closed too!
You don’t mention any pain but I’m sure it must have hurt … I assume you’re putting on a brave face …
I wish you luck with your one-handed solutions and suggest you go bra-less for a few days/weeks/for ever!!!
Posted by lisan66 on September 23, 2011
I know this is going to sound strange, but my friend says to get toothpaste onto the toothbrush, put the handle of your toothbrush in your mouth, then use your good hand to put the toothpaste on the brush. I brush my teeth with my left hand anyway even though I’m right handed because apparently it helps keep your brain working. Not sure on ideas with the loo. Maybe with the bra, you could close it to the hook it’s comfortable at and then put it on over your head like you would a t-shirt? And it might be a good idea to avoid buttons because I can’t figure out how to open/close that one-handed!
Posted by Cathy (traineeflorist) on September 23, 2011
Oh Misha, I’m so sorry to hear about your hand, how did you do that? I am going to spend half an hour later practising bra dexterity one handed. I’ll let you know how I get on. In the meantime, hope you manage to stay comfortable and don’t try and do too much! x
Posted by Nuala on September 23, 2011
Ouch!! Get well soon, Misha.
Posted by Leonie on September 23, 2011
Aw heck Mischa, that’s rough. There is an art to undoing a bra one handed but it can be done. To undo, you have to get one side of the bra band between index and middle finger, near where the hooks are done up, then with your thumb and index finger, get hold of the loose bit of strap on the eye side and somehow, pull them towards each other and it should undo. I do it better with my right hand but can do it with my left if necessary. Doing it up is really really difficult but can be done with a similar but opposite move. Good luck! Hope you are back using your hand again soon! Xxxx
Posted by Suzy on September 23, 2011
Eep, sounds horrible! Well I have never lost the use of one of my hands but I thought about the bra situation. You could put the bra around you so that the cups are at the back (so you can see what you are doing). Then you’d pin one side of the fastening between yourself and perhaps a door frame or something haha, then you could use your good hand to hook the other side of the fastening in. Then it’d be relatively easy to twirl it around and pull it up with one hand because you can use the straps for leverage. I don’t know if that will even make sense haha but good luck.
Posted by Misha on September 23, 2011
Aww thanks, I broke my arm before, but I was only 7 or so at the time so didn’t have a bra etc at the time. Also, it was my wrist so I had a working hand at a push.
For anyone interested in the icky details, I dropped a rather heavy projector screen on my hand 2 nights ago at Coventry SITP, this has lead to a broken scaphoid and a dislocated thumb, I have to go into theatre tomorrow.
Most entertaining thing so far, trying to sign a consent form left handed as a right hander.
Posted by Lydia on September 23, 2011
I’m sorry Mischa that’s crap. How did it happen?
I have never been one handed so I can’t help much, sorry. I did some googling though and found that there are apparently a lot of people who can’t figure out how to put on a bra two handed, so I suppose it could be worse.
With the toothbrush, could you find something to balance it on? If you could lean it on something while you put the toothpaste on it might be easier?
I hope hands heal quickly.