Other Handedness

Without anything happening to our "main" hand, we never give any thought to all the uses for which we use our hands.  My surgery was to my right hand, my dominant hand which I usually use without any thought for a myriad of things.  And if there's a choice to be had between hands, the right one usually gets volunteered before I even have to think about it.  Its fine motor skills are highly developed.  My left hand is usually there simply to add balance, strength and holding skills.  It excels at holding things.  The fine control, and decision-making, if you will, is left with my right hand.   

What's so amazing to me is the degree of conscious attention I have to give my "other" hand to do some of the simplest of things.  For instance, holding a knife and buttering toast.  I find I need to angle the butter dish the opposite way, get the butter on the other side of the knife and then butter the toast.  However, I've found the simple act of buttering is also very difficult.  I end up fiercely staring at my left hand while heavily concentrating on applying pressure while I attempt to make smooth stroking motions.  Mind you, this is assuming the butter is soft.  If the butter is fresh out of the fridge, you're in deep trouble.

Except for sneezing, everything takes so much longer.  Like brushing my teeth.  If I'm not careful, assuming I manage to hold onto the brush, I end up brushing my cheeks or over compensating on the pressure and jamming the durn thing against my gums which is very painful!  And try cutting some food or fruit using a knife with your other hand.  It's a whole new adventure.  For me, it was like my left hand was divorced from my body.  It seemed to have no idea how to use pressure while sawing back and forth.  I felt like I was creating new brain neuron pathways through the sheer force of will.  Some times it worked.  Some times, not so much.  For the past week my inability to use my right hand  for eating has reduced me to the skills of a toddler.  I either eat with the fingers of my left hand, try to stab things with a fork, or I need to have my food cut up for me. 

Practice makes perfect.  It's such an old saying, and it's so true.  I'm very fortunate.  My relegation to "other" handedness has been temporary.  And as the time has gone by, my other hand has been able to perform more easily every day.  Once my right hand finishes healing, I'll probably be back to my old, unconscious ways of doing things.  Part of me will miss it.  Why?  It is rather refreshing to have to be so conscious, and concentrate so fiercely.  That intense concentration doesn't allow room for a lot of the nonsense that my mind usually throws at me.  It's also kind of cool to see how you DO get better with time and practice and healing.