Hand Fatigue Solutions
I’ve drawn compulsively for 25 years. I’m left-handed. Ten years ago I drove a 1/2” drill bit through my wrist.
Now there’s scar tissue. I drop things. My hand cramps if I do anything.
So.
I had to adapt.
If your hands ever cramp up. These three things are your go to:
1. Fat grip, light touch.
Thin pens and pencils are the enemy. I use Dr Grip pencils, black Blackwings with thick rubber pencil grips, Lamy fountain pens ($20-30, refillable), and for paintbrushes, I prefer the water brushes, becaseu they have a thicker grip, I rarely add water or ink to them. Just use em for the grip.
I wrap my dip pens with cloth and tape until the grip is huge. Looks ridiculous. Works.
I naturally draw like a caveman, putting ridiculous amounts of pressure on the paper, not good for hand cramps. Which led me to using exclusively very dark lead pencils, pen and ink dip pens, and fountain pens. Why? Two reasons. I like that you can’t cover your mistakes; they always remain. And they require less pressure.
Fountain pens require almost no pressure. Ballpoints make you push. Switch and your hand will feel better……and many people will think you are ridiculous.
2. One stretch.
Hold your elbow to your side. Reach under with your other hand, grab your thumb, and pull it down and across your body.
This stretches the muscles that cause carpal tunnel and cramping. I do it constantly.
3. Acupuncture when it gets bad.
When things get bad, I book an appointment. The needles vibrate intensely for 20 minutes. I leave exhausted. But the pain and cramping drop significantly.
The hand problems aren’t going away. But these three things help manage them.
Do you have any other hand fatigue solutions?
P.S. Everything I make comes back to the same idea: become more capable, solve your own problems. That’s what this hand fatigue drawing is about. And that’s why I built a home repair app.
You Fixed It is now live in the App Store.
Founding Members can still get lifetime access for $99 but must click from youfixedit.ai.
I love the text, the drawing and your tips. Thank you.
Cottonwood or Poplar Bud oil is a lovely thing to rub into them. It soaks in quickly & truly relieves pain/ache. St John's Wort oil is helpful too. The Cottonwood oil is seriously anodyne tho! It also smells amazing (it's Balm of Gilead).
I have also modified my grip when I ride a bike so that my thumbs do not wrap around handle bar but rather rest beside my first finger. I know that is not ideal for safety maybe, but the tendons near my wrist thumb cannot handle it the regular way.
I also swear by acupuncture. Rarely will I make it thru a session without both the meaty part of hand & that painful spot down near thumb/wrist tendon, forcing the needles to jump out. I get the vibrations as well.
Sorry to hear you suffer from such hand pain too.