writer's cramps

[Gurneetkaur]

I have been to the hospital today to see a rhemutology doctor and was told that he thinks that i might have writer's cramps. Pls could u help me out because i do not know what writer's cramps is. I would be so greatful if u can help out. thanks

[kolo13]

Oh, thank you for giving her a much better answer. I thought that writers cramp was more similar to carpal tunnel than it apparently is. I should make sure I know what I'm talking about before I answer a question. I based my answer on a conversation I had with a friend who was diagnosed with carpal-tunnel syndrome and we thought they were both caused by repetitive motions. Thanks for the correction.

[Tuckamore]

Hello Gurneetkaur,

This is an old term but it is a real condition. It won't spread to other areas but it is at least irritating and painful when it occurs. Writer's cramp is a task-specific focal dystonia of the hand. Researchers generally agree that these types of focal dystonia are the result of a basal ganglia and/or sensorimotor cortex malfunction in the brain.

Here's what my reading tells me. People with simple writer's cramp have difficulty with only one specific task. There are two forms of writer's cramp, simple, when it occurs with one task such as writing or dystonic, when it occurs with other activities of the hand.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the result of nerve compression. Writer's cramp is often mistaken for over-use conditions such as CTS but it is a completed different condition. It is not associated with over use.

There us little treatment. Medications are rarely effective. Sometimes adaptive equipment and/or occupational therapy can be effective. Botulinum toxin injections can also be helpful.

Best of luck to you. I am sorry that you have this condition. As a child I was told I had writer's cramp. I don't know it that was true I just know that after a few years it went away. I hope you find some releif and successful treatment.

Take Care,
Tuck

[kolo13]

Gosh, that's kind of an archaic diagnosis. Writer's cramp is is when you have problems in the joints in your hands from spending a lot of time writing with pen and paper. Do you do anything like that? Are you maybe an artist? The modern equivalent would be carpal-tunnel syndrome, again those are problems in the joints of your hands and wrists from repetitive motion like typing every day.