Re: Fingers & Keyboarding

[Guest guest]

Rob,

I'm shocked at your doc's thought here. Although we are all different in

the way CMT affects us, I was in 10th grade when I learned to type

(circa 1968 or so - my father insisted on it AND my neurologist thought

it would be a good idea too). My CMT symptoms were actually worse for me

then than it is now; plus the experimental medications. Nonetheless, I

learned to type, I'm glad I did, and I'm glad Dad and the neuro

suggested it, since I've been typing ever since. In college made some

extra bucks by typing papers for those that didn't know how.

(In the 60's I also was still into my piano playing as well - not nearly

as much now...just because I don't get around to it!)

Plus back then my first job involved some typing.

And yes, I am still typing or keyboarding or whatever we call it now. I

write for a living and so it IS my work - think and write. Glad I can

type fast to keep up with my thoughts.

~ Gretchen

Rob wrote:

> I asked the doctor if CMT is the

> reason I was never able to really learn to type and he said he would

> be shocked if I actually was able to really type.

[Guest guest]

I learned to type in highschool....but i do a modified hunt and

peck...my job requires typing too as I am a GIS analyst. But I do

jus fine...Here's a suggestion..If it is too hard for u to type...get

voice recognition software, and all u do is talk and it types for

u..i know a girl who is a quadriplegic and cant type at all and she

uses one.....theres more than one way to skin a cat!! sorry just

a saying..and NO I dont practice skinning cats! )

Jimmy

> Hello all,

>

> I have experienced a noticeable loss of use in my fingers within

the

> last two years. My Doctor told me it is possible that I may not be

> able to use a keyboard in a few years (I already have problems

using

> a keyboard). Does anyone have any similar experiences? If so, can

> you still use a keyboard in a job setting?

>

> My typing gets slower and slower. Actually I don't even type, it's

> more of the " hunt & peck " system. I asked the doctor if CMT is the

> reason I was never able to really learn to type and he said he

would

> be shocked if I actually was able to really type.

>

> Any input is greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply. I guess this is something that varies greatly

from person to person. In my case, my hands show a great deal of

atrophy.

Sometimes I am able to " hunt & peck " fairly quickly. But in the last

couple of years, I find myself " fat-fingering " the keyboard (when I

hit more than one key at once). When I was hired at my current

employer (July 2000), I had to take a typing test. I must have been

having an extremely good day because I scored 25 wpm (by " hunting and

pecking " ). Other than that, I never seem to be able to top 15-18 wpm.

I work as a web developer, so I have to use a keyboard quite a bit.

But luckily, typing speed isn't really a factor in this line of

work. But nonetheless, it is a source of frustration because I am

always correcting whatever I typed because I often hit multiple keys

at once (especially on the left side of the keyboard).

Also, I think my finger dexterity problems explain why I was never

able to play guitar very well.

Thanks

> > I asked the doctor if CMT is the

> > reason I was never able to really learn to type and he said he

would

> > be shocked if I actually was able to really type.

[Guest guest]

Rob,

I will share my experience. I stayed away from office work for many

years because I was unable to type or key a calculator properly,

(always hunt and peck with only 3-4 fingers) but my interest in

accounting remained. I was given an " in " through a recommendation of

a good friend. I was slower using the office equipment than the

average person, but I made up for that by trying extra hard (to prove

myself) to be accurate, reliable, dependable and always making sure

that my assignments were completed and never holding up the progress

of others. I worked as an employee as if I owned the company. I

worked for three different companies in the last thirty years and,

when I retired a year ago, my last employer, begged me not to leave!

Rob, if you already have your " in " , concentrate on making your

sevices invaluable and be the exemplary employee.

Good luck, Ruth

[Guest guest]

SORRY THIS IS LATE. I HAVE BEEN A MEDICAL SECRETARY FOR OVER 40 YEARS, DOING

LOTS OF TYPING. SINCE RETIREMENT A FEW YR AGO I HAVE NOTICED ONLY A SLOWING

OF TYPING, BUT I FEEL IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP AT IT.

MY CMT IS POSSIBLY A RARE FORM OF CMT 2, WITH WEAKNESS OF SHOULDERS, UPPER

ARMS AS WELL AS HANDS AND LEGS.

KEEP AT IT AND GOOD LUCK!

ANGELA