Topband: Paddle keying

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi John,

I know it is an old joke but...

You might consider learning to use a key with either of your feet. I 
once met an attorney with no arms. He was born that way. He did 
everything with his feet and was completely independent!

I had a CW QSO years ago with a ham in Pennsylvania and 45 minutes into 
the ragchew he told me he is completely deaf. He built what sounds like 
a Rube Goldberg device to feel the morse code instead of hearing it. 
Adapt and overcome:)

Good luck to you with your 'wars'. We each have our own wars :)

73,

Bill  KU8H

On 10/28/2018 04:16 AM, John Randall via Topband wrote:
> Hi Hank and all,
>
> Thanks for the replies. Mine is the pain afterwards and although I have some issue chasing a nut across my desk to pick it up, I also lose the ability to press hard enough on the keypad as I type this. I usually just send it off without cheking spelling and its sometimes messed up.
> I wonder if me using my left hand on the paddle is a result of changes to my brain. I get shingles as well on a regular basis so am always in the wars...hi
> When I got this Kent paddle, I wanted to use my right hand, but it felt arkward and unreal and then switched to my left hand and it felt natural as if I had been using it for years. Strange what illnesses can do to one's immune system and then affect the brain.I was told not to havethe operation as if it goes wrong one is up the creak without any oares to get back, so I am shying away from that.Touch paddles may not work for me due to problems with lack of touch sensitivity
>
> 73John
>
>
> Digitally signed mail - John  M0ELS
>
> “The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it.”
> George Orwell
>
>
>     On Sunday, 28 October 2018, 01:17:50 BST, HP <pfizenmayer at q.com> wrote:
>
>  Hi John -- I have pretty bad carpal tunnel as well  - some days worse than others -
>
> For holding the key down - I use double sided tape - works well.
>
> As far as sending - on days when its really bad  I describe it as its like sending using a clothespin to move the paddle - but ontose days the movement sort of moves to
> te wrist if its working for you ..
>
> I have looked at using left hand - the hints I have been given are  to NOT reverse
> the paddles - I am told its since our bodies are mirror images -- I have practiced
> a bit but am a long way from using it on the air !!!!
>
> I have been told I need to get the carpal surgery but I worry about how much it helps
> at my age (84) - from what I read there is no guarantee  . MIne is not all that painful -
> just numb - very hard to pick up nuts and bolts - very frustrating .
> 73 Hank K7HP
>
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