The Student Room Group

Blister on finger, due to writing?

I wasn't sure where exactly to post this, but I guess it is a health issue, however minor.

I'm concerned about my middle right finger. I'm sure there are many who have a sore finger where the pen rests when writing, especially after long grueling exams.

I don't know if it's to do with the way I hold my pen, but my middle finger has blistered over. Yesterday's Sociology exam was extremely painful, and that was only for one hour. I've got two ninety minute exams coming up, one after another, meaning three hours of constant writing, and I'm a little worried my finger won't hold out. Forgetting the arm cramps, my middle finger stings to touch, and has bled the past couple of days. Now it looks like a blister has formed and is gungy. Not very nice. How can I relieve the pain, or prevent this from happening? Traditionally, my finger has always had sores from extended writing, but not as bad as this. It affects my concentration and handwriting, rendering my work almost illegible.

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Reply 1
I'm also wondering if there is a "cure" for this. I have the same problem!
i know there are some special "grip" pens you can buy... these pens you can only hold in one way because of their ergonomic design to fit snugly in your hand.

they are avaliable from most stationary shops so it might be something for you both to try. if not then i know there are triangular shaped plastic things that slide onto pens to ensure you grip them correctly.

this could prevent the blisters you are getting.

another possibility is get a pen with a rubber grip on it, not a biro. this could be someting a bit softer for you.

also using steri-strip over your finger before an exam might help hold out because the steri-strip could act as a barrier.

one last suggestion is use a hand moisturiser, it will make the skin more supple and less suceptable to blistering.
here are some pictures of pens you might want to look out for.





Reply 4
Wow, how difficult does that pen (where you put your finger through) look to write with! You'd spend the whole time attempting to write but at least you'd forget your finger was hurting :smile:

I reccomend just a plaster, to provent it rubbing anymore. If you try and change your writing style you're only going to slip back into old habits when the pressures of the exam gets to you.
yeah i have to agree it does look rather difficult but i think the principal of it is as if you were writing with your index finger, i might have to go buy one and see what its like to use.
Reply 6
Put a plaster over the hurty bit?
Reply 7
Thankfully mine isn't a blister (that sounds painful!) but it's a red bump. I've had it since I was really young I think. I don't really know how to get rid of it though. Just seems to go down a bit when I don't write for a while.
Reply 8
Tom
I wasn't sure where exactly to post this, but I guess it is a health issue, however minor.

I'm concerned about my middle right finger. I'm sure there are many who have a sore finger where the pen rests when writing, especially after long grueling exams.

I don't know if it's to do with the way I hold my pen, but my middle finger has blistered over. Yesterday's Sociology exam was extremely painful, and that was only for one hour. I've got two ninety minute exams coming up, one after another, meaning three hours of constant writing, and I'm a little worried my finger won't hold out. Forgetting the arm cramps, my middle finger stings to touch, and has bled the past couple of days. Now it looks like a blister has formed and is gungy. Not very nice. How can I relieve the pain, or prevent this from happening? Traditionally, my finger has always had sores from extended writing, but not as bad as this. It affects my concentration and handwriting, rendering my work almost illegible.

If it really, really hurts you could get a teacher/invigilator person to write your exam for you- they do that knid of dictated exam in extreme circumstances...
i hav a bump too

you can get those foamy plasters that are pretty neat
I always get those when I write lots, but like someone else I only get a red bump.

Except recently, with all the exams its got pretty huge, and it's really painful, I put one of those foam plaster thingys on it, and that works for when I have an exam. But not for ages.

It's made my hands look weird too, as one has this huge lump and the other doesn't. Grr.

I'd reccomend you use moisturisor to make the skin more supple, and put a plaster on it, or layer plasters until it doesn't hurt as much and it is bearable.

Also, maybe take a picture of it (if it looks gross) and see if you can get a doctors note says that it's making it difficult to write, and send it to the exam board. You never know.
Reply 11
little one
i hav a bump too


I have a bump also, it's known as a writer's bump/callus.
datr
I have a bump also, it's known as a writer's bump

That puts more of a positive spin on it :biggrin:
datr
I have a bump also, it's known as a writer's bump/callus.


does that mean we are like soo into our work that our intelligence shows on our fingers?



nice:cool:
o and btw...its not like a squidgy bump either...just looks/feels like an extra bone
little one
does that mean we are like soo into our work that our intelligence shows on our fingers?



nice:cool:

Hopefully :biggrin:
yayy we are all smarty pants!
blister/bump on finger = clever!
Reply 17
little one
o and btw...its not like a squidgy bump either...just looks/feels like an extra bone


mine toooo...
it's like an extra 'ridge' in the middle of my middle finger lol!
i have 4 different pens with different widths and i change throughout the exam so that my finger has variety!
Reply 18
daniel_williams
i know there are some special "grip" pens you can buy... these pens you can only hold in one way because of their ergonomic design to fit snugly in your hand.

they are avaliable from most stationary shops so it might be something for you both to try. if not then i know there are triangular shaped plastic things that slide onto pens to ensure you grip them correctly.

this could prevent the blisters you are getting.

another possibility is get a pen with a rubber grip on it, not a biro. this could be someting a bit softer for you.

also using steri-strip over your finger before an exam might help hold out because the steri-strip could act as a barrier.

one last suggestion is use a hand moisturiser, it will make the skin more supple and less suceptable to blistering.


Thank you very much for your advice everyone. I knew I wasn't alone in this! Writer's bump eh? Nice term. I'm going to go with the cheap, foamy plasters on the day, and will moisturise my hands up until then. I'll look into getting a decent set of pens when I'm not so skint. BIC biros are shredding up my finger. What is a steri-strip? A kind of plaster with anti-bacterial ingredients?
I got a blister on my finger during my a levels. I think it was just the amount of writing i had had to do. Haven't had one and haven't written so much since. Put a plaster on it to stop it rubbing.