Good one Tiger I have due tendons gone in both thumbs and forefingers they move ok but from the base all straight considerable difficulty in gripping things.When they first started seizing up shoelaces a major problem . took about a year before I mastered it . Shirt buttons still an issue.What I have found my left hand. seems to perform better than my right I'm not \LHanded.What I would say to anyone recently afflicted by all means use gadgets but do try and get your hands to work around the problem. If I drop a coin or similar I have to pick it up using both middle fingers I always keep those nails longish.pulling plugs Out of sockets forefinger and middle finger inverted V over its sides and yippee