Bracing/Supports

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I need some information on bracing.

1. What kinds of bracing/supports have you found to be useful?

2. What area of the body have you found it helpful?

3. Brand names you found helpful?

4. Is there any type of brace/support you found you disliked or could not

use, due to skin issues, allergies, etc.?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Hugs,

Sue Ginley

[Guest guest]

> 1. What kinds of bracing/supports have you found to be useful?

Many, but not all, of the braces I use come from the company I work for

(because I get them for free for me!) My brace drawer at home contains the

following:

Ankle

LP 764 Neoprene Ankle Supports

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/ankle/764.htm

Custom-made ankle-foot orthotics (that no longer fit)

Knee

LP 710 Hinged Knee Stabilizer

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/knee/710.htm

LP 758 Open Patella Knee Support

(wrap-around style, easier to put on than the 710)

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/knee/758.htm

LP 769 Patella Brace (have it, but don't really use it)

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/knee/769.htm

LP discontinued brace that is a cross between the 710 and 758.

It's excellent, but it was a complicated prototype and we don't make it

anymore.

Dad's old Ace elastic elbow support. My knees used to be the same size

as his eblows, so I borrowed his brace when I had nothing else.

Back

LP 902 Sacro Lumbar Support

Got this when my SI was really bad at work one day.

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/back/902.htm

LP 912 Industrial Back Support

I wore this one every time we moved from one apartment to another.

Kerry has a similar one from 3D Orthopedic (or something like that).

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/back/912.htm

Elbow

Surprisingly, I don't think I have any elbow supports.

Shoulder

LP 732 Shoulder Support.

Kerry and I each have one of these. He's used his more often.

I find it quite uncomfortable as a full-figured gal!

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/shoulder/732.htm

Wrist

I used to have some custom-made plastic wrist braces

made by the physical therapist. What a pain!! They

were hard plastic, had to have a cotton sleeve worn

underneath, and allowed no wrist movement at all.

I gave them to someone else who needed them.

LP 726 Wrist Wrap

Not all that helpful for EDS wrists.

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/wrist/726.htm

Saunder's Wrist Splint

I don't have a link for this one, but it is very similar to the

LP 904 Wrist Splint that my company makes. The main

difference is that ours is made from neoprene and the

Saunder's is elastic and leather. They look identical.

http://www.lp-support.com/catalog/wrist/904.htm

Fingers

Silver Ring Splints

I have 14 of these!

http://www.silverringsplint.com/

> 2. What area of the body have you found it helpful?

See above.

> 3. Brand names you found helpful?

I mostly use LP stuff now because I work there. In the past, I used Ace

bandages to wrap joints, custom braces made by therapists, and

over-the-counter braces from Ace and Saunder's.

> 4. Is there any type of brace/support you found you disliked or could not

> use, due to skin issues, allergies, etc.?

The Ace elbow wrap I borrowed from Dad for my knee was too tight and was

often scratchy and left indentations and ridges in my skin. Most likely it

was too tight. I didn't even know I had EDS then, so I wasn't real picky

about braces yet.

Neoprene gets really hot and if worn all day, you can get sweat rashes. I

don't wear mine often enough to have trouble, but there are people who can

have real problems with neoprene - especially those with latex allergies.

My custom ankle-foot orthotics used to work fine, but eventually my legs got

weaker and became more pronated and the braces no longer helped. I also had

swelling from tendonitis and the brace rubbed on the Achilles so much that

walking in the brace was more painful than without. I had the brace

adjusted so often to expand the heel to accommodate the swelling, that the

plastic got too thin and could no longer be adjusted. I decided to ditch

them rather than paying another $1300 for another pair! My pronation has

since been corrected through massage therapy and myofascial release and my

legs are stronger now from moderate exercise.

[Guest guest]

Dylan uses Donjoy hinged knee brace. It's a surgical brace, but he has not had

surgery. It's been very helpful to stablize his knee and pettella.

www.djortho.com

He also tryed bi-lateral IROM elbow braces, But they didn't work for him

because his shoulders rotated the arms inside the braces. I don't know what

company made them.

Bracing/Supports

Hi Everyone,

I need some information on bracing.

1. What kinds of bracing/supports have you found to be useful?

2. What area of the body have you found it helpful?

3. Brand names you found helpful?

4. Is there any type of brace/support you found you disliked or could not

use, due to skin issues, allergies, etc.?

Thanks for any help you can give me!

Hugs,

Sue Ginley

[Guest guest]

> Dylan uses Donjoy hinged knee brace. It's a surgical brace, but he has not

had surgery. It's been very helpful to stablize his knee and pettella.

www.djortho.com

DonJoy is an excellent manufacturer of custom braces.

[Guest guest]

OH BOY let's see <LOL>

Thumbs:

Custom made (by an orthotist) a thermoplastic thumb support to stop

thumb MCP from hyper extending and to help relieve tendonitis.

Fingers:

3-4 x Assorted Finger Cot Splints (from fractures and other injuries)

http://www.alphamedical.com/new_page_3.htm

Wrists:

(Bauer & Black) carpal tunnel wrist brace

http://www.bd.com/elastics/displayProduct.asp?

path=0 & bid=10 & lid=0 & tid=0 & pid=171;

Standard wrist brace (material with metal stay in palm area

(reversible for L or R hand)

http://www.supportsusa.com/arm/wrist/classicreg.htm;

In line skating wrist guards (these are cheap and you get 2 in a pack

(1 for each hand) and they help with wrist pain and injury) something

like this:

http://www.skate-buys.com/recprofskatw.html;

Shoulder:

(Thermoskin) Neoprene shoulder support: custom made (as this was a

weird " male " design that sat on my neck and chin <LOL>

http://www.shop.store.yahoo.com/makinglifeeasier/thershoulwra.html;

Highland Shoulder Sling (Orthomerica):

http://www.kingsleymfg.com/KMFGStore/Catalog_Product.asp?

dept_id=9E66EDF8-757E-4C96-A577-6D0F0AC4A7DB & product_id=55122;

Hips:

(Thermoskin) Neoprene hip support (the Groin Hip one)

http://www.thermoskin.com/cgi-bin/store/agora.cgi?

cart_id= & product=leg;

Knees:

CTI2 (Innovation Sports): custom made functional knee brace

http://www.isports.com/by_cust.htm;

Rebel (Townsend): off the shelf functional knee brace

http://www.townsenddesign.com/rebel.html;

3 x Assorted Knee Immobilisers : Straight Leg Braces or Zimmer

Splints (Something like this)

http://www.donjoy.com/products/DonJoy/patient/detail.asp?id=53 (1

like this)

http://www.orthodynamic.gr/product_det/12395_uk.htm (and 2 like this);

IROM Cool (Donjoy): Post Op knee brace (ROM) (no surgery this time)

http://www.donjoy.com/products/DonJoy/patient/detail.asp?id=40;

(Thermoskin) Neoprene knee brace: with patella " hole " and side stays

and straps top and bottom;

http://www.painreliever.com/braceupi100-141-142.html;

Basic Brace (Bledsoe): Post Op knee brace (ROM = Range of Motion)

http://bledsoebrace.com/products/postop/mcb.htm;

Elastic Knee Sleeve (sort of like this)

http://www.newsearching.com/misc2/Bike_Cotton_Elastic_Knee_Support.htm

l;

Ankles:

Elastic Ankle Sleeve (sort of like this)

http://www.fogdog.com/product/index.jsp?productId=6596;

ASO Ankle Support

http://www.supportsusa.com/ankle/aso/aso-ankle.htm;

(Ace) Neoprene Ankle Wrap

http://www.bd.com/elastics/displayProduct.asp?

path=0 & bid=8 & lid=0 & tid=0 & pid=22

Feet:

Custom Orthotics; 3 x AFO's [(Custom made Ankle Foot Orthosis) to

help combat my foot drop as a result of peroneal nerve damage form my

last ACL knee reconstruction in 1998 (these were all made by my

Orthotist), I have 1 short articulated one (Hinged AFO (H.A.F.O)), 1

long posterior leaf AFO (P.L.A.F.O) and 1 long (to knee) Bivalve one

(this is like a plastic strap on plaster cast).]

http://www.appliedbiomechanics.com/html/body_legs.html (see

Circumferential Ankle Foot Orthosis (mine is actual in 2 pieces a

back piece and a front piece that go together with velcro straps),

Hinged Ankle Foot Orthosis with commercial joints (H.A.F.O) and Rigid

Ankle Foot Orthosis or (P.L.A.F.O).

Other:

Assorted bandages, straps, tapes and splints;

Crutches (anatomic grip forearm kind; and plain forearm kind);

Wheelchair (manual);

Assorted Slings (foam pouches, foam collar and cuff kind, triangular

bandage kind, other foam kind)

I find the Neoprene ones hot and itchy and I also get eczema and heat

rash under them, I have had toubles with skin breaking down, weeping

and shearing or blistering on others as well (but they all seem OK

now), I think this is just me as my skin is so extrememly sensitive

(I am allergic to so many things and have had eczema since birth). I

cannot use strapping tape as I am allergic to ALL of them (even with

padding underneath).

Sharon

(shazz_in_ozz)

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I need some information on bracing.

>

> 1. What kinds of bracing/supports have you found to be useful?

>

> 2. What area of the body have you found it helpful?

>

> 3. Brand names you found helpful?

>

> 4. Is there any type of brace/support you found you disliked or

could not

> use, due to skin issues, allergies, etc.?

>

> Thanks for any help you can give me!

>

> Hugs,

> Sue Ginley

[Guest guest]

Hmmmmm. Great question!

For my knees I have (but rarely use):

http://www.gen2.com/LigBrace/ExtremeSelect.asp?page=Patient

Wrists:

http://www.supportsusa.com/arm/wrist/wrist-timerpm.htm

Thumbs:

http://www.supportsusa.com/arm/fla-orth/thumb/thumb.htm

For when I am online for long periods of time I have:

http://www.comfortchannel.com/prod.itml/icOid/89?source=looksmart

I do not have silver ring splints for my fingers but tape them if I have to

do alot of writing (which is the only time their hypermobility causes a

problem).

Jill

[Guest guest]

I am allergic to latex and had tried to buy a cheap Ace brand brace at

Wal-Mart. No where on the package did it say that it contained latex,

but after about an hour of wearing it, you could see a perfect red lines

from the brace. So I took it back. I was recommended this knee brace by

my friend that works in a medical supply store. It works well for me

that it stabilizes my knee so that I don't feel like my knee will give

out. I am having arthroscopic surgery next Monday for a torn lateral

meniscus and a medial condyle injury. I'm sure the knee specialist will

give me another brace then. BTW, anyone had a condyle injury? The doc

told me that it won't show up on an MRI and won't know how bad the

damage is until the surgery. The knee is the only joint to have the

condyle which is a lining on the end of the femur & tibia that keeps the

bones from rubbing on eachother. They may be able to smooth it out with

a kind of lazer if it's not too big or deep.Otherwise I will get

arthritis there. 31 is kinda young for that, but then with EDS, I'm not

the " normal " 31 year old. Of course my mom would agree I'm not normal

anyway :-)

Marla

HEDS

CA

smginleyrn@... wrote:

>Hi Everyone,

>

>I need some information on bracing.

>

>1. What kinds of bracing/supports have you found to be useful?

>

>2. What area of the body have you found it helpful?

>

>3. Brand names you found helpful?

>

>4. Is there any type of brace/support you found you disliked or could not

>use, due to skin issues, allergies, etc.?

>

>Thanks for any help you can give me!

>

>Hugs,

>Sue Ginley

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info. Sharon!!!!!

Take care,

Sue

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jill!!!

Hugs,

Sue

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info Marla!

Hugs,

Sue Ginley

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info, !

Hugs,

Sue Ginley