Re: Splint for hand helps

[Guest guest]

Cassie,

Another hand aid I've found is kind of an isotoner glove with open

fingers. I got it from my Hand PT. They keep my hands warm and put a

slight pressure on my hands which feels really nice.

I just need a second or third pair, cuz I have problems with sweaty

hands! hehe

I also have 3 different types of hand braces. One sounds a little

like yours, Cassie. Splints can be really helpful!!

1) It was molded for me and is called a " resting splint " . It keeps my

fingers and thumbs from curling at night. I've only used that once.

2) The other is a 3/4 wrist splint. It allows finger and thumb

mobility but holds my wrist immobile with a metal rod imbedded in the

splint. It goes about half way/ three-quarters of the way up my lower

arm. I sleep with this one frequently and use it at the keyboard.

3) Then I have lighter wrist splints without the metal rod. I don't

use this one as much. I need the full support more.

Wishing you wellness,

Meghan

> I just had the best arthritis pain free day at work. The custom

> molded splint really helped the arthritic thumb and I was able to

do

> my job only a little slower. I'm going back to get some

adjustments

> on it today because of some pressure areas and I'll be good as

new.

> My other painful areas did good as well. I realized I said I was

> diagnosed 2 years ago with PA. I guess I can't count, it was 3

years

> ago and seems like forever when you have the bad days. Today is

> starting off good, wish I could keep up this record but it will not

> stay this way especially after the 2 twelve hour shifts I have to

do

> this weekend. Wish everyone could feel great for even a little

> while. Cassie

[Guest guest]

May I ask a question on this topic: who do you folks see for these splints

and how did you get referred to them? I'm starting to have some very

noticeable hand problems, my fingers swell some, but they are turning at the

tips at strange angles and I am waking up with them bent at very weird

angles. Sometimes they are numb, sometimes I can't move them at all for a

while (around 15 minutes or so). My Rheumatologist has not offered much

comfort or help. Any Suggestions?? Thanks.

[

[Guest guest]

Hi, The orthopedic doctor referred me to the physical therapy

department at the hospital. He wrote a prescription for a molded

splint to protect the thumb. The occupational therapist made it out

of some type of white hard plastic. It was molded by wetting it in

hot water. She trimmed it with scissors while it was soft. It took

about an hour to complete it. I went back to have it adjusted

because some places were leaving red areas. I was told to wear it for

short periods to break it in and just call for a time if I need

further adjustments. It covers the bottom half of my right thumb and

about 3/4 of my forearm on just that side and has 2 soft bands that

hold it inplace on a piece of velcro at the wrist and the other end.

Also, the Rheumy said he would refer for splint. I asked the OT

person and she accepts a prescription from any doctor. Hope this

helps. I can write, and do most anything with it on. I have full use

of my hand, just the thumb is not moving. I haven't been able to

open drink bottles though without using the other hand to twist off

the top or using tool that opens different size bottles and jars.

Cassie

[Guest guest]

Cassie,

Sorry I never got back to you with the information concerning the thumb

splint... it's been hectic for me these past two weeks, one son with surgery and

one in a long-awaited school play... thank God they are both overwith... all

went well with both. The splint the O.T. made for you was made 'most likely'

out of Orthoplast by J & J... it has been used for years and can easily be

re-molded, cut to fit better, and have things added to it. I was never able to

look up the exact name of this particular splint, but your O.T. seems to have

done a good job. Did she line it with 'mole skin' ? This is simply a soft

lining, kind of like flannel that comes with an adhesive backing... he/she just

cuts it the same shape as the splint, peels away the paper backing and sticks it

into the splint... it really makes it a lot more comfortable and causes less

sweating and skin irritation. I have even found it easy to wash... by putting

the splint under running water and gently kind of 'shampooing' the lining...

then let it air dry outside or 'on top of the dryer' while your doing a load of

laundry. Anyway, good luck with the splint... I also have a ready-made wrist

splint that has a thumb attachment... it is German, so I don't know if you can

find it in the States... it is more comfortable than the plastic splint, ask

your pharmacist or O.T. if they have heard of something similar... it looks like

the standard wrist splint... only difference is that it has the thumb part

extending out from it with a velcro closure. Good luck.

Hello to everyone... I am enjoying all the posts and wish you all good health

and happiness.

#2

works4now2000 <dbeamon@...> wrote: Hi, The orthopedic doctor referred me

to the physical therapy

department at the hospital. He wrote a prescription for a molded

splint to protect the thumb. The occupational therapist made it out

of some type of white hard plastic. It was molded by wetting it in

hot water. She trimmed it with scissors while it was soft. It took

about an hour to complete it. I went back to have it adjusted

because some places were leaving red areas. I was told to wear it for

short periods to break it in and just call for a time if I need

further adjustments. It covers the bottom half of my right thumb and

about 3/4 of my forearm on just that side and has 2 soft bands that

hold it inplace on a piece of velcro at the wrist and the other end.

Also, the Rheumy said he would refer for splint. I asked the OT

person and she accepts a prescription from any doctor. Hope this

helps. I can write, and do most anything with it on. I have full use

of my hand, just the thumb is not moving. I haven't been able to

open drink bottles though without using the other hand to twist off

the top or using tool that opens different size bottles and jars.

Cassie

[Guest guest]

Hi , I don't have the splint lined. I did ask about doing that.

I wanted the whole thing to have something soft and cushy. I can get

a piece of moleskin from work. I put a small piece inside one area

of the side of the thumb and used stockinette on my arm. I don't

think I can line the entire thumb part without making it to snug.

It's going to take alot of getting used to. It's uncomfortable to

work in but I can't do some parts of my job without it. I hope it's

just a little while before it seems natural wearing it, if that's

possible. Cassie

[Guest guest]

Hello Cassie,

Sorry, I have been 'out of the loop' for a few days... but glad to hear from

you. I think you need to have the O.T. adjust it for you... she/he should put

the mole skin in it and reshape it a bit so that it will fit in AND let your

hand, wrist and thumb all feel comfortable at the same time. The orthoplast

(the white plastic material used...) becomes very irritating without lining, the

skin gets sweaty and I am sure it doesn't help our psoriasis any. Don't worry

if the moleskin you put in is not correct, it can be removed... not easily, but

it can be. Anyway, as long as the stockinette you are using is 100% cotton it

should be okay for now... just don't use anything with polyester in it, if so,

just a very small percentage for the elasticity. I have yards of cotton tubing

that I use for my regular splints, it keeps them cleaner and can easily be

washed regularly. If the splint is too uncomfortable, you may have to have the

OT cut away a bit of it, or just dip it again into the hot water for re-shaping.

Anyway, good luck.

By the way, the subject of 'splinting' is a very touchy one with some doctors...

none of my doctors have ever encouraged me to use splints... but I am the one

with the pain and inflammation... so on my own I splint whenever I feel like

it... it has saved my joints from permanent damage... by resting an inflamed

joint you give it a rest and avoid excessive use that will cause permanent

damage during inflamation. I have tons of splints: finger, wrist, ankle, knee,

hand, wrist-thumb, left and right wrist splints, and so on. They are all in a

plastic box and always handy when needed. Sometimes when I can tell a wrist is

getting worse, I will sleep in the wrist splints ... this prevents me from

bending my wrists while sleeping, I never knew that was a habit of mine until my

wrists told me so.... )

Anyway, good luck at work with adjusting to the splint... hopefully you won't be

needing it for long.

#2

works4now2000 <dbeamon@...> wrote: Hi , I don't have the splint lined.

I did ask about doing that.

I wanted the whole thing to have something soft and cushy. I can get

a piece of moleskin from work. I put a small piece inside one area

of the side of the thumb and used stockinette on my arm. I don't

think I can line the entire thumb part without making it to snug.

It's going to take alot of getting used to. It's uncomfortable to

work in but I can't do some parts of my job without it. I hope it's

just a little while before it seems natural wearing it, if that's

possible. Cassie