braces/splints/supports - general questions

[PhillMc]

I sure can Rosie, they cam from a shop on Amazon. There the usual nude colour but much more helpful for me than solid splints. You do get the odd frayed fibre and wearing them for hours on end does get uncomfotable, but whilst doing jobs they give support whilst still allowing a good range of motion. I have solid wrist splints but i find that because i can't bend my wrist my fingers extened to far to compensate and i wend up with huge pain in my fingers.

Heres the link, they do charge postage my order came to about £12 including the postage, which for an assistive device i didn't find too bad.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thumb-Protect-S ... 221&sr=8-4

[sheppeyescapee]

I had casts of my feet taken this morning and I'm going to have custom made braces for them made. I even got to choose the pattern on them The orthotist was really helpful and I went through all the options we have tried so far and was told that all "off the peg" options had been exhausted and that my only options left were custom made ones. They had me up and at the plaster theatre at 7:30am! I need to come back in a few weeks to pick them up and hope that they will work, we have a few other options in terms of length

[trekster]

Hope they do work for you mate, good luck.

[jolajo]

Hullo! Wrist splint question. My circulation isn't great at the best of times, but when I wear my NHS standard velcro-y wrist splint my hand goes all cold. It was much worse with other kinds of supports I've worn in the past (where my hand turns purple as soon as the support is tight enough), but should this happen? I'm definitely not wearing it too tightly, just tightly enough to do it's job! x

[Superstottie]

I have a similar problem as my circulation is rubbish at the best of time. I bought one of these http://www.ossurwebshop.co.uk/Wrist-Hand/Exolite-Wrist-Brace/prod_28.html as it is made of rigid plastic you don't need to have it tight to get the support. I wear mine as a night splint really quite loose as it still stops me bending into funny positions! I have also got a fabric one that has a big band round the wrist which means it doesn't need to be as tight as the ones that just have the normal short velcro tabs. It's the Bioskin one on the same site as the one above. x x

[Rosie]

Hi all

I have the exolite bbraces as well, and have done for a few years now. They restrict my wrist movement enough to stop them becoming as painful, but are cool and more comfortable to wear than my NHS braces. will have them at the residentail if anyone wants to se them.

Rosie

[jolajo]

Thank you- they look good mIght put those on the birthday list! x

[staceylou]

Could anyone recommend anything to help with the pain I get in my fingers and wrists. I'm finding that when I sleep I tend to Brno them back. Also after 20 mins or so at a computer my hands are throbbing. Would appreciate any advice anyone can give as the hand pain is much worse than it's ever been and is really getting me down.

[dividedheart]

I was referred to rheumatology assessment because of my hip. Well, you know how it goes, it wasn't quite that simple. I argued with my doctor until he just gave in and gave me the referral I wanted!

At the assessment the physio checked all my joints and said she would refer me to physio and occ therapy for my hips but would I mind being referred to occ therapy for my hands? Of course not! I've had small issues with my hands over the years but nothing drastic and was pleased she was suggesting preventative measures.

I went today and came back with an exercise sheet, an activity splint (which I'm quite certain would have to be worn almost constantly to be effective as she wants the joint to stiffen) and a night splint as I'm showing some small signs of carpal tunnel. Then, once my arms were full, she said if the activity splint worked I'd be leaving with another for the other hand next time.

Now, not to complain about such excellent help, but does immobilising a joint actually lead to smaller angles on her measurements? That was her reasoning. She said the angles she took were 'crazy' and some of my extentions were too long for her hand ruler. She wants my thumb to move a lot less but the first thing that happens when I take my splint off is that the whole joint spreads and stretches. Surely I would have to use it constantly to reduce my hyper-extention.

Oh, and the other thing - my hand doesn't even hurt! My hip on the other hand...

[Rosie]

Hiya

The night splints are a fairly standard treatment for carpal tunnel, the idea being thta it holds your joints in a nuetral position so that you don't cause more damage, and provides rest.
The idea of splinting a joint to try to reduce its hypermobility is a new one on me, and it strikes me that the OT probably doesn't have a huge amunt of experienece of HMS. Splints and braces are usually used either to support a joint so it can be used, or to prevent it going into the hypermobile range , or to prevent it dislocating or subluxing (ie moving where it shouldn't). Excessive use of splinting or bracing can cause loss of muscle condition and needs to be avoided. It sounds like your hypermobile joints freaked her out a little!
Personally, if a joint doesn't hurt I would be wary of splinting it. There are loads of hypermobile people in the population who have hypermobile jints that don't hurt, and the idea of splinting them to try to stop the hypermobility is giving me a mental picture of people splinted in every joint and not able to move!
Also, immobilising or limiting function in one joint can have an effect on other joints, which can sometimes be beneficial, but is usually unwanted. I have a ring splint worn backwards on my thumb to keep one joint static, but it is used to encourage use of the lower joint to try to keep it in the right place and strengthen it.

Rosie

[dividedheart]

Hi Rosie, thanks for moving my post and getting back to me.

24 hours later I'm not sure where I stand on this. See, the splint is working better than even the OT could have predicted because it turns out I'm quite a hand wringer. I had no idea I did it but I pull at my thumbs for most of the day. Today I even succeeded in cracking the splinted one on a shopping trolley and when I realised I'd done it I looked at the other hand to see I had my other thumb at a most perculiar angle. No wonder they're bendy. They're getting a better work out each day than a contortionist! Within 24 hours my left thumb has stiffened significantly simply because I can't unconsciously yank at it as I obviously normally do.

But I'm going to have to leave the splint off tomorrow because my habits can't be broken by the brace. I've pulled a muscle in the base of my thumb where I''ve started pushing it against it in a rapid back and forth motion. Again, I didn't notice I was doing it to start with and now the joint is aching lightly. I'm glad the splint has pointed out the problem but I don't think it's the solution. Like a smoker I need to find something else to do with my hands. Tonight I ate peanuts. I could be two stone heavier by Christmas!

[Rosie]

Hiya

How about getting some theraputty to play with? That way you would not only keep your hands occupied, but also give them some exercise at the same time?

Rosie

[ccat21]

Hi as I'm new to the HMS diagnoses I would like to ask if I should use a support on me ankles & knees? the GP has given me tubigrip to use, as I keep going over on my ankles which in turn twist my knees causing pain & discomfort. The only reason why I ask is because my husband has said that I should not try to make myself look disabled as I have gone from appealingly to look well but inside in pain to using a stick and supports on ankles & knees, also on right wrist. I know that I am being a bit of a hyperchondriac but I am having a flareup of fibromyalgia & also of the HMS ( if you can) due to stress, have just discovered son (16, aspergers & anxiety) is selfharming for which we are awaiting for appointment for. So should I support my painful joints & try to strenghten them with swimming & walking or should I carry on as before in pain without the support?

[mazza111]

Stacey goes back on Wednesday to get reassessed for different braces. Thought the braces for her knees were Ok at first, then the metal rod started digging into her thigh, no biggy, padded it with cotton wool pleats. Now that her hands are getting bad though, she's having trouble pulling it up and on. Now one of her thumbs don't stay in at all, although are not painful. So hopefully get something to help her.

[nat05]

Ccat21 - Hi! Firstly without sounding rude to your husband how disabled you 'look' isn't up to him! My ex accused me of wanting to look like House,MD (tv show) as Hugh Lawrie's character uses a stick I was so shocked the anger didn't hit til later. I'm not telling you how to feel/act or anything but this is YOUR body and you need to deal how YOU want to.

Also, this may sound counter intuitive but at the recent HMSA conference Hannah Ensor, patron of the charity explained that using adaptions (& in her case a wheelchair) has allowed her to feel less disabled even tho she 'looks' worse because she achieves more now than when she 'looked' less disabled! It really struck a cord with me and it helped to explain to Drs etc. that I may use more splints & braces now than 6years ago but am happier & healthier (mainly!) than back then. It's hard in the early days to get used to the changes. These boards helped me so much.

Second, you're not being a hyperchondriac! Other people may be telling you that but that's only as they can't see you pain & it doesn't show up in tests or fit into preconceived ideas. Fibro flare ups suck and unless you've experienced it there's no way to understand it. The GP at least recognises there's a problem even if not being much help.

Have you seen a Rheumatologist? If not get GP to refer you. Just a warning they may not 'get' HMS and leave you feeling disappointed. So why refer yourself in the first place? I feel it's the first step on the ladder to diagnosis & proper support.
depending where you live there are specialist treatment centres Which you can get details of from http://www.hypermobility.org/clinics.php. Next referral to a pain clinic may help you to manage pain through medication or alternatives such as pain management programme (although you'll see a psychologist if referred don't be put off that they think it's in your head, that's not why you're there, it's because they have been trained in how to deal with chronic pain using cognitive behavioural therapy/physio/occupational therapy/non medicational strategies)

Here's some notes online you can get Husband & GP to read http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/a-z-of-medical-conditions/joint-hypermobility-syndrome/

Here's a website to help you understand the self harming from Mind http://www.mind.org.uk/help/diagnoses_and_conditions/self-harm and this one from National Autistic society http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/understanding-behaviour/challenging-behaviour/self-injurious-behaviour.aspx

'So should I support my painful joints & try to strenghten them with swimming & walking or should I carry on as before in pain without the support?'

You don't mention if you're on any medication. Not everyone wants to take pills but as its not going anywhere the pain needs to be managed. This will be different for individuals, but if in pain that joint needs supporting. For most people that support is strengthening the joint, it's a vital thing to do but it's difficult to do when in pain and then get stuck in a cycle of 'exercise causes pain, I'm in pain so can't exercise, etc.' Exercise as much as possible within your limits, use sticks and aids around the house as much or little as you want. Personally I use a mix of meds, physio, exercise, pain management & braces/splints.

Final link I promise to show it's not all bad!
http://www.hypermobility.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12605

Hugs

You can PM me if you want to talk more.

Nat
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