braces/splints/supports - general questions

[Jazz]

I've had a neoprene splint, i put it once in the washing machine, else i put it in the water with power cream, it works quite well!

[nemonie]

Remember to take out the metal inserts before you put them in the washer and use a delicate wash cycle

[pink]

Thanks. It has no metal parts in it. Just neoprene and covers my thumb. OT at CA cut and glued it to fit and am getting one for my other hand too. Will try it in the washer tonight though. Thanks

[Bo1970]

Has anyone tried this or this ankle support? If so, are they any good?

[Jess]

Bo
I have tried something like the 1st one but it was a donjoy fabric one. It worked well stoped my foot rolling but my feet swell through the day so was causing brusing round my foot.
I've had some thing simular to the neoprene 2nd one. I like my richie look a like one somewhere near the front of this thread. Called sure step.
I've had to get my othrotics lady to get the guys in the shop to build up on the inside as my foot was rotating up the side of the support as it has a wide base support.

[Jill]

I'm looking for an elbow support that will make life easier for tendons under load. Right now I can't do simple wall push-ups since the tendon is weak, painful and tries to get away - I can click it back, but I like it staying where it is supposed to be (can't reach it with exercises only).

There are plenty golf elbow braces/straps at the market, have you tried any? Does 'one size fits all' really works? Reviews at web-shops are contradictory.
PSB brace is blue, that is good - http://psb.eu/en/product-catalogue/arm-brace/
LP has three similar models including one with plastic http://www.lp-support.com/product/con_body.php?MID=3

Got only one shop since I'm going to buy them via web.

[pinkiepunksmummy]

Does anyone use night-time splinting for pain relief?

DS has a new physio who thinks using leg splints may help with his foot/ankle/knee pain. He is still waking every single night with pain, so I am hoping this may give him some relief (and me some sleep).

Just wanted to know if anyone has tried this. Does it help? They are from the toes to over the knee, soft and plasticky, but with some resistance, Velcro straps up the front. We haven't got them yet, as they have to be ordered in. Apparently they will slightly stretch the joints. I am a bit unsure about this, is it a good thing?

And as wearing socks in bed makes his pain worse, and when he is hurting, the weight of duvet/blanket is painful, I am not sure how he will tolerate being strapped into these splints. He is 7.

[nemonie]

Hiya,

I have night resting splints for my wrists and hands - though I don't always wear them (and quite often wake up to find I've taken them off in the middle of the night). I seem to recall a few people saying they had ones for their feet or ankles, that was probably in the ankle brace/support thread (have a go with the search button to look for it!).

As to whether he will tolerate them or not? - you can try them out and see, they might feel weird at first and he might only be able to wear them for a few hours to start with (like with my wrists). But hopefully they'll help keep his joints in positions and be padded enough to be comfy.

[Stone]

I have night resting splints (when I'm not in a 24/7 post-surgery splint, that is!) and have had pretty mixed results. I was getting a lot of pain from clenching my fists and curling my wrists forward in my sleep and they did stop that by forcing me to keep in a straighter position. The inactivity can make you quite sore and stiff in the morning though, let alone the fun you can have getting in a tangle wearing both left and right splints at once and getting all the velcro stuck together! I also had complaints from my gf that I kept hitting her with them in the night There's definitely pros and cons.

Did that help?

Stone

[Es*]

My favourite night resting splints are a good in between - the Pil-o-splints. Firstly, I can get them on and off myself, which is a bonus. Secondly, they're all soft and fluffy, and comfy. Allow some movement, but no curled fingers and no curled wrists. The old version (which I have) was one size fits all, and for me a bit too big, sufficiently so that I sometimes managed to curl my hands up inside it (but not wrists). I put one strip of velcro round each side (actually those anti sickness wrist band things!) and that made it just about perfect. I see that now, they sell the pil-o-splints with a velcro strap round, so clearly I wasnt the only one. I'd highly recommend them, especially for people who find it hard to tolerate the moulded and solid ones. Also, much easier to get on/off yourself - I can wear two at once (and occassionally wear one moulded one, if I have a particular issue with one hand/a thumb.

[sheppeyescapee]

I'm looking for some kind of ankle support/brace/splint as my ankles are getting so unstable that they are causing a big problem. As part of my referral to stanmore it said that my feet really need looking at, but I've no idea how long the wait is so I need something for the time being. Neoprene ones have been useless, so have support bandages.

[nemonie]

Hiya Sheppey,

Have you looked at the aircast boot kind of things - for while your ankle is really messed up - to hold it in place. Here are some examples, I'm not saying these are the best or this is a good website (or the cheapest) just some examples.

For when you ankle is more stable you probably need a figure of 8 strapping system with rigid moulding at the sides, like the exoform braces on this page.

You should be able to get these from an OT at the hospital or if your speak to your GP, they may be able to arrange things with A&E to get and aircast boot in for you.

[lil_miffy]

Im looking for a knee brace that I can wear over jeans/leggins etc that isnt the pull on or wrap-around style made with loads of fabric. I have very skinny lower legs but chunkier thighs and these type just don't work for me. Plus to get my knees stable enough to be able to stand without wobbling all over i have to put them on really tight but the still don't stay in place and fall down or twist around.

Can anyone recommend anything?

My ortho surgean said there isnt anything he can do for my knees and they will just get wobblier. I want to ask him about splints when I see him next so that i can be more stable when Im standing becuase im fallign over alot now just standing still becuase of how wobbly my knees are (they don't lock anymore so its like having knees made out of jelly). Becuase Iv now got alot of wasting of my upper thigh bones im worried that if i keep falling ad heavily as I do as often as I do im going to end up fracturing my thigh/hip and i will be in a right state so I need something to make standing more stable.

The orthortist at the hospital is, well useless and just dishes out the cheap beige neopane stuff and doesnt have a clue what eds is. Im no longer under Chapel Allerton (leeds) OT so it either buy my own or hope my surgean understands I dont want to give up trying to stand up and just sit in my chair all the time and is able to recommend something to the orthotist.

[Kattykins]

I have similar probs with my knees and like you I am top heavy in the leg!

I wear neoprene braces with metal sides that are hinged. I had a feisty physio who ordered allsorts of goodies for me!
They are a bit clumpy. I tried wearing them over my jeans but I looked weird to say the least. So I got a different style of jean - boot leg that had some lycra in. OK so I still have chunky thighs and I still have chunky knees but with the slight flare you can't see the little chicken legs sticking out at the bottom.

As for getting them on properly - to be honest it is trial and error. It has taken me three months to find out how to adjust the d**n things so that they don't slip. And I was allergic to the metal bits so I now cover them with micropore! Sussed!

I hope that helps a bit! xx

[Rosie]

Hi all

I have this knee brace and I find it stays on much better than the neoprene or wrap-around supports. To quote the orthotist who ordered it for me, I have a 'medium sized knee with a large leg' i.e. chunky legs and thighs, so I have a large size support, but it comes with pads to add on to make it fit better. It also has adjustable straps so that helps with the fit as well. The straps are secured by velcro, not ideal on bad hand days, but not as hard as the beige wrap-around ones I had first. Blimey, I have just seen the price

Rosie