Thumbs

bionic
bionic Member Posts: 75
edited 31. Oct 2009, 10:53 in Living with Arthritis archive
:D Hello all !!! was wondering if anyone knows anything about thumb splints and where I could get one?? I am having difficulty in using my whole hand but the thumb keeps popping out of joint... ouch !! and that is the main difficulty well along with about a 1,000 more but not going to bore you with that at the moment. Take care X :(
No one can help obviously, no worries. Take care x

Comments

  • katat1
    katat1 Bots Posts: 43
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    bionic wrote:
    :D Hello all !!! was wondering if anyone knows anything about thumb splints and where I could get one?? I am having difficulty in using my whole hand but the thumb keeps popping out of joint... ouch !! and that is the main difficulty well along with about a 1,000 more but not going to bore you with that at the moment. Take care X :(
    No one can help obviously, no worries. Take care x

    Hello Bionic,
    I read your post a couple of days ago and thought somebody might have a 'proper' suggestion for you but I notced today that there has been no response so I thought I would tell you my solution for the same problem a few months back.
    My thumbs kept popping and locking and it was REALLY painful - like an electric shock sort of pain - and I was scared to pick up anything in case it happened and looked for some kind of splint to immobilise my thumbs but did not find anything. I decided to make my own using flat ice lolly sticks which I cut to size and placed on the inside of my thumbs, held in place by wrapping masking tape around them several times. I used them at night or on days when I was at home and not going out (they looked totally daft!) and after about a week the problem disappeared and I have not had any problems with my thumb joints since.
    Maybe worth a try and it's cheap if not cheerful!
    Best of luck,
    Kat
  • c4thyg
    c4thyg Member Posts: 542
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Bionic,

    This type of splint is hard to find and I have to have one made for me by the hospital years ago. I broke my right thumb twice over the years so it is a target for problems now. I wasn't able to have steroid injections because of where the damage was (?) so I was measured for a splint. I wore it at night and during the day when it didn't interfere too much. After a few months the problem seemed to correct itself. I now only get pain there if I write too much or get a flare up. The joint itself doesn't move anymore. If you are having problems finding a good fitting splint see your rheumy nurse about getting fitted for one. If I hadn't lost mine when I last moved house you could have had it.
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Have a chat to occupational therapy - they can mould you a thumb splint which holds the thumb but doesn't affect the motion of the rest of your hands. My thumbs kept dislocating til I had my ligaments repaired so I got lots of different types of splint. The occy therapy dept are usually v knowledgable and friendly. Wouldn't hurt to see if they have any ideas?
  • bionic
    bionic Member Posts: 75
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    jenzie06 wrote:
    Have a chat to occupational therapy - they can mould you a thumb splint which holds the thumb but doesn't affect the motion of the rest of your hands. My thumbs kept dislocating til I had my ligaments repaired so I got lots of different types of splint. The occy therapy dept are usually v knowledgable and friendly. Wouldn't hurt to see if they have any ideas?
    :) Thanks everyone, I have had steroid injections already and they were useless !!! I will try all your advice thanks again. Take care

    Rosie X
  • minky67
    minky67 Member Posts: 2,328
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,i saw the thumb splints in my chemist(a bit pricey)along with all different sorts.
    worth looking whist you wait for made up 1s.
    hope you find what you need.
    debs