splints

tjc123

Hi everyone I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine

I have rang me rheumy nurse about my hands as they are so sore & swollen.This morning when I held a cup my hands clawed & no matter how I tried to open them they just would not budge.
So I have asked for her advice to whether I should use splints to help me.I wish my first physio had of been better & wish I had not been told it was too late because the disfigureation had already started in my fingers.

What do you think...do you think splints would help???
tjc

carola

Hi Tjc

Sorry to hear about your hands.

I don't have any experience with splints however alot of people have mentioned them on this site so I am sure someone will post a message soon about them.

Good luck with them and hope you get some relief from your hands soon.
Carol

dreamdaisy

Loathe the sunshine, I get meth rash with it.

Splints would sound sensible, if they are designed to keep your hands 'open' and functional. Don't wait around for OTs or someone to tell you - try some! Perhaps the local chemists sell something that would fit the bill. DD

patriciamary

Hi, I wear splints on both hands, and would never be without them. Like you my hands just wouldnt work especially first thing in the morning. I use a hot gel pack on my hands in the morning then once they have become less stiff the splints go on. I would speak to the OT because I was measured for mine. The OT has several different sizes but the likes of Boots is a one size fits all, and if they dont fit properly you wont get the benefit from them, they can also cost up to £20 each. The splints are a nuisance when you first wear them but after a few days you adapt and they do help relieve the pain. Hope the OT gets you sorted out soon.
Regards
Trisha

tillytop

Hi TJC
Sorry your hands are giving you such a problem.
I used to wear wrist splints on both hands all the time and they really helped make everyday asks more comfortable. They were provided by the Occupational Therapist at the hospital. I was also given a made to measure "night resting splint" which was designed to keep my wrist and hand "open" in the night but this wasn't a success for me and was very uncomfortable so I gave up on that after a while.
I have found that soaking very stiff hands and wrists in a sink full of warm/hot water first thing in the morning is helpful (although you might need someone else to turn the tap on and off for you). Then trying to get your hands moving whilst they are still in the water. I have also found that Ibuleve Max Strength Gel rubbed onto wrists and individual fiinger joints does make a difference.
Hope you can get some help with this sooner rather than later.
Love Tilly x

tjc123

Thanks everyone xx

I have been in touch with my OT & she has giving me a appointment for Monday morning to get fitted for splints.Watch this space... hahah x

marion1952

Hi tic123

I think you will find the splints helpful. My hands sometimes go into a claw position and are extremely painful to touch and just won't open, so I know what you are going through at the moment. Fortunately, since I have been on methotrexate, this usually only lasts for a day or so..

I have daytime splints, which have a metal insert to keep the hand immobile. I also have the night time splints and do use these when my hands are particularly bad .. they take some getting used to, but they Do help by keeping your hand(s) completely immobile over night.. I also have some little 'pressure' gloves which I tend to wear when my hands just need a bit of support..

I also find putting my hands in hot (and sometimes cold!) water sometimes helps.. but really the only thing for me is to completely rest my hands, take paracetamol, and wait for it to pass..

I do hope the OT can give you some help/advice next week.

Best wishes

Marion

Wonkylegs

tjc123 wrote:

Thanks everyone xx

I have been in touch with my OT & she has giving me a appointment for Monday morning to get fitted for splints.Watch this space... hahah x

that is great news

I am so glad that you are going to see your OT as I have been stunned by the difference that the resting splints mine made for me have made to my life.

I wear them at nights, and I find that my hands are much more rested in the morning and m,ore able to function.

I was also given some oedema gloves which have really helped to keep the swellign down ..... and a working splint.

I do know that OTs are usually specialists in hand function and can assess each person carefully to see what they specifically need.

good luck!!
wonky xxx

salamander

hi, I wear mine at night and it helps a lot, they are not so bad in the morning. My rheumy told me that we move our hands around a lot in our sleep which is why the splints help.

abbie41

Good to hear you are going to get some to try.
I have splints for my wrists and ankles and while I dont use them every day, its a comfort to know I have them. x

tjc123

I cant wait until Monday the pain in my hands is unreal today

gemini1945

i have had splints for both my wrists from o t at hospital for years now.they have metal in the middle.i have very bad swollen and deformed knuckles ,dont laugh but the best thing i use is a pair of cycle gloves ,the padded ones then put splints on top.your hands and wrists are protected against all knocks and believe me they work.i have a pair i wear in bed as well.hope the idea will help someone out there.

tjc123

Well I got my splints today I look stupid with 2 splints on! but if they are going to help me well so be it.They will give the children in my class a laugh tomorrow if nothing else. I just hope they help.
tjc

Wonkylegs

tjc123 wrote:

Well I got my splints today I look stupid with 2 splints on! but if they are going to help me well so be it.They will give the children in my class a laugh tomorrow if nothing else. I just hope they help.
tjc

great stuff .... so glad that you have some splints to help you. What you look like doesn't matter if you feel better and are able to manage your pain better.

I don't know what age you teach, but in my experience with infants they were very accepting and would appreciate being told the reason for something and then they would just get on with things.

In my case I had to drink lots of water during the day, and they were always passing my bottle of water or my mug if I moved tables, and I always had to sit on an adult chair, so they would make room for me ( :oops: hmm ... not always as kind as they thought they were :oops: )
and the laughs we had when I got down on the floor and couldn't get up again :oops: :oops:

good luck
wonky xxx

tjc123

Aww thanks Wonky you have just put a smile on my face x

I am in reception class & they are a lovely bunch & im sure they will "help" me :oops:

Wonkylegs

tjc123 wrote:

Aww thanks Wonky you have just put a smile on my face x

I am in reception class & they are a lovely bunch & im sure they will "help" me :oops:

they will try anyway!

I loved reception ..... so much to learn and so quickly too!

have fun tomorrow!

hugs
WOnky xxx

dreamdaisy

I am glad they were able to help you - let's hope they work! DD

woodbon

Hi, I have splints, they help the pain in my hands. The OT who gave them to me told me not to wear them too much as they can weaken muscles. I find if my hands are really bad, I wear them for an hour or two take them off and my hands are better for a while, then when I need to I put them on again. The type I have you can't do too much with them on, or I can't anyway! :oops: They do have different types though. So if these don't help you, go back and see if they have anything else! :

Hope they work well for you. Love Sue

tjc123

Thanks Woodbon
My OT has said I have to wear my splints all of the time but take them off every 3 hrs & move my wrists.I also have to were them at night.These splints are temporary I have to wait for a call to go back & have some made to fit.
I hope I sleep well with them on