Splints!

Poppyg1rl

Hi all,
Hope everyone is as well as they can be. I'm just back from physio, I have PA and suffer with painful swollen fingers on left hand (also I'm left handed!) I've been in a fingers splint for three weeks now to help straighten the fingers as they are turning into a 'claw'. Today the physio pressed on my thumb joint and I yelled! It is so sore she put me in a thumb splint as well and I've just had xray on it too, they r passing it onto my rheumatology consultant. Since home it's starting to swell so I've loosened the splint but am tempted to leave it off. Also trying to do anything with these splints on is impossible. Does anyone else have splints? And how long do they take to work? I did have all these questions to ask physio but to be honest was in so much discomfort I just wanted to get home and take a painkiller! thanks poppy x

Wonkylegs

Ouch Poppy I feel for you :shock:

I wear splints, but they are wrist splints rather than finger splints. The working splints are flexible so I can use them fairly well for most things like typing etc.

My resting splints are rigid, and they keep my hand, wrist and forearm in a 'good ' position so that they are rested overnight.

I wonder if yours are meant to be resting splints, working splints or something else?

perhaps if you are struggling to work in them, you could ring the physio dept and ask the physio who gave you the splints to ring you and discuss your questions. That way you know what you are meant to be doing with them.

I am always the same - come away with unasked questions. We all say to write everything down, and it does help, but there is always something we forget!!

good luck
WOnky

woodbon

Hello, I have splints, one pair for my wrists and one for my thumbs. I choose which ones to wear according to the pain. The thumb one does help support my thumb when thats playing up and as you commented, the pain is quite bad when you press it! Mine sometimes looks bruised too, on a bad day. They can operate if it gets bad enough, I think, but I'm copping at the moment! x I can manage to do things with them on but it took a while to get used to wearing them. The OT told me to wear them when I'm doing something that puts pressure on them, not just when I'm resting, as thats what I'd been doing!!! :oops: Love Sue xxx

Poppyg1rl

Hi Sue and Wonky
Thankyou for your replies, spoke to my physio this evening, the finger ones I know are for when I'm pushing the double buggy and when I'm resting as I find pushing the buggy puts pressure on the knuckles and is way too painful and they do help. she has said to leave the thumb splint off as it's so swollen and try again tomorrow and that it's a support splint to help me while I'm working basically to leave it on as much as I can. Thanks again for your support, Im a bit swamped with all this! Take care and hugs to you both Poppy X

frogmorton

Hi poppy

Oh poor you - I bet the physio is feeling bad she hurt you

Its so hard when you have to do things like push a double buggey they are hard ton manouvre aren't they?

I think you shoud rest your poor hands as much as humanly posssible and hope the rheumy sees you very soon.

Take care

Love

Toni xx

jennylynn

Hi Poppy,

as one lefty to another i hope you start to feel better soon. Just got my first wrist splint and i know exactly what you mean about things being more difficult! my other half has had to open every jar in the house just in case. I have some finger swelling but ironically its on my right hand and not my left, i find having a nice hot bath really soothes them. I also tried arnica gel and witch hazel (suggested by the people on here and my rheumy nurse) before i attempt to do anything strenuous and i have to admit it does work.

Jennyx

Starburst

Hello Poppy,

Poor you. It can be horrible getting used to splints. It seems really unfair because they're supposed to be helping! It took me some time to get used to mine and I tried a few different types before I felt able to wear them.

I hope it all gets sorted soon.

dreamdaisy

Afternoon poppy, how is your thumb doing now? I hope the pain has eased off and that your hands are more comfortable. DD

barbara12

Hi Poppy
I am so sorry you are suffering with your hands, hard work when pushing a pram, I do hope the splints work for you, but if the thumb one is making it more painful then I would leave it off for a while.
I do hope your rheumy can help you.
Take care
Love
Barbara xx

nanarose

Hi Poppy, I hope you are managing to rest your hands after all the buggy pushing. They are really heavy beasties when loaded up with two children. :shock:

jennylynn wrote:

Hi Poppy,

my other half has had to open every jar in the house just in case.
Jennyx

Jenny, I hope you don't mind me quoting your post, as you mentioned having difficulty opening jars.
There are a couple of new gadgets on the market right now, that open jars for you, and they seem to work well. They are a one touch system.
I have a couple of circles of Dycem material which I used before, but the new gadget is so much better. x