Does this sound like bonkers advice?

stlucia

Hello,

I went to see an OT the other day and I wanted to talk about the way in which my finger joints are bending. It isn't ulnar drift from the bottom of the fingers but instead halfway up and the top joints. It was one of the worst appointments I've ever had! It was like I wasn't even in the room - he talked and talked about joint protection etc and I kept saying that I had been through the course he was trying to do with another OT recently etc and all I wanted to talk about was splints and my fingers. So after an hour he still wasn't listening to me and I was getting more frustrated!! Finally when he wanted to end the appointment I got a word in edgeways and asked for about the 5th time to talk about my fingers and the concerns. He said he couldn't see any bending in the joints in my fingers and started laughing. I said that there was bending and that if you put them against a straight edge you can easily see that they are not straight anymore - I did this to show him and he STILL wouldn't believe me and continued to laugh. If you ask anyone in my family they will tell you that you can easily see that they have bent quite a bit. He would not accept that there was a problem, and this palava went on for a while until I pressured him into agreeing to speak to another OT about it and get back to me. The next bit of advice he gave me seemed to be the total opposite to what I would have thought and it is this that I wondered if anyone has heard the same because to me it seems bonkers. He said that to stop my fingers bending I needed to de-sensitise them from the pain and basically push on the joint and pull my finger in the opposite direction.... this to me sounds as though it could do serious damage....and also like he thought of this under pressure! Is this as odd as I think it is or is it the correct advice? He then asked if I wanted an appointment in the New Year to go through how to move pots and pans in the kitchen....er no thanks....because OH I've done it recently! Grrrrrrrr
x:rudolf x:rudolf x:rudolf

jennylynn

stlucia wrote:

It isn't ulnar drift from the bottom of the fingers but instead halfway up and the top joints

Hmmmmm i have that on my right hand.......just been trying to do what he suggested to you, i cant even manage to do it....made me feel a bit queasy. I can see why you would be worried. I would def get a second opinion, my fingers hurt from doing that so like you i would be worried that i was damaging rather than desensitising.

sorry i cant be more help, but feeling for you (and your sore fingers)

Jennyx

dreamdaisy

Is he the same physio that woodbon saw a few weeks back? Clueless clot. Complain about him - the laughing at your plight is unprofessional in the extreme. I cannot help on the hand thing but I do think you need to lodge a formal protest about this ******. (insert insult of choice) DD

maria09

Well Ive got wonky fingers & its due to arthritic changes
I get alot of pain but still got movement
They are called Hebdons Nodules
Ive also noticed my finger nails have deep indentations in the fingers that are affected
As for OT & Physio Im not sure they is anything they can do I just keep flexing & unflexing regularly
I do have problems with my dexterity
It is annoying to say the least but it goes hand in hand with the rest of my many joints affected pardon the pun x:!:
Do you have the same or similar experiences?
Best wishes
Maria x

jillyb1

Hi , StLucia , I also have that hand / finger problem . My OT made me splints to wear when resting but these are no longer any use as the fingers just bent in their own sweet way and the splints no longer fit my hands ! Really think you were given naff advice , sounds as if that would do more harm and cause you more pain than good . Jilly

julie47

Hi st lucia
what a terrible appointment you had there, to be laughed at.

My hands are really deformed now and like jilly and maria my hands over rid the splints.

I suppose all you can do is try to keep em moving. But I wouldn't push them back or pull them as suggested.

Hope your OT can help
Juliepf x

stlucia

Thanks for all your replies..... bonkers OT indeed! I am waiting for him to phone me back to discuss.....I've rung twice to the secretaries to remind him that he's ment to be phoning me and neither time he's called me back.....GRRRRR Maybe he realises that he's in the dog house. I'm not going to let this one lie for a while with him!

xxxxxxxxxx