Splint/ wrist support advice

Mat48

Hi All - been tied up for a while but I do hope this finds you all as pain free/ well as possible? My OT was over this morning trying to help me with wrist splints because I find that both my pairs sit on my knuckles which are inflammed with RA and the supports make them worse. She has taken away a pair to try and adapt them for me but they are also a bit tricky for me to get on and off because of all the velcro fasterners. Does anyone know of a good make that either cover the knuckles entirely or stop well before them - just supporting the wrist? Ideally I want coloured or black ones with one wrap around fastener for smart occasions to put people off shaking my hand and to keep the fluff and grubby look at bay? Any suggestions of brands? Mat :?:

Wonkylegs

HI Mat,

I'm sorry you too are having a tough time hand wise.

I'm just wondering if the OT you have seen is a community OT (often the OT the GP can refer people to) or a hospital based one who is specially trained to work with people with arthritis?

I didn't know there were two kinds until I received my referral (through my consultant and Rheumy nurse) to the hospital OT. Prior to that I'd seen the community based OT who had only been able to give general advice and little in the way of specially made supports.

My specialist rheumatology OT took a very detailed look at how I used my hands, and was able to suggest lots of ways of adapting ways I used my hands/wrists in order to protect my joints from excess pressure.

In addition she made me resting splints to wear at night (and sometimes for an hour in the day when I need to), which allow my joints to rest properly, ready to face another day.

For during the day, I have some fabric wrist splints (in black ) which I use for typing (but not right now :eek: :roll: ) and any manual type activities. THese were off the peg, but she adapted them to take account of my particular needs.

I'd suggest looking into seeing a specialist OT if there is one available, as I'm amazed at the improvements I've seen by following all the advice I've been given.

good luck!
WOnky

Mat48

Hi Wonky. Yes I think this is the community OT - she said she sits somewhere between social services and NHS. She has spoken of another who is her boss but who now works in the hospital with other jobs thrown in so no longer customises splints for arthritic people.

I live in a remote island community so we don't have any specialist nurses or OTs here but my OT does know one down south who specialises in RA and wrists so she is trying to make contact. Meanwhile she has gone off with the splints my physio sent me and is trying to customise them herself using the sewing machine. The main thing is that they avoid my swollen knuckles. We both agreed to do our research before she next comes to my house.

Meanwhile she has given me a sheet on hand care and some amazing gadgets - many of which are helping me a lot. I'm an artist so I use my hands all the time. I explained to her that I've now come off all the NSAIDs and pain meds because the sheet said that we should "respect our pain". I felt that dulling with extra drugs was starting to make my gallstones flare and not helping that much - plus if the pain is around it focuses me better on looking after my hands and wrists. She agreed and I'm waiting for the Methotrexate to start working meanwhile - but it's very slow because some of my blood tests have indicated poor liver tolerance so my dosage has been reduced.

I'm also having a physio treatment at the hospital called Short Wave therapy which seems to be magnetic waves or something for my hands and wrists. It's not doing much so far but the exercises the physio gave me earlier and a squishy stress ball seem to help with my fingers a bit as i can almost grip things again now - not a full clench yet but getting there - yeah!

Poppyg1rl

Hi Mat,
I too suffer with stiff, sore and crooked fingers and wrists, I'm under a specialist Hand therapy department and wear 3 different splints. My night splint is a rigid moulded to my hand plastic held in place by Velcro strips, I can wear it for around 5-6 hours before it becomes unbearable and I give in and take it off, my physio says that's ok as long as I keep it on for the initial 5-6 hrs. Each morning I use my Hand warm wax therapy machine (£35 from Arg*s) and this gives immediate relief, I can also do my hand excersises in the warm wax, I promise you it's remarkable. I also have 2 different wrist and thumb supports, they are a flesh coloured fabric with a metal strip inside to keep it rigid, and I find these are good for practical day wear, but the BEST thing I was fitted for has been a long black splint called +procool by a company called Jura medical.
Mat I can honestly say its fab, it encircles my thumb but keeps the knuckles clear, from what you explained Mat I think this would be perfect for you.
When your OT gets back to you can you mention it to her? I'm more than happy to give any help/details you might need, feel free to PM me anytime.
Love and hugs ((()))

Mat48

Thanks Poppy that is SO helpful! My hands aren't crooked yet and I really want to look after them as well as possible so that last splint sounds absolutely ideal. I will write down the name and google but if you do have more specific info about the company and how I would go about getting these I would be really grateful? I don't think I need the molded ones for night time because once my OT has customised the others I think they will be fine for me at night.

It is strangely not the middle of my wrist that hurts anymore (used to feel like I'd fractured the right wrist) but it's now in the outer joints on each side - in the ulnar region I think - the bony joints that stick out under the pinkies? I don't want to purchase splints that sit too tight on them either so there's a lot to consider! Mat x

Mat48

Ps and I was given a wax bath for Xmas by my hubby and have been enjoying it ever since! doesn't the wax crack if you exercise once it's on though? I tend to go to sleep when it's on with hands wrapped in a towel!

frogmorton

Hey Mat

Have nothing useful to add....just a Hello!!

Love

Toni xxx