Wrist splints pros and cons; and ideas to make wearing any splint more bearable

Hello,

I've had a splint on my left wrist since mid December after a flare up with calcific tendonitis.  I have RA and was referred to the orthopedic doctor after steroid shot did not help the problem.  Resting the wrist, icing it, and being compliant with the splint has alleviated 85% of my problem.  I am to wear the splint for parts of the day...anyway, I questioned the need for continued use.  I stopped using it for a few days only to have some pain return.  So now I am trying to use it more again.  I never thought that using a splint could be necessary for weeks on end.  So now I am glad things have improved and will not fight the splint (fitted by an OT...very comfortable).

Ruthe

Hi - I had wrist damage before getting on meds (Enbrel) even though I was diagnosed fairly early. Going on Enbrel enabled me to bend my wrist again, but after a couple years, the scaphoid bone collapsed and the flexibility went with it.  But I didn't know what had happened except that suddenly it became extremely painful.  My rheumatologist thought I just slept on it wrong (wrong!) but his suggestion of a night splint hit the jackpot.  I told him I couldn't find a comfortable one (I had used one occasionally previous to RA dx). He said, then get a custom one, and wrote me out a script for it.  As it turned out, the orthotist had a stock one that was great, not available in local stores.  I requested two, so that I could wash one while wearing the other one, since I was wearing the splint 24/7.  They wouldn't do it, but I later found the same brace (Breg) on the internet without the office visit fee!  I'm on my third one and as usual between sizes, so I actually have a small and an extra-small.  One is a little more snug and supportive, the other allows a little more motion.  Occasionally I remove it when I feel the need, but not for long!

     One way to keep the velcro from grabbing on to my sweaters is to cover the 'hooks' of the velcro that aren't already covered, with extra pieces of loop velcro you've cut off from the straps (they come very long).  That helps a lot!

      After I had the splint, I tried cortisone shots in the wrist, which did nothing. My dr. ordered an MRI, which showed a TCC tear.  I went for a surgical consult, they did more xrays, and found the scaphoid break, at an oblique angle.  So now my choice is, eventually, a fusion or wrist replacement.  After getting used to the splint, I'm not in a rush to do either.  I can take off the splint - I can't 'take off' the fusion, and I've heard of problems with wrist replacement.  I had ankle surgery last year, with a longer recovery than I expected, and not anxious to go off Enbrel for a long time!  (Had carpal tunnel surgery on the other wrist last year too!)

     So - I can live with the splint!  I found a way to wash and dry it fairly fast: wash by hand in the sink, then roll up a dry wash cloth and slide it in where my wrist goes, and wrap another hand towel around the outside, and squeeze as much water/moisture out as possible.  Then, hang it in the air to dry from a cabinet doorknob in the bathroom!  Dries pretty much overnight, though I usually leave it longer.

I found that wearing mine at night has helped considerably. It took a little bit to get used to it but it ended up that I sleep better now with them on. I have had RA for 10 years and over the last year the wrist pain was increasing I would say the splints cut my day time discomfort in half. I am going to start to where them more.

Thank you for all the information you provided.

http://alrrk.blogspot.com/

Anne