Re: Re: Splints for arthritis

[Guest guest]

Hi, My name is Carol and I am the mother of Esther who has RA. She was

diagnoised at the age of

8 with Still's Disease and is now 35. She went through a period of remission

.....but for the last

few months it's reared it's ugly head again. She was placed on Methotrexate and

Prednisone

recently besides taking Plaquenil and Naprosin. Regarding hand splints....they

do work! She wears them to

bed at night. Also, it helps to keep them straight. An Occupational Therapist

can make them or if

you have a prescription from a Doctor you may be fitted by one who does braces

and such. We

like the ones fitted by the brace company....they have individual slots for each

finger and are

softer. Hope this helps!

Carol

[ ] Re: Splints for arthritis

Kathy, I would also like to know about splints. I am getting damage

in my right hand now, and my middle finger is starting to turn

sideways. I am on meds, and I know they just slow the disease, but

hope to hear from others about the use of splints. Thanks for

bringing the topic up, Tawny

> Hello,

>

> I am new to this group. I was diagnosed with RA about 2 years ago.

> What scares me is that my mother had RA too and her fingers went

> sideways. I asked my docotor about wearing a splint to prevent this

> and he said there is no evidence that a splint would prevent this

> from happening. Does anyone in this group used a splint and did it

> help?

>

> Kathy

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol. I¹m sorry Esther is flaring. Is she still able to work? How is

her ankle fusion going?

Hopefully her meds will bring remission again.

I¹m thinking that splints are like meds, everyone responds differently.

a

> Hi, My name is Carol and I am the mother of Esther who has RA. She was

> diagnoised at the age of

> 8 with Still's Disease and is now 35. She went through a period of remission

> ....but for the last

> few months it's reared it's ugly head again. She was placed on Methotrexate

> and Prednisone

> recently besides taking Plaquenil and Naprosin. Regarding hand

> splints....they do work! She wears them to

> bed at night. Also, it helps to keep them straight. An Occupational

> Therapist can make them or if

> you have a prescription from a Doctor you may be fitted by one who does braces

> and such. We

> like the ones fitted by the brace company....they have individual slots for

> each finger and are

> softer. Hope this helps!

>

> Carol

[Guest guest]

Yes, she is still working.....one tough cookie ~smile~. She is away this week

at

Handi-Camp. Today they are going to Ocean City boardwalk as their trip. Weather

is beautiful here today....sunny, 80's, not humid at all can you believe that?

LOL

I don't like her on Prednisone because I feel that is what made her

bones so thin before. But, Dr. Falasca said between that and Metho he hopes to

arrest it. Her ankle fusion is doing fine. She says it feels a little strange

when she

bears weight on it. But she is able to stand pivot again which is a big help to

me!

Just glanced over that bee therapy url you sent and looks like it is worth a

try! I especially

like this comment:

However, University of Florida pharmacy professor Dr. Doering says

components of bee venom do have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It

contains melittin, which has 100 times the potency of hydrocortisone, he said.

" I think you would agree that this a strange way to deliver medicine, " he said.

" But we (the medical profession) are the ultimate snobs when it comes to that

type of thing. "

I think when we visit Dr. Falasca again later this month I am going to ask him

about

bee therapy. May be worth a try! But, I bet Medicaid won't pay for that.

Splinting for Esther works because when she doesn't wear them.....her fingers

and hand curl in and

are stiff. Splinting keeps her hand opened more.

Gentle hugs,

Love ya,

Carol

Re: [ ] Re: Splints for arthritis

Hi Carol. I¹m sorry Esther is flaring. Is she still able to work? How is

her ankle fusion going?

Hopefully her meds will bring remission again.

I¹m thinking that splints are like meds, everyone responds differently.

a

> Hi, My name is Carol and I am the mother of Esther who has RA. She was

> diagnoised at the age of

> 8 with Still's Disease and is now 35. She went through a period of

remission

> ....but for the last

> few months it's reared it's ugly head again. She was placed on Methotrexate

> and Prednisone

> recently besides taking Plaquenil and Naprosin. Regarding hand

> splints....they do work! She wears them to

> bed at night. Also, it helps to keep them straight. An Occupational

> Therapist can make them or if

> you have a prescription from a Doctor you may be fitted by one who does

braces

> and such. We

> like the ones fitted by the brace company....they have individual slots for

> each finger and are

> softer. Hope this helps!

>

> Carol

[Guest guest]

a, I believe that the usefulness of splints depends on a lot of

factors - how long a patient has had RA, how aggressive it is, what

deformities are present already, what meds are being used, what type of

splints they are, what the goals of splinting in a particular individual

are, and what part of the day or for what activities they are worn.

Seems from my reading that, generally, they are good for controlling

pain and contractures, but that ulnar deviation is a different ballgame.

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Re: [ ] Re: Splints for arthritis

Hi Carol. I¹m sorry Esther is flaring. Is she still able to work? How

is

her ankle fusion going?

Hopefully her meds will bring remission again.

I¹m thinking that splints are like meds, everyone responds differently.

a