Wrist support

sunnyone

pipkin71 wrote: »

There does come a time, sunnyone.

I wonder if the sero negative polyarthritis is flaring up because of the long term use of walking aids?

Mainly my wrists and elbows are affected, not so much the shoulders, but also knees, ankles and, thankfully not so much, toes and knuckles.

The osteo arthritis is in the hips and spine and I do think the hips have progressed quite bad due to carrying the weight where my spine couldn't.

I am, for the most part, still trying to manage with the sticks, although my pace is very slow because every step causes pain. perhaps, once they agree to the hip replacements, it will help things.

It must have been a double edged sword for you, to decide that you had to go into the chair full time

I have three types of arthritis and none are pleasant but together they are hell, no other word can describe it and thats ontop of my congenital and crash aquired injuries.

Every step hurt on crutches or should I say ever drag in the later years did.

It wasnt a double edged sword to decide I had to go into my chairs full time because it wasnt a choice but a must, I cant even get from my bed to the loo without wheels, it isnt a choice but a must after years of trying to hang onto any self mobility that you have which includes useing your arms to drag your body because you cant crawl around the house anymore.

pipkin71

sunnyone wrote: »

It wasnt a double edged sword to decide I had to go into my chairs full time because it wasnt a choice but a must, I cant even get from my bed to the loo without wheels, it isnt a choice but a must after years of trying to hang onto any self mobility that you have which includes useing your arms to drag your body because you cant crawl around the house anymore.

When I was in hospital after my accident, they told me I would get arthritis when I was older and would eventually need a chair.

The thing is, because I was young, I assumed older was like, really old, not the age I am now.

I don't want to have to use the chair full time and pray that it doesn't become a permanent feature any time soon. I would still rather struggle on

Has it decreased the amount of pain you suffer, or has it increased the pain level or caused further problems like pressure sores?

juno

It's not really the subject, but I buy packs of 4 heat patches from the pound shop and they're just the right size to fit in my wrist support! They're those that you take out of the packet, and they have a reaction with the air to make heat. Then it lasts for hours and you throw it away. But I do find that as I put it in my support it doesn't get enough air if I do it straight away, so I have to leave it out for a few minutes first./

pipkin71

juno wrote: »

It's not really the subject, but I buy packs of 4 heat patches from the pound shop and they're just the right size to fit in my wrist support! They're those that you take out of the packet, and they have a reaction with the air to make heat. Then it lasts for hours and you throw it away. But I do find that as I put it in my support it doesn't get enough air if I do it straight away, so I have to leave it out for a few minutes first./

I tried the heat wraps on my back, juno, but didn't get any relief from them.

I still actually have some in the drawer, so will try those on my wrist now. I can let you know then, if they help

Thanks.

JimmyTheWig

I'm sure this will have been suggested before, but have you tried alternative therapies? Reflexology, for example?

clemmatis

snoopy89 wrote: »

i got one of these today,

http://www.neo-g.co.uk/supportPictures/wrist-brace.htm


seems to be better made than other supports that i have seen and used. paid 18.80 for it, dear yes but like i said seems well made and i got large size. just hope it stops some of the pain and problems with hand and wrist, oh it also has ajustable hand bar. hope that helps.;)

I have ones like this too, pharmacies and sports shops sell them. They're wonderfully warm and comforting and give gentle support. I also have 2 more "medical" ones a hospital OT gave me, but they hurt!

SingleSue

Well my physio came up with a novel idea of solving my wrist problem today.....give me another crutch for the other side! Her thinking is that when things are bad with my wrist, to use the other crutch on it's own to give the right wrist a rest and when things are very bad over my entire body, to use both crutches.

Not sure if it is going to work but failing getting a crutch where my forearm rests on a stage like thing so the wrist is straight, there isn't a lot else she can do.

sunnyone

pipkin71 wrote: »

When I was in hospital after my accident, they told me I would get arthritis when I was older and would eventually need a chair.

The thing is, because I was young, I assumed older was like, really old, not the age I am now.

I don't want to have to use the chair full time and pray that it doesn't become a permanent feature any time soon. I would still rather struggle on

Has it decreased the amount of pain you suffer, or has it increased the pain level or caused further problems like pressure sores?

I was only 23 when I had my accident, they gave me a wheelchair to take home and in the garden it went but no one would nick it, I tried my hardest

I was 42 a few weeks ago and I never saw myself as a full time wheelie at this age either, I thought I would be 50 or 60 even with the problems I had pre accident I didnt see wheels as my future (and like many other HMS'ers I was told I would be wheelie bound by 30) but when I couldnt manage on crutches anymore there was no other option other than full time bed.

My legs still hurt like hell, my sciatics are both shot, my pelvis and spine are barely joined together which hurts when I transfer (and my coccicx (sp) was crushed and healed pointing the wrong way which hurts when sitting), Ive got a S curved scoliosis that also twists to the left putting more pressure on my spine and three types of arthritis of which all are currently very painful and the list of injuries dosnt stop their, never get crushed in an accident!

Im still in, overall about the same ammount of pain as I was when I could stand but its sometimes in diffrent places.

When I could self propel I did punish diffrent muscles to the ones when crutching and I caused myself more arm/neck/shoulder damage because I refused to be beaten and I pushed myself to far, to often and then my hands wouldnt grip and my arms wouldnt power anymore and the powerchair was the only option, the powerchair is great but it means that since there is no accessable transport around and I cant load/unload it to the car I cant go out alone which Im hopeing will change soon with an accessable vehicle but we cant afford the price of a new drive from wheelchair car.

Stay on your sticks as much and for as long as you possible can pip, but dont be as daft as I was, maybe if I had used the wheelchair a bit more when it didnt matter I might not be in the state Im in now and then I could still manage with a normal car + hoist if I still had the ability to use crutches to get round the back of the car which would still be a compromise but at least I would have some independance.

Do you mean a arthritis crutch sue?

I have one which you put your elbow down onto it at right angles and then your fore arm rests horizontally and you grip a peg, not a very good description but they do take a lot of pressure off your wrist I found, its well worth a well worth a try.

SingleSue

Yep, exactly what I meant Sunny...looking through the various sites, it appeared to be the answer to my problem as then I could still wear my splint and keep my wrist stable but also have the support of the crutch on that side.

Physio thought to try double crutches/swapping side crutches first and if that didn't work, go for that arthritis crutch.

Brassedoff

Is there some sort of soft support for the handles on crutches? I don't really want to go to putting on wrist splints every five minutes, although seeing the benefit of them. Is the some retro fitting grips for my battered and well used extra legs? Might help to take the pain away in the wrist, shoulders and neck if I used them for a prolonged period