Fellow forum users ...

I just rejoined this forum. I had posted a question about the FIXXGLOVE quite a while ago. I've continued to wear the plastic mold thingy at night that my doctor gave me after surgery on my right hand. That was 3 years ago. Woke up this morning and it has split into 2 pieces. I thought that would last forever! I've had to change the velcro on it a few times. I believe straightening the fingers out at night has been beneficial to me; better than letting them curl.

Lost my job, and medical benefits, so I can't go back and get a new one.

So, I'm wondering if anyone has purchased the FIXXGLOVE and thinks it's a worthwhile product. Still only available in Germany? Or has any other devices (?) or ideas on what can be used to keep the fingers straight at night.

My older brother (1 year older, now 62 yo) just had surgery on his right hand. Mine needed attention 3 years ago. There was no indication that he was going to have problems with it when I had my surgery, but it appeared and progressed in the past years. He's an avid bowler and is not happy.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks ... Gary

You can adjust the splint to a more bent postition by bending its metal inlay. Maybe that helps. I noticed the morning stiffness that you describe but had the same experience also with another splint made of thermoplastic. A surgeon told me that MCP joints tend to become stiff when not being used. Therefore I attributed the morning stiffness to the splinting in general. My morning stiffness goes away after using my fingers for maybe 10 minutes.

Do you feel a difference between the glove splint and the other splint that you used? Could your fingers still move during the night with the other splint? I don't want to promote the glove splint, I am just using it and find it quite convenient to put on and off and comfortable to wear during the night.

Initially I wore the glove also partially during the day. I wasn't very happy that it is splinting 3 fingers while I only need it for one. With the splint it's e.g. impossible to use a mouse. I am now considering to remove the splint of the middle finger to minimize unnecessary splinting.

Wolfgang

spanishbuddha:

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The FixxGlove is smaller and less obtrusive than the splint I was using, but keeps the fingers straighter than the one I was using. In the morning, I have some hand stiffness as a result. I don't like that I have to say. It suggests to me the flexion tendons are not kept in a natural position and and maybe also the joints and ligaments. What to do....? I might persevere awhile to see if the stiffness reduces as I get used to it.

I use one of these:

http://www.allegromedical.com/orthopedic...01-p202562.html

Works good for a single finger contracture. I carry it around and put it on during the day for brief periods whe I am reading or whatever.

Hi Ed,

Splinting after NA sometimes improves the outcome. Your improvement is the biggest one I have heard of so far but people usually are wearing splints only during the night. Congratulations for your results! My own experience with splinting is that you need to keep wearing the splint. Maybe after a while it is sufficient to wear it only at night and even later maybe only from time to time when you feel contraction is starting again.

Please keep reporting your results!

Wolfgang

Edited 03/07/16 16:36

I had NA done on a 90-95 degree contracted finger in 2006. As per my doctor's instructions, I followed up with hand therapy as long as insurance would allow (app. 3 months) and continued night splinting for some time. After 2-3 years I gradually reduced the splinting to 5 then 2-3 days per week and eventually discontinued. After NA, my contracture was measured at 15-20 degrees. over time, the finger has actually gotten straighter! Right now, no one would ever guess by looking that anything was or had been amiss! I do have another finger that is bent and that I'm watching carefully (as well as trying certain "home grown" procedures in an attempt to avoid the need for additional medical interventions.)