Wrist Splints?

April 28, 2008 11:17 AM

Please recommend to me a less ugly and more comfortable wrist splint for carpal tunnel alleviation.

I've had mild carpal tunnel in the past and it's back with a vengeance. It's mostly due (this time) to pregnancy (I'm 32 weeks) and it is at its worst at night. I'm tired of waking up every 45 minutes with numb and/or achy hands so I'd like to find some splints for both hands that I can wear while sleeping and probably during the day as well. I was given a pair by my doctor a few years ago but they're super ugly and old and should be replaced. They're the kind with the metal plate that runs parallel with your wrist to keep it in alignment with velcro straps to adjust. I've tried using the kind that are just basically an ace bandage wrapped around the wrist and they do nothing besides make things worse.

I have talked to the advice nurse today at my doctor's office and she recommends splints+ice and I also have a doctor's appointment scheduled for next week so I think I'm covered on the medical front. I just need some good ideas for the type of splints that people have found to be useful. Also any other recommendations for carpal tunnel relief would be appreciated but I don't think I can take NSAIDs.

posted by otherwordlyglow to Health & Fitness (9 answers total)

I've tried everything over the years, and I've been very surprised by the benefits I get from wearing a very light, fingerless "wrist glove" that just applies some slight pressure to my wrist. This link may show of picture of the glove I use; not sure of what what brand I have, but it's the basic idea. I buy mine at local pharmacies. I have no idea why this would help, but it does.
posted by thomas144 at 12:05 PM on April 28, 2008

My wrist-splint-having friend tells me:

"The brand I have is Futuro. With the constant all black that I wear,
they stand out less. Also, they're not ugly and lunky black like
those scary bioflex ones. Seriously though, she ought to
just pull out the metal splints, meet someone who knits, and pay them
to make a tight-fitting wrist cover out of super-soft wool with a
holder for the splint. Then she can mix and match to her heart's
content."
posted by prefpara at 12:06 PM on April 28, 2008

I use this one . I purchased it at Staples. It's comfy, not as ugly as a lot of others and has a bean bag cushion at the base of the palm that, along with the wrist support keeps my wrist straight and pain free. Plus, it's reversible.
posted by Constant Reader at 12:20 PM on April 28, 2008

I've tried a couple different kinds of splints & wrist braces. I like Wellgate best. It says "for women", but men could probably use it, too, as it's not painfully girly or anything. I find this one to be much more comfortable than the ones Ace sells.

As for generic carpal tunnel relief, the exercises in this book really helped me. The book has stretching exercises for every part of the body, not just wrists, and there are some charts that show which exercises help for which problems. There's even one that lists suggested exercises for many different professions. I think it's definitely worth getting if you're having problems with RSI.
posted by vorfeed at 12:25 PM on April 28, 2008

I like this one: Ace Wrist Brace with Splint Support
posted by desjardins at 12:41 PM on April 28, 2008

A coworker swears by his Pil-O-Splint, but can only wear one on one hand at night as it's nearly impossible to put one on or take it off after you already have one on. I think there's an adjustable version that you could put on or take off with your teeth.

I have 2 different braces with removable metal or plastic splints, plus plain cloth Ace-bandage-type ones. And a TENS device. I found no one thing worked consistantly, but rotating through various things (the different braces, sometimes with the splints and sometimes without, sometimes ice, sometimes heat, occasionally the TENS) better than trying to stick with one thing. And wearing a brace of any kind for a long time makes results in a lot of discomfort after taking it off.
posted by Martin E. at 1:15 PM on April 28, 2008

Like Constant Reader, I'm also a fan of the SmartGlove, I currently own 3 - one for the home computer, one for work, and one for playing guitar. I have not used them for sleeping, but they are soft and very comfortable to wear for long periods of time so I imagine they would be good for that purpose.
posted by platinum at 3:31 PM on April 28, 2008

Since your pain is pregnancy-related, one piece of warning. Caring for a baby can strain the are between your thumb and forefinger (you use it for so many baby-related tasks, lifting teh baby, pushing teh stroller, holding a bottle, or the baby when nurding). Its called De Quervain's tendinitis. I'd like to suggest you read up on it and preventing it for after your baby arrives.

And congratulations on the pending arrival !
posted by AuntLisa at 12:08 PM on April 29, 2008

Add one more vote for the Pil-O-Splint. I'm able to wear them on both wrists without a problem. To get them off, take the side of one and push the other one off from the back edge. It takes a slight bit of effort, which is good -- I normally tore off most wrist braces I tried whilst sleeping.

I have one adjustable (newer) and one non-adjustable Pil-O-Splint. The regular Pil-O-Splint is really too large for my very skinny wrists (only 6" circumference), which is why I picked got the adjustable model when it was finally available. Despite the adjustable splint having velcro, you actually don't re-velcro it every night. You use the velcro to set the size adjustment once and it just slides on & off like the non-adjustable one.

Also, they hold up very well. I've been using them every night for at least the past 3-4 years and they're still in great shape.
posted by OTA at 2:48 AM on May 27, 2008