how to stop thumbs and elbow dislocating?

[kturner]

Having trouble trying to keep joints in place at the moment, as pony has been pulling me a lot on inhand walks as he is lami and there is so much grass out there and he has little in his field.

my wrist braces for carpel tunnel are not keeping my thumbs still and I am trying to pack to move house as well. Doing it slowly over 6 weeks so only one cupboard or two draws per day. No more in hand walks for a week or two as it stresses my elbows and shoulder. All the pulling lamis do when they see grass. Dont dare ride either, even with daisy rein dont want to get in a fight with him.

Doc gave me tubigrips again and said to wait for physiotherapy people to contact me, but that will take weeks.

I can avoid elbow and shoulder strain by pony following me to stable and back to field for tea.

Any ideas how to keep thumbs still, holes in tubigrips keep enlarging and not really working too well.

[cockerpony]

Daughters has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Joints dislocate all the time.
She is suggesting you see an occupational therapist for splints[ also can buy]
She says this might sound silly but instead of a tubigrip she gets better support by using a vet wrap bandage, she says it is a lot stronger than a normal bandage. Also when leading she only grips leadrope by her fingers leaving her thumb in a 'thumbs Up ' position.
You could also try a neoprene shoulder support., which doesn't restrict movement

[kturner]

Thanks cockerpony. I have hypermobile joints. I had considered vetwrap myself, but with doing dishes all day long I didnt want to be cutting it off all the time. Any solution there?

Will investigate shoulder thingy, I have a thing that crosses over the back and ties in the front to keep shoulders back, but doesnt stop it getting pulled though.

Just realised I could put on marigolds for water.

Pony follows ok in the property but wouldnt like to walk him with fingers only with the grass out there.

What about riding with vetwrap, would it help with the pulling? Daisy rein helps but he can still try pulling.

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming.:D

[popularfurball]

Tubigrips wont help at all with dislocations...

Either get some tape (2cm width) from a sports injury site and strap your thumb like rugby players do - you will be able to get a "how to" online i'm sure - its used a lot in rubgy because of all their lifting. The other thing is you can buy plastic/rigid splints for thumbs which you tape on - again have a look for rugby stuff about it online.

As for the elbow, all I could suggest is taping really - you need to develop the muscles which are currently not supporting the joint - as the ligaments arent doing their job - I have them too ¬_¬.

Try http://www.physio-med.com/ for tape etc.

http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/hand_injury/sprained_thumb/taping.php - how to tape a thumb

When looking at splints, you need to know which joint in your thumb is the one whch needs stabilising.

[*Sez*]

I have thumb splints from my Occupational Therapist - I'd always suggest getting an appointment for a hand assessment, as the therapist will be able to assess your needs. I literally went in for some ideas for my thumbs, and came out with a pair of thumb splints, two new Fischer sticks because she thought my walking stick was aggrivating the joint and a pair of compression gloves to wear at night.

I have more problems with my shoulders than my elbows and have a shoulder brace for the worst one, which helps me to keep using the joint while providing support, but I have seen some elbow braces which look as though it will allow you to keep using the joint but should help with the dislocations. Again, it's probably worth seeing an Occupational Therapist, or else speak to your doctor about taping.

Hope you manage to sort something out. Tubi-grips really are useless unless you're just after a bit of support :(

[kturner]

Thanks for the good ideas. I went to Doc and asked how to tape and he said he didnt know and gave me a form to fill in for physio. The form has gone off and I need to phone next week for an appointment. By the time I get to see them, I expect I will have moved house anyway.

It hasbeen much better the last 10 days, but I keep stressing it with moving furniture and packing. I am doing it very slowly, about 2hrs in 2 x 1hr slots per day. I put on the tubigrips, but as you say and I know, they dont give much support and make the middle of my hand numb because they are so tight and the thumb still moves.

I will look into the thumb braces/splints and taping. THanks. It always seems to be a case of figure it out yourself, and I expect physio will just give exercises, which may help long term but not short term when I have so much to do.

Glad it is summer and I onlly have to feed pony once a day with chaff and slice of hay. He gets lami and is in a short field so still needs extra hay. I have been taking bucket to field and not bringing him up to stable and putting back. (Temporary shortcut). I sit with him for up to an hour to make up for not doing much with him atm.

[cockerpony]

Had another word with daughter, but sorry she has no further ideas.
Surgeon has offered to fuse her thumbs, but the operation means that you just have a pincer like movement. She has just learned to live with it, not easy I know. I hope physio works for you Best Wishes

[juniberry]

It may be to restrictive for you but I use Aircast wrist brace with thumb splice. I did get an NHS one but I find the aircast much more supportive and comfy. I ride in it and it holds my tumb still. If you get just the right size you can still use the top bend in the tumb. What may happen in your case is your elbow then takes to uch strain and gives up even more. Not got any offers of help here except the neoprean elbow support may be stronger than tubigrip

[kturner]

Hi
The elbow/shoulder is not usually a problem, just that the pulling for spring grass, as he is a lamanitic, set it off. I use the daisy rein or side reins when riding to stop him pulling me too much, but when I go for inhand walks to let him eat on purpose, I find it difficult to stop him snatching on the way home after our 'picnic/place to eat'. So I have decided to tack him up for the inhand walks and just detach daisy/side reins to eat, then put it back on again for the walk home.

Moving next Saturday and not ridden for the last 3 weeks or this coming week, because if he gets me off I dont want to damage anything before the move. Good news is that the road outside the yard has been resurfaced so he wont be jumping around to avoid those scary potholes in future.

I taped my thumb like the rugby player suggestion and it works very well as I can still move my thumb to use it a little, but the taping stops it going over backwards. (does that make sense?). Will keep using that method for now and invest in a thumb splint thingy after move. Cant bear the thought of going to town now, lower back and knees also playing up because of the extra work packing.

Thanks guys will keep you informed of splint thing when I get it. Was going to go inhand walking this weekend as rain has finally stopped, but will put it off now as move so close, unless I can get my friend to come with me to hold him.