There are techniques for helping with the pain.  You can tape and splint at
the same time, it may help your hand sit in your splint better.  There is
also Botox with progressive splinting that would at least buy time.  They
also have Baclofen pumps now that cause a lot less drowsiness as the
Baclofen is put  directly in the spine where it is needed and not in the
body.  Some people have good results but, you have to work with a doctor who
really knows what they are doing.

Beth T. the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 5:00 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Left arm therapy solutions. (was Re: Hello to all and a question
for Joy)

In a message dated 7/16/2004 4:52:16 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Are you able to tape yourself?  It sounds like you need a good solid splint
for at night to do a hard stretch and maybe a softer one during the day.
The OT could also do a dorsal splint as opposed to one in you palms.
Sometimes that helps with people who have strong palmar reflex left.  Taping
could be done around the thumb and wrist to add support and to decrease some
of the tone.
Do you do stretches and positioning of your hand during the day?
Not much time at work to do it.  The one who I work with are a bit squeamish
about forcing my arm down.  They see it causes me pain but it is needed.
The last one who helped me retired last year.  I still got the splints.  It
was made out of some plastic that was heat wrapped on my arm, if I'm
explaining this right.  I'll upload some pictures to the Yahoo group today.
There was one to spread out my fingers and put my wrist a little straighter,
the other was to straighten out my arm.  Now having both on at one time was
extremely painful.
I was working part time then.  Working eight hours with that on would be a
major distraction in my job now.  Patty is old enough now to help me get in
to the splints when I get them replaced.  I've never used tape on my hand
before.
You are talking about this Kinsieo Tape when you mean taping myself?  I've
never did that even when I went to Sunbeam.  I'll have to ask the OT when I
make an appointment about that.

Michael Jeffries
ICQ# 53522767 AIM, MSN, and Yahoo! ID MJeff25916