Michael,
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?

Beth T. the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chester Worwa
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 5:36 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Hello to all and a question for Joy

Maybe you just need a harder brace.  I broke my first arm brace in the first
month and I got a harder on and I haven't broken it in years.

--- [log in to unmask] wrote:
> I have pain in my letft arm and hand.  I have to force my wrist back
> and it "pops" every time.  It sounds like arthritis is starting plus,
> I have to keep a piece of cloth between my thumb and index finger to
> keep my thumb from scratching into my index finger till it bleeds.
> I've clipped my thumbnail all the
> way down plus filing the edge and that doesn't help.
>  Now my left arm at the
> elbow is cramping from being in an up position all day and night.
> I've dealt with baclofen and Xanaflex and they both made me too sleepy
> to work.  I've dealt with splints along with the meds.  The OT said my
> arm was cracking the splint due to resistance in my arm.  Im my life
> living with CP is to live with pain.
>
>
> Michael Jeffries
> ICQ# 53522767 AIM, MSN, and Yahoo! ID MJeff25916