Aa
Is there an aid to help someone with fingers that curl...
Hi one of my forum buddies 63 has progressive MS for a long time. One of the things she is really struggling with is typing now, as sadly her fingers keep curling towards her palm and she is finding it very hard to type or use mouse.
I am sure I have seen someone when I was teaching who had MS and she was wearing some sort of splint i think that kept her fingers straight...perhaps i am dreaming lol.
Has anyone got any ideas to help her, she isnt really been supported much by our health service i think when we get to a certain age they dont care.
thanks guys.
I am sure I have seen someone when I was teaching who had MS and she was wearing some sort of splint i think that kept her fingers straight...perhaps i am dreaming lol.
Has anyone got any ideas to help her, she isnt really been supported much by our health service i think when we get to a certain age they dont care.
thanks guys.
Egad, I think I actually forgot something that could be quite helpful!
There are small devices called Oval 8 splints. They are fantastic in their simplicity but you really need to have someone experienced in hand therapy and device placement to get the best use from them.
Here's a demo video. It says it all better than I can.
http://www.3pointproducts.com/product-videos-of-splints/oval-8-video/
Please let us know if anything works Mrs. A.
Mary
There are small devices called Oval 8 splints. They are fantastic in their simplicity but you really need to have someone experienced in hand therapy and device placement to get the best use from them.
Here's a demo video. It says it all better than I can.
http://www.3pointproducts.com/product-videos-of-splints/oval-8-video/
Please let us know if anything works Mrs. A.
Mary
Oh, did anyone think I was finished?
Sorry. There’s something I just can’t let go. Grrr#&$$^&
because it's important to Mrs.Aristotle, her friend and all the rest of us.
It’s the idea of what those who hold power or control purse stings consider ‘worthy’ of their consideration regarding the needs of their citizenry. I have a few points of REALITY to share with them.
The help being asking for - KEYBOARD ACCESS - isn't a luxury for people with MS disability of ANY age group OR in any country able to diagnose and treat MS.
Keyboard access can becomes one of the MOST important basics as disability mounts. Shelly already hinted that the spinal cord community realized this a long time ago. They looked ahead so now they have a variety of ways to help people. Fortunately, they are very willing to share. Please note! Solutions may not always pretty and very few are 100% effective but it looks to me like PwSCI (people with spinal cord injury) NEVER stop working towards solutions.
KEYBOARD ACCESS - Okay, it allows communication. Good enough. But in our high tech world it can also become the KEY to turn on and then operate a full array of tools that help people STAY functional and independent - or in some cases, return to a less dependent state.
So what if a person can't realistically hope for that? How about the universal need to remain connected to the world we live in - or used to live in? What of the desire to contribute a little something instead of constantly asking for help?
I believe keyboard access that links us to the internet is sometimes the ONLY tool strong enough to empower and motivate a person to continue living. Who of us CAN’T see that if our disability progresses far enough, the ability to use our computers will likely be THE deciding factor in whether we stay connected to the world outside or isolated within the restraints of our body.
Please - read that last paragraph again and be sure to allow your brain to form the visual it can inspire. Quite a few of our members could tell you about friends they have met here who now LIVE that reality.
As for governments and insurance companies that are out there trying to SAVE a few bucks, pounds, Euros, or whatevers..... I understand. It can only go so far. But check out the comparison studies between prevention cost and treatment cost. Keeping people as independent and connected as possible pays dividends almost every time in every economic scenario.
I’ll step down from my soapbox preaching now.
But I’ll never step away from the ideal or my passion to promote it.
Mary
Sorry. There’s something I just can’t let go. Grrr#&$$^&
because it's important to Mrs.Aristotle, her friend and all the rest of us.
It’s the idea of what those who hold power or control purse stings consider ‘worthy’ of their consideration regarding the needs of their citizenry. I have a few points of REALITY to share with them.
The help being asking for - KEYBOARD ACCESS - isn't a luxury for people with MS disability of ANY age group OR in any country able to diagnose and treat MS.
Keyboard access can becomes one of the MOST important basics as disability mounts. Shelly already hinted that the spinal cord community realized this a long time ago. They looked ahead so now they have a variety of ways to help people. Fortunately, they are very willing to share. Please note! Solutions may not always pretty and very few are 100% effective but it looks to me like PwSCI (people with spinal cord injury) NEVER stop working towards solutions.
KEYBOARD ACCESS - Okay, it allows communication. Good enough. But in our high tech world it can also become the KEY to turn on and then operate a full array of tools that help people STAY functional and independent - or in some cases, return to a less dependent state.
So what if a person can't realistically hope for that? How about the universal need to remain connected to the world we live in - or used to live in? What of the desire to contribute a little something instead of constantly asking for help?
I believe keyboard access that links us to the internet is sometimes the ONLY tool strong enough to empower and motivate a person to continue living. Who of us CAN’T see that if our disability progresses far enough, the ability to use our computers will likely be THE deciding factor in whether we stay connected to the world outside or isolated within the restraints of our body.
Please - read that last paragraph again and be sure to allow your brain to form the visual it can inspire. Quite a few of our members could tell you about friends they have met here who now LIVE that reality.
As for governments and insurance companies that are out there trying to SAVE a few bucks, pounds, Euros, or whatevers..... I understand. It can only go so far. But check out the comparison studies between prevention cost and treatment cost. Keeping people as independent and connected as possible pays dividends almost every time in every economic scenario.
I’ll step down from my soapbox preaching now.
But I’ll never step away from the ideal or my passion to promote it.
Mary
1 Comments
Mary, I have never yet felt inspired to respond to a post until yours. I have worked with spinal cord injury clients building in modifications for their disability but never thought I'd be living their reality. Knowing whats to come is a blessing and a curse. I know there are resources but there are not enough and not easily available. Stay on your soapbox!!
I'm not clear from what you write if the difficulty with keyboarding stems from spasticity (tightness/spasms), rapid fatigue (looks like a muscle problem but the root is faulty nerve signals) or semi-permanent contractures.
All are possible with MS of course and it could be she has some combination going on. That's why it is so distressing when docs (or patients) in ANY country drop the ball or lose interest anywhere along the line - after diagnosis, after DMD selection, if certain disability levels are reached, at random ages, when less favorable outcomes are predicted, etc. , etc., etc.
THERE IS ALWAYS WORK THAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIVING.
It seems to me she may need some combo of treatment and adaptation. Medications are always a treatment option. I’d love to know more about what’s in that compounded cream HVAC mentioned!
I think the splinting possibilities depend on the problem. She needs to prevent contractures if that is what her fingers and hands are threatening to do. Fingers that become frozen into the palms can be painful, invite complications and are always a hygiene nightmare. They MUST be prevented (at least minimized) by ongoing periodic splinting.
If her fingers are giving in to fatigue or she is having trouble keeping them positioned very long there may be devices to help. Here are connections to a few I thought of but they might be way off base for her needs. (There are variations. I chose these because I found them in one place.)
This is a ‘carpel tunnel’ glove that supports the wrist but extends to the fingers like a glove. It may give her fingers some extra support or even help prevent some of the curling under yet allow enough movement to type.
http://www.wrightstuff.biz/catugl.html
This is a similar glove advertised for arthritis. I don’t hold as much hope for it as it is probably offers more compression than support. And then there may be the problem of actually putting them on? But the fingers do seem to extend futher.
http://www.wrightstuff.biz/therfab.html
Here’s a good tool if she would be satisfied with a 1-2 finger “hunt and peck” device. It does have the advantage of doubling up as very useful for additional devices. (I can think of a few people I’ve seen trying to use a register when wearing acrylic nails that could use this tool!)
http://www.wrightstuff.biz/typeaid.html
I’m wondering if the best solution for her wouldn’t be a voice recognition program that would allow communication with the computer by voice rather than keyboard entry. I tried a free version when I found out it had been installed as part of my computer’s original programming. It worked - kind of. Hey, it was free.
It seems these programs have to “learn the users voice” before they can do a job correctly. I guess it might be like asking a Spaniard to follow directions given by a Mexican? They both speak Spanish but it takes a while to get the finer points communicated well. My particular free voice recognition program with its non-UBS microphone seemed to be on a long, slow learning curve. Sadly, I’m still struggling in my How-To-Be-a-Patient-Person class, sooo I issued a verbal “Stop Listening” command and disenrolled from further education. There is a constant reminder atop the screen that Mic is “Sleeping”. I know there’s a little piece of him that remaining on alert and he will be awake and ready to go the moment I proclaim, “Start listening” - just like the kids always did! LOL
There ARE programs available to purchase that aren’t too outlandishly expensive. I’ve heard good thing about Dragon Naturally Speaking. My sister used that one and gifted me with an installation last year. She warned it isn’t perfect but said it is well worth using. I just haven’t pulled the trigger to introduce myself yet. After this novella, I’m thinking about it again.
As usual, I offer my apologies for the wordiness, detours and irrelevancies. Mrs. A, I hope you managed to stick with me long enough to find a little something helpful. Blessings to you for being the bestest kind of friend a person can have and wishes for finding workable solutions quickly.
And HVAC, how come you can always get ‘er done in fewer words than I have sentences???
Mary
All are possible with MS of course and it could be she has some combination going on. That's why it is so distressing when docs (or patients) in ANY country drop the ball or lose interest anywhere along the line - after diagnosis, after DMD selection, if certain disability levels are reached, at random ages, when less favorable outcomes are predicted, etc. , etc., etc.
THERE IS ALWAYS WORK THAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIVING.
It seems to me she may need some combo of treatment and adaptation. Medications are always a treatment option. I’d love to know more about what’s in that compounded cream HVAC mentioned!
I think the splinting possibilities depend on the problem. She needs to prevent contractures if that is what her fingers and hands are threatening to do. Fingers that become frozen into the palms can be painful, invite complications and are always a hygiene nightmare. They MUST be prevented (at least minimized) by ongoing periodic splinting.
If her fingers are giving in to fatigue or she is having trouble keeping them positioned very long there may be devices to help. Here are connections to a few I thought of but they might be way off base for her needs. (There are variations. I chose these because I found them in one place.)
This is a ‘carpel tunnel’ glove that supports the wrist but extends to the fingers like a glove. It may give her fingers some extra support or even help prevent some of the curling under yet allow enough movement to type.
http://www.wrightstuff.biz/catugl.html
This is a similar glove advertised for arthritis. I don’t hold as much hope for it as it is probably offers more compression than support. And then there may be the problem of actually putting them on? But the fingers do seem to extend futher.
http://www.wrightstuff.biz/therfab.html
Here’s a good tool if she would be satisfied with a 1-2 finger “hunt and peck” device. It does have the advantage of doubling up as very useful for additional devices. (I can think of a few people I’ve seen trying to use a register when wearing acrylic nails that could use this tool!)
http://www.wrightstuff.biz/typeaid.html
I’m wondering if the best solution for her wouldn’t be a voice recognition program that would allow communication with the computer by voice rather than keyboard entry. I tried a free version when I found out it had been installed as part of my computer’s original programming. It worked - kind of. Hey, it was free.
It seems these programs have to “learn the users voice” before they can do a job correctly. I guess it might be like asking a Spaniard to follow directions given by a Mexican? They both speak Spanish but it takes a while to get the finer points communicated well. My particular free voice recognition program with its non-UBS microphone seemed to be on a long, slow learning curve. Sadly, I’m still struggling in my How-To-Be-a-Patient-Person class, sooo I issued a verbal “Stop Listening” command and disenrolled from further education. There is a constant reminder atop the screen that Mic is “Sleeping”. I know there’s a little piece of him that remaining on alert and he will be awake and ready to go the moment I proclaim, “Start listening” - just like the kids always did! LOL
There ARE programs available to purchase that aren’t too outlandishly expensive. I’ve heard good thing about Dragon Naturally Speaking. My sister used that one and gifted me with an installation last year. She warned it isn’t perfect but said it is well worth using. I just haven’t pulled the trigger to introduce myself yet. After this novella, I’m thinking about it again.
As usual, I offer my apologies for the wordiness, detours and irrelevancies. Mrs. A, I hope you managed to stick with me long enough to find a little something helpful. Blessings to you for being the bestest kind of friend a person can have and wishes for finding workable solutions quickly.
And HVAC, how come you can always get ‘er done in fewer words than I have sentences???
Mary
oooh Mrs. A - check out this website:
http://www.mousemitt.com/web-content/ss.html
The one I looked at was called softsplints - includes a bit of the fingers
http://www.mousemitt.com/web-content/ss.html
The one I looked at was called softsplints - includes a bit of the fingers
I have PPMS. A Doctor pulled on my thumb or finger ( I can't remember) and my fingers turned in. He said it was clonus, involuntary spasms. He put me on Zanaflex for the spasms. I also have pain so they gave me a compounded cream with all kinds of things in it for spasm, nerve pain, etc. I tried splints but they made it more painful for me. You may not have the pain. Don't know if any of this will help. I did not know there was anything to be done so I did not ask the Doctor.
Alex
Alex
Hi Mrs. A
Always nice to see you. You were definitely not dreaming, lol
There are gloves that are used by SCI patients too, and some good websites with those items. I know for my brother in law, keeping the fingers out like that w/the glove is painful. But, may be less pain for an MSer. And, there is also botox.
Will see if I have any book marks on those accessories, and hopefully some other will see this too and offer those items they've experience with, or know about.
Always nice to see you. You were definitely not dreaming, lol
There are gloves that are used by SCI patients too, and some good websites with those items. I know for my brother in law, keeping the fingers out like that w/the glove is painful. But, may be less pain for an MSer. And, there is also botox.
Will see if I have any book marks on those accessories, and hopefully some other will see this too and offer those items they've experience with, or know about.
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