Sling that ties around waist???
 

I had seen someone post a picture of a sling that goes around the waist and not over the shoulder. I have a terrible problem of waking with my arm over my head. I have tried putting my arm inside my shirt and tying a bathrobe belt around my waist and tying my wrist. Doesn't work. I somehow get my arm out. I wake up in terrible pain. Would love to know where to get one. I don't remember which thread I read it on.

Thanks, Linda

LJ
 

Check with Dr. Togut befoer you purchase a sling
In my experience its a big fat NO to sling your arm.
You want the bloodcirculation flowing and movement.
As for sleeping...hmmm
I Know how you must feel
Kinda like when I wake up 10 times a night with my hand clinced due to the pain.

Ayone have any suggestions for Lin Jane?

ah yes the old arms over the head- i don't know why it isi soooo comfy that way, but i do it too.

I have in the past used pil-o-splints which are supposedly for carpal tunnel, but good for tossers too. but they are comfy to sleep in and keep your hands opened up. with them on i am not as likely to bend my wrists, and arms over the head is not as comfortable. when my wrists hurt a lot they offer some great pain relief.

http://www.amazon.com/Original-Splin...4819275&sr=1-2

i don't know if amazon's price is any good, they are available all over. I bought mine in the local drug store, so i was able to try it on before shelling out the $$.

totally machine washable and you just slip your hand in and out, takes but a split second to put on and off.

For quite awhile it just felt best to sleep on my back with my arms resting straight by my sides.
When my elbows were very sensitive I would wrap a hand towel around them for padding.
I eventually trained myself to not bend my arms while sleeping or to put them overhead.
I can put arms overhead now but I never fall asleep with them like that - it's more for a relax/stretch thing.

I've read that some will pin their pajama sleeve to the bottoms? that might help:)

a few slings-
http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm...discontinued=0
http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...=1&sa=N&tab=wi

I would only use something like that occasionally - like going on long walks or to the store.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully I can find something that works.

Linda

?shoulder immobilizer
 

This is similar to the I wore for a short while after my rib resection. I mainly wore it in public as a warning to people not to run into me.

I saw this at amazon.com


See larger image"); http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...WL._AA240_.jpg
See larger image Share your own customer images


Elastic Torso Belt Shoulder Immobilizer Elastic Torso Belt Shoulder Immobilizer, Large, fits chest 36" - 42"
Other products by AliMed




No customer reviews yet. Be the first.





List Price: $41.00 Price: $29.00 You Save: $12.00 (29%)


Availability: In Stock. Ships from and sold by Allegro Medical.









Product Description
Product Description
Elastic Torso Belt Shoulder Immobilizer Body band is 4"W firm knit elastic. Three wide plastic stays prevent rolling. Vinyl arm and wrist band fit left or right. Felt-lined. Front contact closure. Sizing: Females measure just below bustline, men measure chest at widest point.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0002ED9IO
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #331,458 in Health & Personal Care (See Bestsellers in Health & Personal Care)

Help others find this item
Make a Search Suggestion | Manage your Search Suggestions
No-one has made a Search Suggestion for this item yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which this item should appear?


Customers viewing this page may be interested in these Sponsored Links (What's this?) Hottest Fashions Online www.LuxuryDivas.com Belts Hats Scarves Wallets & More Online Accessories for Men & Women

Shoulder Immobilizers www.herbalremedies.com/braces Shoulder Immobilization Sling All Supports, Braces, Casts, Slings

stretch belts made in USA bobs-belts.com cotton elastic real leather trim woven fabric stretch belts

I bought one of those last week after seeing a similar one on the forum. In the past, I wasn't able to walk for excercise because it really aggrivated my right shoulder. As soon as I saw it posted, I went out shopping and bought one. I got mine at a medical supply place for $15. I immediately tried it out and was very pleased. I have been walking every day now, which has really improved my mood! It is a little embarrassing, though....I have considered wearing it to bed, as I have the same problem. I don't think I could sleep in it.

Martha,
 

Good idea for a Tshirt
I'M IN PAIN
WALK AROUND ME...NOT INTO ME

TANKS, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP. I'M GOING TO PRINT THIS AND HOPEFULLY GET ONE THIS WEEKEND. I'M HOPING THIS WILL HELP WITH PAIN:hug:

Hi Karen,
Some of it the thing that if you had a broken arm and had a sling you would not feel sief concious. But, you do have a hidden disability...this sling protects you from flare ups and from the people around you bumping into you or not holding doors open.

It takes some time but you will get use to not having things slammed on you, someone helping you to lift items, caring about you....
I had a friend in a motorcycle accident and his arm has been paralyzed over thirty years. It is life, nerves are as serious if not more serious when you think of it as as a broken arm....broken arms heal.

If someone ask about the sling, you can just state that you have a nerve injury that is it....
I am so glad that you can do your walks now. As a friend says to us, manage your tos before it manages you.
Dianne

This is completely off the subject, but you really hit a nerve there. Since talking to various people on the forum, I have become aware of some hidden emotions regarding my TOS. It seems that I feel a lot of shame regarding my illness. People, my friends, my family, co-workers, bosses, have been so incredibly callous, even downright hurtful at times. I have tried to hide it, to act like everything is "just fine, wonderful, I'm doing great!" I have given up on any kind of understanding from anyone - They just don't get it! That is why I am SO appreciating this forum right now!!

Karen
 

I understand what you mean. No one knows what TOS is. It is hard to explain and for others to understand. I hide the pain and pretend everything is ok. My husband does understand but not everyone does. If you look "normal" people think you are fine. I try to never complain, only let my husband know. Best of luck and I hope you have had a good weekend.

I did get some great feed-back about sling. I printed it out so I won't forget!

Linda

Hi
 

I have PN and Karen i get those looks as well. I have to wear something
on the order of the blue Corpral tunnel blue thinks at night. I have PN
from my hands to elbows,so mine go to the elbow,my hand therapatist
reccomended them,so insurance paid for them. Other wise i would wake
up screaming all night,tried to do what Jo did but finally yelled for help.
I was a ER Truma Nurse for 25 yrs. and recently in the hospital as a
paient. All i can say how sad it is how little is know by the medical society,
those who are there to help not hurt. Are a Dr. at least who knows you
have servere pain in your hands always grabs them to say goodby. Well
i 'm trying to say is while working i was kind and caring. Our elderly
are harmed and a lot don't know how to speak up,it's sad the pain
they must feel. All i can say,a lot of medical people must of fell asleep
in class when it came to so many of the forums on NeuroTalk. I know
when i asked a question,and the answer was, i don't know i just work
here, oh they new by the time i checked out. geeez Sorry..Sue

Just a Couple of Things Worth Mentioning (I Think)...
 

this is a good thread and i've enjoyed reading each and every one of the posts. i just think it is important that someone add a word of caution here, about the danger of a TOS'er wearing either a sling or an immobilizer on any kind of regular basis.

according to dr. annest, who was my surgeon, it is generally NOT a good idea to get into the habit of favoring your TOS arm/z in this manner. you face a very real risk of not only further muscular atrophy, but of developing a very painful phenomenon known as 'frozen shoulder' which would only add insult to the injury you already have.

it is my understanding from more than one top TOS doc, actually, that the use of these types of devices should be very strictly limited to one or two days post-op, as a general rule. or maybe post-injury if your TOS is due to trauma (i don't pretend to know). following that, it can be a good idea if you are still in the recovery or rehab stage from a rib resection or scalenectomy (or your tx'ing docs have rx'd it to you) to wear one in public strictly as a VISUAL, so that as was already said in this thread, people will hopefully not run into you on your injured side.

or wonder of all wonders, someone might actually open a door for you! stop laughing, kidz... it could happen!

but the idea of wearing an immobilizer to retrain yourself not so sleep in certain harmful positions is an interesting one, and i am going to ask dr. jordan about that when i see him next week (if i can hold a thought in my sleep-deprived head that long).

my gut tells me, though, that if you do go forward with a plan like this, you would want to keep it VERY limited across time. your poor arm is in quite enough ischemic distress and neurologic compromise on the natch, i think. why tempt fate? both of your arms need blood circulating oxygen and other nutrients to them and through them at all times and this includes sleep time. the circulatory system is aided by movement. do the math or talk to our resident engineer, johannakat! not logical to tie self down. masochism + TOS = real trouble!!!

this is only my opinion and i could be way off base. but i wouldn't want anyone reading this site to get the idea that the regular use of a sling or an immobilizer is any kind of solution for a TOS'er.

because it simply ain't so. au contraire, mon frere. you think TOS is bad, try TOS with a frozen shoulder... yikes! perhaps you could try hypnosis if you want to learn a better way to sleep; feldenkrais/hellerwork/alexander/muscle activation techniques are other options; pay someone to sit up with you and gently move your arms if you unconsciously start to go for those bad positions... i don't know what the answer is. all i'm saying is, i've never, ever heard of this type of device being recommended for a TOS'er to use in this way.

OK. i'm off the you-know-what now.--:D

and PS all this other stuff coming up about the emotional aspects - wonderful subject matter and deserves a thread of its own in my book. maybe joyce aka jo55 could help with that since we all know i am an F'ing idiot when it comes to computers.

and yes, the medical profession in general is so far off the mark when it comes to tx'ing TOS'ers it's criminal. they can't even dx the damned disorder a very high percentage of the time. frightening! and so wrong. but wait a minute; is it really that or is there something else going on here within our beloved shores? medical controversy, my patooty; i thought towelhorse's post was extremely interesting last night. food for thought, indeed and i believe the aussies are right on the money. just wish i knew how to email that post to the governator... he is so busted right now!--:mad:

wait, i said i was off the soapbox, didn't i. OK, i lied...

alison

Alison, thanks for the post. I agree, It probably isn't a good idea for a sling to be used often. I'm just lost at keeping the arm down while sleeping. Dr. T. suggested lying on my side and wrapping a sheet over and tucking in. Unfortunately, I don't think that will work. The bathrobe belt didn't work either. Sleep is hard enough! My husband had surgery last week on his shoulder and he is in pain. Pain meds make him snore louder than usual. My 4 year old daughter sleeps between us. Great arrangement! I sometimes have my 12 year old son on the floor in sleeping bag. He shares a room with his 15 year old brother and doesn't like the shows he watches at night. My 17 year old daughter is the only one who I don't have to worry about. She sleeps in her room just fine! I always wonder why I had my tubes tied. We're never alone!! Best birth control around!

Also, I think I posted that I had not been on this site for years. I was pain free for so long that I felt kind of guilty to return. I did miss the comradarie. Best group of people to chat with. I just wish we were typing here for another reason.

Also, sorry to vent but I had 3 employees not come in to work today for lame reasons which put me in a bad mood. We had to reschedule A/C installation because of this which means, less money. It did not start the day off well. Also, It's Raining! Sorry.

Linda

sorry Linda,
boy it rained here last night quite briefly, it was such a special treat- we never get rain in the summer.

hopefully your day will get better!!!
Johanna