This is not a promotional or advertisement nor endorsement, just an informative share. On OBT we ahd a thread of a sling my daughter was using. This is not the one, but I thought it may help someof the folks here in looking for one.

Many know that I have several family member that have treated wth Doctor Scott Fried in our area, he is just outside of Philadelphia, at the Upper Extremity Institute.

In a recent news letter I received he had pictures of this device for patients of Brachial plexapathy/thoracic outlet problems he found helpful. I know at our support groups we had a few that wore them also.

This is a link to the supplier it contains further information and a video of use:


http://docinthehouse.info/products/index.html

This is information that Scott shares.

Volume 1 October, 2006

Welcome to The Upper Extremity Institute's online newsletter. Our objective is to keep you informed of new products, new techniques and new information so that you will be able to make educated decisions regarding your medical care.


In this issue, we would like to tell you about a revolutionary new device we have found very helpful to our patients with neck, shoulder and arm pain and nerve injuries such as brachial plexus/thoracic outlet and cervical disc and nerve root problems. I actually developed this device after sustaining an injury to my shoulder. I found all the slings and immobilizers I tried either hurt my neck, made me feel claustrophobic or were too limiting. I heard the same complaints about slings and immobilizers on the market from my patients, so I developed a device suited for medical use to treat arm and shoulder pain and nerve injury. As a result, I created the Ergo Shoulder System and Abduction Pillow pictured below.


A Little Background

Upper extremity nerve pain often begins at the neck and or thoracic outlet area between the neck and shoulder. Arm motion away from the body (abduction), overhead reaching and hanging down of the arm often exacerbate or increase this nerve pain or the symptoms of numbness or tingling. It is also very common for persons with injury to splint or protect their injured arm, holding it closely into their body in what we term protected posture. This can also lead to an adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder. If this is not addressed it can result in limited motion and progression of the nerve injury. These problems are often confused with carpal tunnel and rotator cuff injury respectively.

When the nerves are involved at more than one level in the arm, this is sometimes called double crush syndrome or multi-level nerve injury, or repetitive strain injury. Many times these problems develop as the result of repeated micro-traumas, which are additive or cumulative, hence the term cumulative trauma disorder. By using a support device that allows comfort for activities requiring arm swing or motion, like walking, shopping and the like, patients are able to remain active without fear of furthering their injuries or pain. Also by using the convenient pillow piece the arm can rest in a position that gets it used to resting in abduction (away from the body a little). This avoids stiffness and allows the nerves also to maintain their length and helps to progress healing of nerve and shoulder injury.

We have found patients to be very happy with the increased ability to live life more fully and obtain relief from their discomfort. We also see in many cases the stiffness or frozen shoulders improve substantially via activation of the deltoid muscle making it easier and more comfortable to initiate abduction. Simply keeping the arm in a comfortable abducted position for a few hours a day alleviates the stress and strain on the nerves about the neck and thoracic outlet and allows a slow and gentle lengthening of the nerve muscle and tendon structures, allowing progressive healing with no aggressive treatment or discomfort. Combined with lifestyle modification, nerve sliding exercises as described in The Carpal Tunnel Helpbook and gentle pain free therapy, patients often resolve or markedly improve their injuries.

Model below is shown wearing the ERGO Shoulder System and Abduction Pillow

For short intervals, the pillow is added to place the arm in abduction, resting comfortably, allowing activation of the deltoid muscle and gently stretching the scar about the nerves.

Click here for more information, instructions and video on the
Revolutionary ERGO Shoulder System and Abduction Pillow

The ERGO Shoulder System and Abduction Pillow:

Lessens the risk of “frozen shoulder”

Eliminates neck pain (no straps)

Easy on and off design

Exceptionally comfortable and cosmetic
The NEW and revolutionary Ergo Shoulder System and Abduction Pillow can be used by people with:

Neck, shoulder and arm pain
Numbness and tingling due to nerve injury
Stiff or frozen shoulders
Rotator cuff injuries and tendinitis
Bursitis
Thoracic outlet syndrome and Elbow injuries

Good info -

Last nite I was thinking about making a thread for TOS tips, helps, tools & products - I'd like to link this into it.

Hello, Di! Thanks so much for posting this. I have a strap sewn in to the waistband of my jumpers, which is what I usually wear...that is helpful, but on really bad days, it does pull down on my shoulder quite a bit and can be uncomfortable. I think I'll print this info off and show it to my physical therapist tomorrow and see what she thinks.

Donna

bump for LinJane

THANKS! That was just what I was looking for. Nothing I have been doing stops me from putting my arms over my head while sleeping. Linda