Re: possibility?

In Reply to: possibility? posted by DMM on December 07, 2003 at 04:41:11:

: If you think the elbow's killing you, why not try "splinting" the arm while sleeping? You could put on a long t-shirt, fold your arm across your chest, pull the shirt up over it to form a pocket, and secure it with an elastic wrap around your torso. You might have to get your wife's help to do the elastic part, but it would be worth it if not moving it while sleeping helps. You could also purchase an arm sling, but the elastic and shirt option would do more to keep the elbow and forarm immobilized. Or you could use the sling and the elastic together. I think you get the idea. Have you tried applying ice to the wrist? I get some temporary relief that way.

: I'm in the US, so I know my situations totally different. I'm just trying to throw ideas into the "ring" to see if you might come up with an intermediate help until you can nag them docs over there into fixing you. Good luck. Remember, the squeeky wheel gets the grease.

Hi DMM
Unfortunately it's the action of having the arm bent at the elbow which causes the problem in ulnar nerve entrapment so folding the arm across the chest actually increases symptoms.

In an earlier post I suggested using a shin pad with the pad on the inside of the elbow, to keep the arm straight (i found that uncomfortable though). You can wrap a small towel around the arm with the same effect or I read somewhere about if wearing pyjamas, pin the sleeve of your affected arm to the trouser leg. (My imagination had that one not working very well though).

Evelyn