United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Michaela has to wear the SOL splint 24/7 for 6 weeks then at night for 6 more weeks. My question? After 6 weeks do you just take it off during the day or is it a gradual thing. I would think it would be gradual e.g., 1 hour first day, 2 hours second day,etc. Since she'll be in Pre-k from 8:30 a.m till 1:30 p.m. I was wondering when the time comes if leaving it on for school and taking it off in the afternoon might be best. The teacher won't even attempt to put it on for playground so I know it will have to be on when she leaves the house. Recess is at 10:00 a.m. What have some of you done?

Hi...

This is one of those every child is different scenerios...

I can only tell you about how it worked for Maia.

It takes Maia 1-2 weeks to transition with the splint off for a full day. And in the first week there are a lot of backwards and forwards days...one day off, next day totally on...and so forth.

For her mod quad we were able to take it off and go into a warm pool...she only lasted for about 15-20 minutes, vomited, and then didn't want it off at all the next day.

For her capsulodesis we were only able to take it off for 5 minutes at a time, until she felt ready and then did 3 hours, 4 hours and over the weekend it was a whole day and now she's settled into it. She didn't want to go into the pool until a whole week later so I did warm/hot compresses to help loosen up her arm first, which she liked.

We always used tylenol before we took the splint off for the first week and/or as needed.

What we've gotten used to saying on here is:
(1) don't push it- trust you child to let you know when and when not to and for how long
(2) warm water helps (pool - bath - compresses)
(3) pre-medicate with whatever pain killer you are used to using (tylenol - motrin, etc.)
(4) don't have high expectations - the arm is going to be somewhat atrophied and not used to moving- it will take time

I think it worked best for us to start the process on the weekend - so that we had extra time - daddy was around for extra loving and support - and Maia had extra time to recover. It's not only a physical ambush but an emotional one as well.

Maia didn't go to school without the splint until just last Thursday - that is almost two weeks into splint off time. She'll have her 2nd 1/2 day off tomorrow and Wednesday will be her first full day off.

In my opinion, teachers should not be made responsible to even attempt to put a splint on - there's too much liability for them and for the child. what if they put it on wrong? For playground time - I think Maia knows that her arm needs some protection - because it hurts if she does stuff with it - so she's more apt to not be such a roughhouse with the splint off.

hope this helps,
francine

I wouldn't expect the teacher to even try to put on a splint.She's got her hands full. Just wondered if it was reasonable to have the school O.T. put it on her, but as I'm still fighting to get her O.T. at school I doubt that would happen either. So the answer is it's a gradual thing and go at her pace. Common sense to me but as I get accused of being too empathetic or sympathetic or whatever I wanted to be sure. Thanks LeeAnne

Every child is sooooo different. We took my daughters Capsulodesis splint off at the pool. It went great. And she did keep it off all day on the first day. I was afraid that she was overdoing it but she didn't want it back on. We have only put it on at night since then and that was 4 weeks ago. With Bailey I have to be careful though. We go to a playgroup but I go with her. She does not go to school yet. Bailey seems to forget that she just had surgery. She will try anything if you are not watching her(hanging from things climbing on things, sommersaults). She had the Mod Quad a year ago and it was pretty much the same thing. She was a little bit more weak and it took about 3 days before she wanted to go without the splint all day. Hope this helps. My best advice is relax and listen to your child. I always get so worked up and then it turns out to be for nothing.
Jodi

Our experience has been much like Jodi's / Bailey's for the Caps splint and the MQ splint. We too went to the warm water pool and I wouldn't do it any other way. A bath or warm compresses are the next best thing, but in the water, I can hold Nicole and hold her arm and let it down gradually and then the water takes over with support. Plus, Nicole loves the pool so it just really helps make the whole thing a more positive experience. We also have used Tylenol or children's Motrin and would do that again too.

If there's playground time, you might want to keep it on until after school for a good part of the 2nd 6 weeks if not all of it. Maybe after you're 1-2 wks into the 2nd 6 wks you could try bringing Michaela to the playground at other times and see if she is careful not to overdue things and will follow the post-op protocol or if you'll need to keep the splint on the whole time for safety reasons. Does she have a PT who would be able to do therapy at the school while Michaela's at the playground (if that's something you'd be willing to consider)? Or can you go there for recess to be there with Michaela? I would talk to her dr. about the situation and get his recommendation. Hope this helps. -Tina )

Thanks for the great replies! I'm still trying to get an individual education plan for Michaela and have been trying all year to get some sort of therapy services. Keep getting stonewalled. I think we'll keep the splint on at school just to be safe. They are so paranoid now of something happening even with the splint on you'd think it was glass! I'm sure we'll work it out. Just part of my type A personality to manage everything so far in advance! LeeAnne