Wow, they actually put the arm in a cast!!! I thought they just tied it down with a sling....at least that's the kind of contraint therapy I've heard of, but that may be considered a modified constraint therapy. I don't blame you both for being anxious. It would be scary if a true life or death emergency came up. Do you remember how much movement Rob had to have in his neglect arm to be considered for this therapy? And how did they test that?

Jean

Karen

That does seem extreme to me too. All I've seen or read invovled the use of a splint or sling and/or glove. in fact my OT was thinking for me to use a mitt-like glove similar to an oven glove.

I too would be concerned about a real time emergency if i had a 'cast' on my good arm/hand.

Please keep us posted of the developments

Tom

Rob has some good movement in his arm/hand. He can open and close his fingers, and move his arm up high enough to touch the top of his head. This is done using a lot of his shoulder muscles and also very slow and not very controlled.

He has been using his right hand as a tool quite a bit lately, such as holding his bowl of cereal while standing and eating. He just has to really "think" about even considering using it.

The plan is to limit the range of motion in his elbow on his unaffected arm, allowing him access to use his hand and fingers. I understand it will be inconvenient for him to use the left arm, and in doing so it will encourage use of his right (hopefully). Being left handed, he is at a disadvantage to even "wanting" to use his right arm/hand.

He will probably be spending so much time doing basic things... that he shouldn't get into too much emergency type trouble.

We tried the oven mitt, and it didn't work. He just pulled it off. We're both very much interested in this therapy, and it was us who brought it up to our OT as something we want to try. I say "we" as all you caregivers know when he is imobilized, it will be increasing the amount of help he needs......

He isn't getting his cast on for a few days - and I'll let you all know how it goes.

Rob is very determined and I'll bet he it does help. He's got a lot more movement in his neglect arm than I was picturing. Tell Rob I wish him luck and am looking forward to the updates.

I totally understand the "we" thing. You can't be a caregiver without knowing how it feels to be involved in the total rehab and recovery process. I say things like "we" have a speech class or "we" have a doctor's appointment all the time. It's not like Don could go by himself.

Jean

As a 20 yr. survivor, I feel constraint therapy "might" have triggered something in me to work then, but now after 20 yrs., I think it "might" be too late

June