FingerPress Static Progressive Finger Straightening Splint Orthosis for Extension of PIP Flexion Contracture Medium

I had two surgeries on my left hand for contraction with poor success. Then my right pinky locked up. But the doctors said they had a great new tool for fixing this problem--the digit widget, which is installed under anesthesia by drilling into your bones. The awkward apparatus also needs protection from infection for at least 8 weeks of continuous stretching. (or longer if the patient can’t handle the pain.) I was scheduled for the surgery and lucked out when my heart doctor declined to approve the operation. (reward does not justify the risk.) My proactive wife found the Orthopress. Like my heart doctor for the digit widget, I was skeptical. How could a cheap piece of plastic replace a $10,000 operation by skilled MD’s? Short answer—it does. Long answer: not easy or straightforward. I could not even get it on. Andy explained the device is designed for 80 degree lock max and it looked like I had 90 degrees. But I came up with an easy solution in the form of a dowel rod I cut off the end of my closet hanger. I forced the rod under my finger and taped it in with electrical tape. Withing an hour, the tip of my finger turned numb and the finger swelled where the skin was stretching. The extremely simple idea was working. (For those who have had braces, remember you need inflammation to get movement. Avoid anti-inflammation treatments.) I would occasionally remove the rod, massage my hand and wash the skin crevices, then slather on triple anti-bacterial ointment into the cracks and return the rod. I kept in in all the time, which was tough the first couple of nights. I needed Tylenol to get to sleep (which is not anti-inflammatory.) During the day, I noticed the tip was no longer numb. IT HAD STRETCHED. I found a bigger rod, still using the smaller one at night so I could sleep without medication. By swapping out increasingly larger rods, in two weeks the press would slip on easily. Now the problem was the longer lever rod supplied made it hard to type and very easy to dislodge. Andy graciously supplied a short one, which still stretched great because I was only using a small portion of the long one. Two more weeks and I could get my pinky around my tennis racket. Fantastic. (My tennis group was very surprised to see an old man suddenly add 10 mph to a serve.) The problem I had now is that continuous use of the press seemed to be putting a bend in the finger bone. During the day, I switched to forcing a hand exercise ball into the joint and strapping it in with Velcro. (Pictures will be added when therapy complete.) The ball put a gentle stretch on the hand and let the bone straighten out. I used the press at night in gentle stretching positions. After a while, your hand feels funny if you are NOT stretching it. My brain has normalized the tension. I have no problem with this device as a permanent solution for the rest of my life, however long that it. And for those who are not aware, the digit widget is NOT a permanent solution either. The MD’s want to remove the device, then cut out the gunk and put you into physical therapy to keep it from closing back up. (They did this on my left hand and I never got back full functionality because of the extensive scar tissue.) The entire purpose of the widget is open up the joint so they cut later. Orthopress, with my additions, has allowed me to skip two potentially lethal operations and improve the end results. Good job Andy. If you win a prize, I would not expect it to come from the AMA.

Don't be alarmed when you open the box! It is super easy to put together! I figured it out in 1 minute and didn't even read the instructions. I put it on and it started to stretch out my bent finger! (skateboarding injury) everything is really well made! pads in all the right spots, easy to increase the stretch at small or large increments, easy to release, and a heartfelt letter comes with it from the inventory of this. He even encourages you to contact him if you need to. Very nice! No chemical smells! I was hesitant about the price, but now that i own it i am keeping it! well worth the money! I wish i would have bought this 2 years ago, but better late than never!!

I bent my pinky finger on a fall while trail running. I didn't do anything about it for years. I bought this device and read the instructions carefully. One thing I recall was a comment about it might take a year or two to work, so I took that seriously. So now, after using it more than a year, I can say that the device certainly works. You just must be vigil and patient with it.

I have been using this product for about 2 months on a broken finger from 10 years ago due to a football (USA Football! not the funny one). My finger had fussed into a 45 degree angle from the middle knuckle due to this old injury. This device has straightened my finger to about 15 degrees now. My finger does not feel as stiff and I notice more sensitivity in a good way. The device sucks to wear for the first few weeks but gets easier and easier to wear. I am thinking that it will take months maybe years to get my finger nearly straight but so far it feels as if I am making good progress with this device. I also would set the setting to the highest degree when I first got it. It was very agonizing to wear at first but as they say "no pain, no gain!" Now it does not hurt to wear. I love this thing.

I lost my extensor tendons for my PIP joints over 30 years ago, and recently decided to try to get those joints fully extending again. Making some progress with manual pressure, but this product is super easy to use, and is giving me much faster results! Andrew is also fantastic for assistance - I ordered a large for my ring finger, and then reached out to him for advice on what I needed for my pinky. Based on pictures I sent him and a phone call, he offered to include some custom parts to fit my fingers better along with my medium for my pinky, which has made both even better for my use. Thanks for your help Andrew, and what a great product. I can get my ring finger fully extended with just a couple of minutes of treatment, and my pinky is making great progress as well!