BrownmedIMAK RSI Pil-O-Splint - Hand & Wrist Brace for Nighttime - Removable Splint for Customizable Comfort & Support - Restrict Motion During Sleep for Arthritis Support - Fits Either Hand

These splints are a decent solution for night-time numbness and wrist pain for people with carpal tunnel problems. These are definitely night-time splints only, since they immobilize not only the wrist, but also the fingers. As night splints, they are the only ones I have found currently on the market that do the job, since night splints must also keep the wrist from moving backwards. Ordinary day-time splints don't work at night (at least for me) because, while they keep your wrists from moving forwards, they let them flop backwards in your sleep, which causes numbness and pain. These splints have slits for your thumb on both sides; that is the slits are for thumbs only, not for fingers--don't sleep with your fingers out the slit opposite your thumb. The reason the thumb slots are on both sides is so that either splint can be used on either hand--you don't need separate right and left handed splints with these. Putting them on the first time by yourself can be challenging, since it is quite difficult to wrap them tight with just one hand. But after you have got the size right, you just pull them straight off your hands without unwrapping them, so you only need assistance that first time. (If you have trouble getting them off, you can get some leverage by sticking one thumb in the top of the thumb slit on the opposite splint and pulling with your thumb).When I first tried on these splints, I was amazed at how soft and comfortable they were. The inner lining is exceptionally soft. But that didn't last. After about 3 months of daily use and ordinary laundering, the originally soft lining had become pilled. The wraps and Velcro, however, are still secure after a year of use and multiple washings.What makes these splints less than ideal for me is the fact that they immobilize the fingers as well as the wrists. While this may be indicated for some patients, especially those recovering from surgery, I find that my fingers are always extremely stiff and painful in the mornings after using these splints. With my old splints, I could bend my fingers (but not my wrists) at night, and I never had stiffness or pain in my fingers after wearing them. Another disadvantage of having immobilized fingers as with these splints is that if you have to get up for any reason during the night, you have to take the splints off in order to do so much as push the covers away. Still, these are an effective solution for night-time carpal tunnel symptoms and would probably prove adequate and durable for many people.

I have had wrist pain when using a computer mouse since early 2012. Almost all of my free time is spent on the computer, and it has been that way for almost 10 years. I also draw semi-regularly. I have recently started a full-time job that requires constant computer use. I use an Evoluent Vertical Mouse at work and regularly wear a wrist brace if my wrist becomes painful.I realized that the day-brace was not enough to keep my hand from being in pain at night. I needed something softer and a way to keep my fingers straight. Upon Googling, I was happy to find this product.The first few nights were great: I had my wrist wrapped in this soft brace with my fingers kept from bending. I could rest my arm where I wanted without worrying about the effect on my wrist. The product fit wonderfully on my small wrist/arm (I wear a 4.25 size ring on my ring finger if that helps anyone).However, I started to experience discomfort wearing the brace. I realized that the placement of two hard splints on the top of the brace was exerting unwanted pressure on the top of my hand. I would constantly "pinch" the splints at the top into a roof shape to reduce the pressure, until I took off the brace entirely. I compared the brace's design to my day-brace, which relieves my wrist pain just fine. My day-brace does have a splint on the top, but it also has a splint on the bottom that conforms to the bottom of my hand. I found that this bottom splint gave my wrist support where I needed it.Eventually, I decided to remove the two splints from the top. I cut small incisions in the fabric and pulled out plastic planks that are completely stiff. This did improve the comfort of the brace, but it still isn't satisfactory. The way that the velcro straps wrap around from the top to the bottom creates unwanted pressure as well. I feel the product would be much more supportive if it wrapped from bottom to top. In fact, I find myself wearing the brace upside down to focus the pressure onto the bottom of my wrist. However, the beanbag meant to cushion the palm causes pressure on the top anyway and I switch it back or remove the brace.Overall, I think it is wonderful that this product exists for those of us who need extra comfort to sleep and avoid perpetuating our injury. But I think reversing the areas of pressure on the wrist would significantly increase the product's effectiveness, at least for those who experience similar pain to mine that requires more support on the bottom.