Just about every day, I put 10 double rings and a ring with a silver plate on my hands. They’re made of sterling silver and customized to fit my fingers. I often get compliments of how elegant and classy they look. But truth be told, as pretty as they are, I wish I didn’t have to have them.

So If You Don’t Want Them, Why Wear Them?

Because these are no ordinary rings, these are medical splints. Having the hypermobile version of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome means that many of my ligaments are impacted by the faulty collagen my body creates, making them much more lax than they should be. I’ve often compared it with the example of normal ligaments are like tightly woven canvas, mine are more like a knit sweater. The ligaments in my fingers are no exception. So these are splints to keep my finger joints from extending past the normal range. Very pretty splints, but splints none the less.

How Do They Help?

My finger joints are VERY hypermobile. When I try to stretch my fingers out straight without my ring splints, my fingers will bend backwards. No straining or pushing to get them to do that, they just move in abnormal ways. The base joint of my thumb also rolls off the joint VERY easily. Brushing my hair or buttoning jeans can be enough to push it to dislocate, let alone doing anything intensive like kneading clay or working with a Dremel as I’m prone to get myself into.

While it’s not always painful for things like this to happen because my ligaments are loose, it’s still not a good thing and can create challenges with accomplishing everyday tasks. The more a joint hyperextends, the more damage to the ligament is sustained. Between a mix of high pain tolerance and the nerves just not registering damage being done, a lot can be inflicted by letting your finger joints hyperextend on a regular basis. Many EDS folks with laxity in their fingers just know that after doing repetitive tasks like typing, writing, playing an instrument, or even masturbation can cause them to be sore, in pain, and/or lock up. Because hyperextending is something we don’t always notice because we were born this way, we don’t always catch when we do it and often don’t have the extra muscle strength to hold the joint where it should be. The unique design of the ring splints allows the fingers to open and close, put prevents them from hyperextending. The underside of the rings are solid and sit right on the inside of the joint. The top can be slightly adjusted so they sit along the finger bones, keeping them straight.

The other aspect is that we need to wear splints long term. EDS is not something that gets better or that we heal from. Once we develop a need to wear the splints…we’re stuck with that need unless surgical intervention is attempted. But, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, EDS folks present with extra special risks to surgeries. There are some hand surgeons using the synthetic ligaments as I have in my ankle, and that is an option for some, but it’s not for all of us. A traditional splint that most are familiar with when one breaks a bone, or even the plastic Oval8’s for a sprain, aren’t fantastic for a long term treatment option. These gorgeous rings provide a way to have our fingers splinted while allowing us the normal range of motion to get through our daily tasks.

They also assist on a mental level. So many people that are afflicted with a chronic illness face a stigma when they wear more obvious splints or other medical devices. These, as proof by the constant compliments I get on my very cool rings, pass as just unique jewelry. If you happen to be embarrassed by needing splints, these allow you to shrug it off as pretty rings if you wanted to. I, however, am a loud mouth when it comes to EDS awareness and will use it as an opportunity to talk about why I need them and how they help. Because there are so many different styles, they are able to help people with other hand issues from trigger finger to arthritis and it makes me happy to know there’s multiple people that have gotten very excited to know there’s a stylish option to try and ease their pain.

How Often Do You Wear Them?

All the time. I take them off to sleep and to shower. There are a few days when I just don’t put them on and those are days I’m generally taking as recovery days. I throw my hair up in a big clip, put on clothes that don’t have buttons, leave the bra in the closet, and cuddle up to watch Netflix. If I decide to do something that takes intensive use of my hands, I’ll put them on, but otherwise just give them a bit of freedom for that day.

Are They Comfortable?

Well…yes and no? They’re GREAT compared to the big clunky traditional splints. However, they do feel quite restrictive. I’ve got a good feeling that it’s only because I’m hypermobile and not the design itself. I can’t stretch my fingers, and it always feels like my hand can’t quite open the whole way. My hand therapist has assured me (behind a slight smile) that my hand is in fact as open as it should be.

They took several months to get used to when I first got them. My other half would just catch me flexing me hand, shaking it, flexing, shaking it…because it just felt wrong. I did find that they helped, so I stuck with them and I’ve had them for over a year now. There’s still days when they feel awkward and uncomfortable, but those are days where my joints are just generally achy. I have noticed in general that my hands don’t ache NEARLY as much as they used to. Some of the worst joints no longer lock on me. I can do my artwork for longer periods without pain causing me to stop. It makes them well worth any minor discomfort that they cause.

**Authors Note: It was brought to my attention that some people with very thin fingers have experienced discomfort or pain with these. It was also noted by one very lovely person that commented on our Facebook page that he had similar issues, contacted DigiSplints (Canada based) with his issues and they worked with him to add an anchor ring at the bottom so they will be a better fit. The photos below are of his customized splint that he says works much better for him now!**

Where Did You Get Them?

I got mine through a hand therapist. The company that makes mine is called The Silver Ring Splint Co. and they’ve got a wide range of different styles. I’m hoping to go back soon and get the heavier brace for my right thumb as well as the one designed for the knuckle of my ring finger that gets displaced and locks.

My hand therapist had a set of mix and match sizing rings and we had to go through each finger, try on different sets, and found the best fit. Thankfully, my insurance covered all of my splints because they are a bit on the expensive side. They also have designs where you can get stones placed in the rings to make them even more decorative, but insurance will usually not cover the pretty cosmetic version.

There are now a few other people that are making splints of similar design that are a bit easier to acquire if you need to go out of pocket. Zebra Splints is very popular in the EDS community. A search on Etsy will provide a wide range of different artisans now. The most important thing is to make sure you’re getting the size and style of splint that will be most helpful to you. Personally, I feel more confident going through my hand therapist, but that’s not an option for all my fellow zebras.

At The End Of The Day

I’m exceptionally grateful for them. Though I have my fleeting moments of utter frustration and disgust at the need for them, I wouldn’t trade them in. I’m also grateful for the chance they give me to do my part to help normalize the need for the daily wear of medical devices. They are really beautiful. If I could afford to part with them for a few weeks, I’d be curious to know if they feel restrictive to a person with more normal range of motion or if they’d just feel like a regular old ring after a day or two. Either way, I would recommend them in a heartbeat if you have hand issues that could benefit. Anything that allows us to get back to doing the things we love with less pain threatening to strip it away? I’d say it’s a good thing.