Hi I have diplegic cp. I wear an afo night splint on my right leg and a leg gaiter on my left leg over night to give muscles a good stretch.
I find it more comfortable to sleep in the splints than without. wearing them regularly really helps with muscle tightness, once you get used to wearing them.
What sort of night splints will you be getting??

Hi, thanks for replying. Am not sure as the physio didnt go into detail which was frustrating. I've not had splints for awhile. Do you know anything about the different types? I feel something has to be done,as pains and discomfort very bad at times.
Katherine

Hi, I have found that night splints really help with that uncomfortable tight feeling, and I tend to rest better in splints and my leg gaiter. I know a bit about different types of splints, as I am 25 and have been wearing splints on and off since the age of 2, and over that time I have had so many different types!! - I also tend to destroy splints, as I am really active....
chris

Hi Chris, thanks for replying. It's really bad I didn't get much info at the hospital. Perhaps you can tell me more about the types of splints there are and the materials they're made of, comfort levels etc (although I guess this will vary from person to person). They ought to have been able to advise me.
Katherine

Ive had splints a couple of times over the years and they can be very effective in stretching muscles after you get used to sleeping with them.

The ones that I have had were made out of the same material that casts are constructed of which are then cut down the front so that you can get your leg in and out with velcro straps on them to do them up.

However, regardless of how these have helped regular botox injects into my muscles together with physio/exercise has proven more effective.

Even so I would recomend splints as they should help.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I know the type as I've had them before. Never had Botox, any idea of the criteria for who gets treated? Ie what symptoms are for a person to be treated. Surgery has been ruled out a lot for me due to the unknown probability the op will go well, & results be favorable. ( surgeons/specialists always unable to tell me). Any other types of splints you've had? Apologise for all the questions but I've never been well informed about this. I have spasticity in all 4 limbs & my legs & feet turn in, also have rotational deformities at hips and partial luxation.

I am very fortunate that I have private medicate health cover through my employer and the consultant that I saw arranged for me to see Professor Leslie Findley who is the top of the tree in this field. However, he added me to his NHS as the botox comes in at £300 per session. The reason why I went to see the consultant in the first place was due to increased stiffnes in my legs, that has been helped greatly by the injections plus the physio he sent me too.

Over the years nothing like this had previously suggested and probably like most peoples experiences the level of care and support is a bit of a lottery. I am not saying the botox would work for everybody and it does have the effect of incresing musclar weakness, so if the actual stiffness gives you the ability to walk then it might not be for you. The other thing is that it only lasts 3 months, so it does not last forever, but Ive been having this treatment for 2 years now and its been great.

A couple of years ago I had an operation to extend my achillies tendon in my left foot plus a tendon transfer operation, but this made no noticable to the way I walked and could have made it worse so I would personally be very wary of any surgical solution as the mechanics of how people with CP walk vary from case to case and there is no one size fits all solution.

You can find details on the internet of different types of surgery that has been performed, manly in the US with varying degrees of succes, but as I said its not always a quick fix as it can cause more problems.

I hope this helps.