FingerPress Finger Straightener | PIP Extension Orthosis/Splint For Bent Fingers, PIP Flexion Contractures | Adjustable Joint Stretcher Device | Made in USA | Gray/Medium

DISCLAIMER: As of this writing, I've been using this device for 12 days, and I'll update my review to reflect any changes in my opinion, for better or worse. Apologies for the "novel" below, but everyone's hands/needs differ, and I think it's important to be specific with devices like this.USE CASE: I had several hand injuries over the last several years, leaving me with a pinky finger that is mutilated and "frozen". They include a decades-old sports injury that never healed properly; later, a car-door accident (that probably occurred bc my finger was already in bad shape); and most recently, a watersports accident that finally left me inhibited from performing my job. Each time, my [bottom-of-the-barrel budget] ortho docs gave me one of those spring-loaded splints or thumb-screw-like devices, and then proceeded to blame ME for them not working to stretch and lengthen my pinky, and then gave me invoices for costly surgery. In reality, the other splints were often too big or too wide for my pinky and did little more than squash and bruise my PIP joint without creating sufficient leverage to actually stretch the ligament. Exasperated, I talked to my new neighbor, a knee/hip surgeon, and he asked around for alternatives and he finally turned up a doc (out of my network) with a patient experimenting with a FingerPress device. It's significantly more expensive than alternative/traditional splints, and it wasn't covered by my insurance. However, the design concepts make perfect sense in theory, and I'd rather a $95 treatment than thousands for surgery and recovery. So, I "fired" my ortho and decided to take the matter into my own hands, literally, and this is my last experiment before re-considering surgery.REVIEW:+ Overall (After 12 days): Halleluja! I'm overjoyed by my progress using this OrthoPress. I know that it will take several weeks of consistent use to get lasting change, but this is the first device I've tried that I can FEEL a stretch in the right places and FEEL progress in my hand instead of only pain.+ It will take much longer to straighten out my finger for good, but the constant PAIN in my hand associated with my frozen joint/ligament is beginning to decrease. yay!!+ The device is easy to assemble, and once done, it stays together unless you need to change the fingertip size part (once you get one fitted, there's no need to change it out)+ Padding on the parts that contact your skin is sufficient for comfort, and they are durable, waterproof, and easy to clean+ Accurate sizing: I chose X-Small for my pinky finger based on their size chart, and although my finger width was exactly between sizes XS and S, I'm glad I went with the smaller size. I have long, thin fingers, and I use the longest fingertip part, and it has a perfect fit.+ Adjustable tension: When I first put it on (especially in the morning or when my hands are cold), I start a little looser, then tighten the tension after a few minutes (it doesn't take long), then repeat until I feel a moderate sensation that I can handle for a few hours, well-short of unbearable pain. I'm almost able to wear it through the night, although I still wake up with sudden pain and remove or loosen it.+ Lightweight: the parts are 3D printed of a strong but featherweight resin. My hand never feels weighed down+ Instructions/Manual: very easy to read, and organized in a way that's meant to be read from front to back. For example, in big letters, they say to learn how to remove it before you try putting it on, which turns out to be important so you don't experience unnecessary pain!DOWNSIDES? It's really hard to think of any, especially compared to the other devices I've tried, but here are my nit-picking negs and suggestions.- I'm not able to type on a keyboard while wearing it, it's just too bulky underneath. So I wear it while walking, cooking, relaxing, and doing frankly anything else besides typing (at the moment, it's just sitting next to my keyboard waiting for me to finish this review!)- I wish more colors were available...I'd pay [a little] extra for a light pink or beige one that would blend in better with my skin tone (a few people have noticed the gray device thought I was carrying sunglasses, an inhaler, a personal safety alarm, etc. and were bewildered that I never put it down, LOL). If FingerPress wants to add a new color or model to the Amazon VINE program (size XS), I'd be delighted to "put it through the wringer" on that platform, too. :-D- More expensive than traditional splints, but apparently, some insurance providers will cover prescriptions for the device (just not mine).- It would be great if they printed or embossed numbers on the palmar tension ridges so that I can have a quick visual of where my last setting was and to keep track of my stretching progress. In the meantime, I took a sharpie and started marking my "starting position" and "personal best" tension settings for a quick reference, but of course, my system will fail as I start to improve.

This is a fantastic product. I use this with a lot of my patients with PIP contracture. It’s more user-friendly than the old style of orthotics to treat this. The business is a small business and the owner is great. Customer service is top-notch.

Returned due to the notches getting worn after a month of use. May consider ordering again as I have not found anything comparable.

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.

My husband has ALS and his fingers are bending toward the palm. This does gradually stretch them back out, but with really bent fingers it’s not easy to put on. You also have to slowly increase the pressure each day to straighten the finger. I originally bought the medium but ended up also ordering the X-large. My husband only weighs 135 lbs. It’s nice to have the three different sizes in the box.

Difficult to use, and the instructions are hard to follow.

I don't know if it's because my fingers are too think for it but this thing is uncomfortable and it hurts. Can't leave it on for too long due to how uncomfortable it is. I got the largest size available and still uncomfortable.

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!!