To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:19:07 -0500
Subject: [Puptcrit] s.o.o.t. creating a thin rigid form


Dear Puppetcritters,
?
I labeled this "sort of off topic", because it's not about puppets, yet it's about fabricating. What would be the quickest method to create a flat rigid form, about two inches wide, and about a foot long that can lay on the top of my ankle, following the contour in a (flexed) standing position? My view is to hold my foot in a flexed position in bed, as I am suffering from the dreaded plantar fasciitis, aggravated by tendonitis in my achillies. The reason I want to make this night splint myself is they are between $45 and $80, and I am currently wearing the prescribed $200 bledsoe boot, 24/7 for 6 weeks. It weighs several pounds, and it's wrecking my back rolling over (three weeks in) and I'm kicking my other foot with this huge thing in bed. I thought a night splint would make a more comfortable nocturnal alternative, but they are so expensive, for what they are. I would also prolong suffering by mail ordering one, as no one around me has any at the low end of the cost spectrum and I would have to await the delivery. There has to be a way I can fabricate one, today; all they are is a curved piece of plastic ( lying either against the top of the ankle, or on the back of calf/heel/sole of foot) with velcro straps (which I have yards of) that hold it on by wrapping around the top of the plastic to the ankle/ shin, and the bottom is held in place by more velcro strap. wrapping around the ball of the foot. It's not meant to be walked on. I only need it to keep my toes from pointing while I sleep. It has to be quite rigid, because there is a surprising ammount of pressure under contracture. Toes really want to point when you sleep, and preventing this keeps the muscle streched.

Back in the eighties, there was this plastic that came in inch wide by 6 inch strips, in the craft store. Used to make jewlery, you would put it in hot water to soften it, and it could be formed and cooled to stay rigid. It seems something like this would work, but I haven't seen it for years. Any ideas? Or other puppeting PF sufferers who made their own night splint? If I could bend a large plastic shoe horn in the middle, it would work. You get the idea of what I need to do.

Thanks for your ideas; the pain and lack of sleep has given me quite the mental block! - Kelly
_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit
Archives: http://www.driftline.org