The last chance saloon

Some days ago I managed to do something unpleasant to my right hand by sleeping on top of it or something, with the upshot after a day or so being some swelling & discomfort. Both of which are gradually fading, but I thought that a bit of support might be helpful, the sort of support which can be procured without sitting for half a day in the emergency room and without running down the sports injury person who might have been rather more suitable.

First stop was the medicine cupboard which was found to contain a hand support of FIL's; a sort of fingerless glove made out of a rather thick version of the whiteish stuff you make bandages out of. But a bit ancient looking and in any case far too small for me.

Second stop was Lloyds the Chemist. On no sir. We don't carry anything like that. Why don't you try Boots the Chemist next door?

Third stop was Boots the Chemist next door. On no sir. We don't carry anything like that. Why don't you try Lloyds the Chemist next door?

At which point BH suggested trying the Internet but I thought that this might be a bit slow. Plus I would quite like to try the merchandise before buying.

So today off to Wigmore Street to visit John Bell & Croyden (see http://www.johnbellcroyden.co.uk/), the last survivor of what I remember as a  number of such healthy emporiums there. Places which could sell you life size models of backbones as well as all bits and bobs a busy young doctor might need for the removal of one's hand. Places catering for all the medicos and worse with offices in the streets, like Harley & Wimpole Street, in the vicinity. And yes, John Bell & Croyden did indeed have the sort of thing I had in mind, despite having given over a fair bit of floor space to the better sorts of cosmetics. Only one brand, but at least it came in various sizes, so there was a pair which did not fit too tightly. And made by Australians who, as sports nuts, might be expected to know all about what to do about sports injuries. Product recommended by the Australian Physiotherapy Association and sold to the Australian Institute of Sport (see http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais. They really are keen and the programme even includes beach volleyball scholarships - a phrase which one might otherwise have thought an oxymoron).

I have now worn the thing for a day. Not too hot, not too tight and the hand seems to have subsided a little more than it might have otherwise. I shall wear it tomorrow.

Mr. Google agrees with the illustration and gives the impression that the main users of gloves such as these are people with handy arthritis - which I why I think FIL had a pair. Which one might have thought was a common enough complaint for a middle sized branch of Boots to cater for - but clearly one might be wrong.