From Medical Aid to Independence: Marit’s Story

“My humour is stronger than my connective tissue.”

Marit Scholtens (44) lives with hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), dysautonomia, gastroparesis and POTS. Due to her health, she is unfortunately no longer able to work. Still, Marit uses her experiences to help others. On Instagram, @too.bendy.to.break, she shares her experiences of living with chronic illness, pain and Ehlers-Danlos, combining serious information with plenty of humour.

When your hands limit you

Because of her hEDS, Marit is extremely hypermobile and regularly experiences (sub)luxations. Her wrists, hands and fingers in particular caused significant pain and limitations.

“It was extremely painful and meant I couldn’t use my hands the way I wanted to.”

She was prescribed several different braces and her hands were regularly taped by her physiotherapist. But the braces also came with practical challenges. They were warm, couldn’t get wet and the Velcro kept catching on her clothes.“There had to be another way.”Through fellow patients and her own online search, Marit eventually discovered We Design Silversplints.“I was immediately sold. I had to try them.”

Personally fitted to her needs

For the fitting of her Silversplints, Marit was supported by our partner Atelier d’Orthopédie. Together, they looked at her hands, joints and individual needs to ensure that the Silversplints were fitted to her specific situation.

This personal approach is important because every hand and every individual need is different. By tailoring the Silversplints to Marit’s situation, she received support that fits into her everyday life.

More support, more freedom

Since wearing her Silversplints, Marit experiences fewer luxations in her wrists, hands and fingers. The Silversplints also help prevent her joints from overstretching, helping them stay in a more stable position.

But for Marit, it is about more than support and less pain. The splints have also given her back a part of her independence.“The splints have given me back part of my independence.”

One simple but meaningful example is something many people take for granted: washing her hair. Marit can now do this herself again, even in the shower.“People think they’re jewellery”What Marit didn’t expect was that she would also come to appreciate the appearance of her medical aids.“I never expected to experience my medical aids as elegant.” She regularly receives compliments on her “beautiful jewellery”. When she explains that they are actually medical aids, people are often surprised. And Marit likes that. Her Silversplints are not something she wants to hide. They have become part of her everyday life and part of her personal style.

Give yourself time

For people who are just starting with Silversplints, Marit has one important piece of advice: build up the wearing time gradually. “At first, they can feel uncomfortable because your body isn’t used to them. Build it up carefully and wear them a little longer each day.”By now, Marit can’t imagine life without her splints. What initially felt like an additional limitation has ultimately given her more freedom. “You gradually start to experience them as part of yourself. Then you no longer see them as a medical aid, but as a beautiful fashion accessory that allows you to look and feel good.”

From medical aid to greater independence

Marit’s story shows that a medical aid can be about more than support. For her, Silversplints also mean greater independence in everyday life, more confidence in using her hands and the freedom to do things for herself again. And perhaps just as importantly: she doesn’t feel the need to hide her medical aids. They can be seen. Curious to hear more about Marit’s experience? Follow her on Instagram: @too.bendy.to.break.