ITA-MED Super Arm Sling with Shoulder Immobilizer and Abduction Pillow, Fits Left and Right Arm

My husband had major shoulder surgery. The sling given to him was pretty flimsy for not being able to move it for 2 months. After checking out different slings we opted on this one because of the different options. The cushion is removable so when you don't want it on you can take it off, it's just Velcro. The cushion has a ball to lay your hand on, and trust me it makes a difference than just letting your hand hang or lay in the sling. The price was great, which made it a no brainer.

To start, I got the wrong size thanks to the size chart that was provided with the Walmart ad--- and it's not Walmart's fault as the manufacturer has the very same size chart on its website. The problem is that the last line of the chart is cut off, not on the chart. You will finally see the last line only when you unpack the product as the complete chart is on the package label. It says that--- get this--- the forearm length is to be measured from the elbow to the base of the little finger. No kidding! Everyone else in the world thinks that the forearm extends from the elbow to the wrist, or maybe some would guess that it extends all the way to the fingertips. So be guided accordingly. Furthermore, I tried to report this to the company but their online feedback form didn't work! In addition to the straps pictured, you will find that there is a mysterious third strap that is attached to the sling. And as others have noted there are no instructions. Not in the box or on the company's website. There are some things that you won't figure out immediately and if--- heaven help us--- you are post-surgical and trying to do this by yourself you could indeed be in trouble. (e.g., The little unattached strap with velcro on both ends is to keep your elbow all the way back in the sling... so wrap in more around your upper arm above the elbow and not around your forearm.) The connections between the straps and the sling in back are simple double-slotted plastic strips, and the straps are looped through the slots--- one loop is very short and is to attach the slotted plastic to the device and the other loop is the end of the strap that goes around you. On mine, the loop from the pillow to one side of the slotted plastic is too long, say 3/8's of an inch. It was supposed to be so short, so tight to the slot that it could never bunch up toward one end of the slot. So I had to sew that one tight to the slot myself. And you will find two or three little square patches of velco on the straps. You may at first think that they are sewn on; they aren't. They are two-sided hook-type velcro. Not only are they for securing tag ends, but you should have them available to press between the loop ends of your straps in back, very near the slots in the plastic connectors, so as to stop the loop from bunching up in one corner of the slot. However, you need at least two more such patches of velcro than are provided, and it would be nice to have about 5 more, as you can use them. For example, about the third strap, I have seen photos of other such products in which the strap is drawn from behind, under the healthy arm, and then attached to the main shoulder strap in front below the neck. That's how I've rigged mine, with the purpose being to keep the shoulder strap from digging into my neck. It does work for me, but looping it around the shoulder strap crumples the shoulder strap, meaning that it doesn't lie flat. So I went to Walmart to buy velcro. I found some industrial-strength hook-type patches that I will cut to size, but they are not double-sided so I shall make use of the glue that they have on the back to try to glue them together back-to-back. If I then put strap-sized patches on both sides of the shoulder strap at the point where I want the third strap from under the arm to attach, I should be able to solve the problem of the shoulder strap bunching up there. Before I had the opportunity of shopping for velcro patches I made clothespin-like wooden clamps on the bandsaw (not the spring type, the slip-on type) to keep the loops in back from bunching up at the slots in the plastic connectors.