As the title suggests, I've been curious about ring splints lately, and I have a few questions. I can't afford healthcare (yay, America!), so I don't know who else to ask. I know you guys can't really offer medical advice, but I thought maybe I could get some insight.

How exactly do you know when you need them? This question might seem kind of common sense, but not always, I don't think. I don't get a lot of finger dislocations, but when I'm doing certain tasks, it can be a struggle. Scrubbing dishes causes my fingers to sort of "lock up" and hurt, and I've noticed that when I press buttons on a vertical surface (elevators, car buttons, etc), it makes my finger bend quite a bit, which can't be good. None of this is life-altering or anything, but enough to make me wonder.

When choosing ring splints, can I get them from anywhere, or do I need to look for certain qualities that deem them "up to code" or medically compliant? I have seen tons of etsy shops, no-name websites, and online jewelry stores selling ring splints - some even at economical prices. But how can just anyone sell ring splints? Don't they have to be made a certain way in order to be effective?

Do they make ring splints that are pretty? I've noticed that most ring splints are either silver or gold. i don't mind either one of those colors, but I also wouldn't mind maybe a "grown-up" pink or a rose gold. I might even be interested in some sparkle as long as it didn't irritate my skin.

Would it hurt the ring splints if I wore them in water? As mentioned above, a lot my problems happen when doing dishes, so if they get damaged from water exposure, it would be kind of a waste.

Thanks!