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I had the operation six weeks ago

Posted , 3 users are following.

Guest
Guest

My little finger was at 45 degrees and the ring finger at 30 degrees on my left hand, I had no pain and was able to use my left hand as normal (I am left-handed) but as I'm only 48 I thought it was best to get this over and done with before I reach retirement and the operation became more difficult due to further contracture. The surgeon took me through all the pros and cons such as the one in fifty chance of severing one of the two nerves running down my little finger, maybe needing a skin graft and the possibility of the contracture returning. He said that he had performed many more than fifty of these operations and has never yet severed a nerve, however I was the first, at the moment I have no feeling running down the outside of my little finger and there is a chance that it won't return. My little and ring fingers are still swollen, stiff, sore and they seize up during the night when in my night splint to the point that it takes me ten to twenty minutes to get them moving again in the morning and even then they won't bend to the point of being able to grip a steering wheel, the palm of my hand is tender and I have occasional pain running down through the top of my little finger during the night which keeps me awake. The surgeon does not want to carry out any further operation on my hand and just hopes that the numbness in my little finger returns. At the moment I wish either I hadn't had the operation or they had amputated my little finger which to my mind is surplus to requirements now. I am due to have my right hand operated on in October and I must admit is nowhere near as bad as my left hand was, the ring finger is the only one affected and at 30 degrees the others, so I expect to go through with it. I can't yet go back to my driving job as the strength in my left hand to apply a handbrake is only 50% of the right.

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3 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    :cry:

    Sorry to hear of your experience. I had the same operation to my little finger of my right hand last September 2007. The nerves were damaged and the physio tells me my nervious system has now gone into shock. The top and side of my finger feels numb and very cold all the time. I still cannot straighten my finger and am unable to bend it, the palm of my hand is painful, tender and stiff and the ligaments in my arm are now also tender. The result is I am unable to grip or do many thing with my right hand which is very restrictive as I am right handed.

    I am still having physio but there is no improvement so far.

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    How are you getting on now, as it is almost a year since your op? I ask because I am having problems with stiffness in my fingers unless I keep them moving all the time (not very practical!). How did you manage to get them working each morning.

    I am also suffering with lots of swelling and tingling, both of which are difficult to control. Did you get that?

  • kriss
    kriss

    Posted

    [quote:5a1bf3c233=\"Aquarius54\"]How are you getting on now, as it is almost a year since your op? I ask because I am having problems with stiffness in my fingers unless I keep them moving all the time (not very practical!). How did you manage to get them working each morning.

    I am also suffering with lots of swelling and tingling, both of which are difficult to control. Did you get that?[/quote:5a1bf3c233]

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