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I'm weighing up surgery on my thumb joints

Posted , 148 users are following.

caringbah
caringbah

I have osteo arthritis of both thumb joints. I'm 70, still very active ( currently on a skiing holiday) and work full time in my business. My condition is getting increasingly painful. I get by with painkillers. I have seen a surgeon but I'm really concerned about the long recovery time. 

Has anyone here had basal thumb surgery and if so would you mind describing...briefly...what the surgery and recovery like and any complication. I would be most grateful.

Cheers. 

10 likes, 917 replies

917 Replies

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  • peter34761
    peter34761 caringbah

    Posted

    Thanks for that My left thumb is actually now feeling worse than the right, as it is doing everything whilst the right is splinted. According to the surgeon the arthritis was quite severe when he opened the joint up. So my left is obviously just as bad if not worse. Oh the joys of getting old!!
  • peter34761
    peter34761 caringbah

    Posted

    Just done a quick search not much come up, so if you could PM me a link to the particular one you are using that would be great.
    • Woodywhite
      Woodywhite peter34761

      Posted

      Peter don't waste your time and money on creams and potions, your consultant is the person who will sort your problem, once the arthritis has got to the stage of needing surgery no creams injections etc will eliviate you pain . Having had 6 joint replacements and waiting for both hips to be replaced I think I can safely say my ops have relieved me of my pain . As for thumb surgery I'm now 9 months down the line and free of pain at last , however I've now got athritis in my wrists .

      Stick with professionals , and you won't regret it, it's a long haul but worth it in the end

      Good Luck

    • caringbah
      caringbah Woodywhite

      Posted

      Woody, I'm not wasting my time. I don't call five five painkiller free days a waste of time. 

      I don't have the same faith in the medical profession that you do. There is a place for surgery ....but it's at the very end of a long line of options. Thank you for your concern however. 

      Cheers

    • Woodywhite
      Woodywhite caringbah

      Posted

      Don't have any concerns , about creams and potions, I'm realistic your Drs, consultants etc would prescribe them first if they thought they would work. When arthritis gets to a stage of needing surgery it's for a reason. Having been a patient since I was 20 now 65 think I can safely say surgery works in giving relief of pain and taking meds to alleviate pain .

      Injections and creams are a short term fix and will not now or ever stop aggressive arthritis FACT

      thanks for reply , but my message was a reply to someone else's post and not yours.

  • KillOGrange
    KillOGrange caringbah

    Posted

    Hi Caringbah,

    Sorry for delay in thanking you. your reply went into my spam and I just found them today. It was great to read yours and others' replies to my post.  Thanks so much,  my date for surgery is 11th March now.  I am so debilitated by these thumbs that I am going to go ahead and hope for the best.  Getting left thumb done first.  I see from some posts that it may not be as long as 6 weeks without driving.  The thoughts of being housebound kills me.  Also I see that some people can manage after surgery - I have no idea how I could do up buttons etc. even dress myself, have been trying to figure out what would be easiest clothes to wear.  I am a widow so don't have a significant other to help.   anyway onward I go and thanks again for the reply.  i am too impatient to just live with the condition and the disability.   Cheers

    • judith98909
      judith98909 KillOGrange

      Posted

      i think the driving is dependent on where you live.  I think in the US it is not against the law to drive with a cast - you just need to be narcotic free for 24 hours.  I think I read on another blog that the laws in Europe may be different.  I went shopping before my surgery for slip on shoes and pull on pants for work.  It is winter in Minnesota, so a little tougher with the layers....but a little preparation is the key.  This blog has been a big help!
    • wknight
      wknight KillOGrange

      Posted

      With regard to driving if you live in the U.K and your doctor has told you 6wks if you drive your insurance will be invalid and that can get you 6-8pts on your licence. 

      I have just had surgery and couldn't drive for a couple of weeks and I too live on my own. I discovered walking, taking the train and asking friends for lifts. You can always take a taxi. For shopping use online delivery. I found my friends were happy to help.

      my other ops I was off the road for 4 weeks and 8 weeks no motorcycling so I know what you mean. Time to get walking 

  • SweetIrene
    SweetIrene caringbah

    Posted

    Im having surgery in two days on my left basal thumb joint...replacing with a tendon? from my wrist.  I'm not worried about post-op except.... My issue is the cast.  Is it up to the elbow, or does it include the elbow?  Having terrible claustrophobia, I can't stand the thought of not being able to outstretch my arm.   Thanks in advance!

    • peter34761
      peter34761 SweetIrene

      Posted

      My cast only lasted a day and it was below the elbow.  Replaced by a removable splint
    • peter34761
      peter34761 SweetIrene

      Posted

      Sorry the splint is about 4-5 inches below the elbow. I saw my hand therapist yesterday and he said I could remove the splint at home as long as I did nothing with the thumb other than his prescribed exercises. It is 3 weeks since surgery, still sore but bearable. It also aches quite a bit, but nearly all swelling has disappeared.  I am typing this with all 10 fingers!!
    • judith98909
      judith98909 SweetIrene

      Posted

      Both the splint I had for the first week and the hard cast I curtently will have for four weeks is below my elbow..not sure how to attach pic
    • peter34761
      peter34761 judith98909

      Posted

      When you click on reply, top right corner of the box has 4 icons, a B,an i a smiley and the one next to the smiley on the right of it is the one to click on to add an image
    • judith98909
      judith98909 SweetIrene

      Posted

      the first pic is my splint from week one...was glad to get that one off..the second one is my cast that I will have for another three weeks.  I will then get a removable splint and start the excerises..It really is not as bad as I expected...you learn to adapt!
    • judith98909
      judith98909

      Posted

      wishing you the best of luck!
    • dawn61095
      dawn61095 judith98909

      Posted

      I only had too wear cast for 8 days. Yes it drove me nuts but I found if I kept busy it helped take my mind off. Day 8 stitches out than removable splint for 5 weeks accept to do some stretching exercises and shower. Than next 4 weeks wear it sometimes. I didn't follow sometimes after 6 weeks and I should have because you still need it for your weakness in wrist. After 2 weeks of not I went back too it. Thankfully cold hand is getting better. That's from a nerve in wrist that isn't happy at the time. Still sore in areas, 9 weeks out but every week gets better. Not so much every day but every week. This is totally doable just lengthy recovery. When you are able massage your hand and wrist every day it helps.

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