I'm weighing up surgery on my thumb joints
Posted , 148 users are following.
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
nancy43694 caringbah
Posted
caringbah nancy43694
Posted
Hi Nancy,
no I haven't. So far I have been able to keep that at bay with the gelatin and hand cream. When and if that stops working I'm going to try stem cell treatment.
By that time I should be in advanced denentia, so I can just go and forget about it all. 😀
Cheers
Maggie123456 caringbah
Posted
I'm 7 months post cmc arthroplasty surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery has not been successful. It has resulted in an arthritic hand, i.e., I cannot extend my fingers back. Following surgery, I experienced a lot of inflammation, which I still have, though reduced slightly. I followed the instructions for stretching my fingers and thumb & went to hand therapy twice a week for six months. My hand is like a claw. I cannot extend my fingers back. They are 'stuck' and have become arthritic. I have a lot of pain in the surgical site, especially in my wrist. My fingers were just fine before this surgery. Has anyone else experienced this? Has anyone been left with an arthrtic hand? Thank you so much and I hope to hear from someone who has gone through this.
caringbah Maggie123456
Posted
Hi Maggie, I'm so sorry to hear of your situation. I'm afraid I can't be of any assistance ...all I can offer you is my sympathy.
Hecate Maggie123456
Posted
So sorry to hear this Maggie ....unfortunately I have heard this many times now ...how such a simple operation (compared to my shoulder surgery) has gone wrong for so many ...and is one of the reasons i have decided I am not having this done ...I would have needed both thumbs doing ...this does mean I will no longer be able to do my one big passion after I had retired from work, which was embroidery 😕...... luckily I never use thumbs to text lol ...but I will carry on with splints and voltarol gel ....I really hope there is something they can do for you x
Val x
Jules76 caringbah
Posted
Did you go ahead with the surgery? If so, are you happy with the results? I am weighing wether to proceed or not myself and would love to hear your feedback. - j.
caringbah Jules76
Posted
Hi Jules, no I didn't. So far I am managing pain quite well with Beef Gelatin and arthritis cream. Not 100% pain free but manageable. Surgery will be the absolute last resort.
Hecate caringbah
Posted
I decided against the op too .....I went ahead and bought a Push thumb brace ...it was expensive but has worked brilliantly so far and is very easy to do anything whilst wearing it ...no restrictions. I am really glad someone on here recommended Push ...so far worth every penny 😀
Rodann25 caringbah
Posted
I am 65 and getting closer and closer to an operation on my left thumb joint, had 2 injections with little relief and I will soon have to make the decision. Surgeon has recommended trapezium removal with tendon 'anchovy' insertion. I have read that the Cartiva implants are now becoming more common was this an option? I would be grateful for any information.
Guest Rodann25
Posted
Hi there are lots of good options.
All long term outcomes. Are similar. From my homework.
It's the gold standard. This lrti.If you You a donor anhoivie. How is the thumb secure ? By a pin?
Look up mini tight rope.
That is the way I plan on doing mine.
You always have the lrti as a back up if the mini tightrope doesn't work.
Look up the study And work of Jeff Yao from Stanford.
Then talk to your surgeon. All about your options.
Good Luck.
I personally will see about mini tight rope for me.
ChinaDoll1950 Guest
Posted
Hi. I did do the research on mini-trapeze by Dr. Yao and got a referral to surgeon at a local research/teaching hospital. That surgeon explained to me why he doesn't do the mini-tightrope . He knows Dr. Yao too. The main problem is that there's no long term data on how well the mini-tightrope works. Also, when there are complications, they can be significant. He explained that the wire is placed in a dynamic situation and can act much like a wire cheese cutter. The wire can actually cut through the index finger bone and that is a documented complication. I've decided to go with the tried and true LRTI.
Something he said convinced me to have the surgery. He explained the difference between an orthopedic procedure that aims to return a joint to its normal function and the LRTI, the goal of which is to salvage the joint and make it function, albeit less so than it was before arthritis. The word salvage took me aback! However, it helped me understand the point of the operation and gave me realistic expectations. I wish there were some fancy new procedure or device in the works for my achy thumbs, but alas, there's not. Good luck with whatever choice you make!
ChinaDoll1950
Posted
Devonia ChinaDoll1950
Posted
:-)
A circus indeed!!
Annoying that you can't edit posts to correct auto correct. Some of my earlier posts have strange words. Mind you as I'm usually replying using phone then I'll just blame dodgy hands!!
Guest ChinaDoll1950
Posted
Good luck. I am going to stanford to see Yao. In the fall.
Then. Decide fully.
He also has. Cases where he took the tightrope out at 3 to 4 months. And once the hematoma scar forms. It's all good to go. Best of luck with your surgery.
Hecate Devonia
Posted
Easy to read through before you click reply lol then you can edit. But if it is a long reply unfortunately I can't be bothered to read it all again 😄😄