I'm weighing up surgery on my thumb joints

Well I am 70 had the trapeziectomy 6 months ago on my right thumb and it is now pain free and I have pretty well full range of movement. Just need to improve strength, which will happen, it is a helluva lot better than before, and as far as I am concerned, it has worked a treat. I think one has to be pretty careful who they choose to do the operation, as there are obvious risks. There is obviously a fairly long period of recuperation, but the younger you are, the quicker this should happen.  My left thumb is going to be done within the next few months as it is really painful.

Hi. Just trapeziectomy? Did you do the ligament reconstruction tendon interposition.as well?Suspension.plasty of the thumb joint ?Very curious about your recovery period. Thank you for sharing.

Yes, I had the ligament Anchovy procedure in conjunction with the trapezium bone removal

This is an image taken after 26 days, as you can see incisions are healing well, now after 6 months you are struggling to see any sign of a procedure.

Looks good you are healing very well. It's the 40 year old. Tried and true procedure invented by a very smart person.Genius really.

I still am fairly active and need to return to work sooner than later.And I truly believe at this point.

The newer technique. Such as the mini tightrope suspension plasty. Could be a way to go with quicker healing times and less trauma. But that is to be determined.I will fly to San Fran. This fall for a real consultation. And decide from there. Thanks for your progress. Update. Thumbs up. Sir.

Arthur, your latest response went to someone else, I did not consider any other surgery, my specialist has performed other procedures on me and I had full confidence in his recommendations.  In addition a very good friend of mine has a son who I have known since he was a baby is now an ortho specialist at a Perth hospital, and having discussed the procedure with me I was very confident in the outcome. BTW I do not live in Perth, but Adelaide. I asked his advice as a second opinion, and he said that there is an excellent outcome with this procedure if it is performed by a competent specialist. Having said that he also advised, that in any surgery, nothing is 100% guarenteed, which any one should realise.

Agree whole heartedly

I am an anesthesiologist. And I am in the operating room watching the patients and surgery every day.

There are a lot of great doctors.

Finding the ones that are the best In their field isn't that hard. Reputation and these patient forums also help.My issue is asking around and finding a doctor in my area that would consider doing a arthroscopic hemi trapeiectomy. Vs a complete one.And also one with the vast experience and development of the mini tight rope suspension plasty.

The surgery that your good friend recommended. And the one you had is an excellent surgery.

I am just in search of the same results. With less invasiveness.

Much like. Open chole vs. lap chole.

Open prostatectomy. Vs. the new devinci robotic prostatectomy.

All in the Hands of the operator and their experience. And your mind set. And ability to rehab. Etc.

This all helps. Thank you for your feedback. And time.Good luck to all and happy healing.

Wow, you are in the medical profession, well you should have no issues getting the best treatment.  Certainly helps to be in the know.  My Ortho is part of a family of specialists, his brother is An ENT Professor and he saved my life basically using the DaVinci robotic machine to remove a tumour at the base of my tongue. This was 7 years ago and that machine was pretty well in its infancy here in Adelaide, he was at the time one of the only few people rated on in Australia.   Definitely saved me as the alternative was pretty well opening up my whole face, with the resulting scarring and humongous rehab.

Wow. That is a big surgery.You of all people understand what I mean. About surgeons and experience.

Thank you for sharing this! My surgery is scheduled for the end of the month-- how is your recovery going? - j

Looks good. My surgery is on July 20th, so in 2 weeks I will be on the other side!

My hand specialist is doing a trapeziectomy with soft tissue interposition (think that was the term!).

I'm wondering how this thumb will cope as I have hyper flexible joints & years ago had a minor surgery to try & correct the "swan necking" of the middle joint. It is now swan necking again, and is not a stable joint.

Hoping for a good recovery as I'm a woodwind & piano teacher, plus I like to crochet/knit etc.

I'm in the U.K. so maybe we have different procedures here? I did investigate the possibility of joint, or partial joint, replacement but as my arthritis is affecting both sides of that joint it wasn't feasible as it wouldn't address the problem in the wrist.

I saw 2 very well recommended hand surgeons in different parts of the U.K. & both said trapeziectomy was the way to go!

If this side is successful then I will have my other hand done later, maybe next year if I can keep going with it this year.

Of course, a lot will depend on recovery time of the first op ;-)

Good luck with your surgery, should not be an issue as long as the surgeon is a competent in this procedure, you do have to adhere to the rehab regime, but that is no big deal.  I was touch typing after 4 weeks.  The actual time for one to become pretty well pain free depends I reckon on the individual, it does not happen quickly, but it does happen.  I know there are some horror stories on this forum, but in my opinion, they are quite rare, most people who have this probably have gone through the operation, done what they are supposed to do and all has worked and they just moved on with their lives.  Those that post here are seeking advice, or providing feedback and generally trying to help others with similar issues.

I also have hypermobility but have now definitely decided against the operation. I see a top class hand surgeon at a private hospital in U.K., and he did a big shoulder op for me last year. But I am not happy with all the possibilities of complications I have read about. Even he said he could not guarantee such a good recovery as I made with my shoulder. I would need the trapeziotomy and be in plaster for first 4 weeks then a lesser restrictive one for another 3 weeks. Can't do that. But I have had great success with a Push thumb brace and can now do embroidery even with it on 😀

Yes there are some very good surgeons Arthur, and I see one of the best in a private hospital near me. He did shoulder surgery on me last year and I had great recovery. But even he has said about the problems I might get with the trapeziotomy and that I won't get such a good recovery as I did on my shoulder. Thumbs are used much more than a shoulder 😕 and I cannot for various reasons be in a complete plaster cast for the amount of time needed .....

I've tried braces but not been successful with them & I end up having sore arms! Certainly couldn't do my crochet/ knitting with them but could play piano, as long as my hand didn't need to move far.

I've seen hand specialists at 2 private hospitals. One did my carpel tunnel surgery 15 years ago but I no longer live in that part of the UK so going with the other, who is about 75 - 90 minutes away, deoending on traffic. He did some training under the first one & was recommended in this area.

I've been told I will have a half cast with heavy bandaging for 2 weeks. Then the wound will be checked & a full cast put on for a further 4 weeks. That will take care of my 6 week school summer holiday!

Then lots of physio & not sure yet if I will need to wear a protective splint in between sessions. Will worry about that nearer the time ;-)

Thanks.

I'm pretty good at sticking to post op regimes, as I know how important it is! I certainly will not be chancing anything with this as I need to regain my hand use.

I've been told that it can take up to a year before knowing if the surgery has been a success, but can take less time. Lots of sites say 4-6 months to get back to normal but, as you say, we all heal at different rates & have different reactions to things.

I've been putting this surgery off since last year when it was suggested I need it, but the time has come to get on with hand number 1 done & sorted!!

If it's any help to people on this thread - I am now 4 weeks post-op from the mini-tightrope procedure for CMC arthritis on my right (dominant) hand. So far it has gone really well.  The cast was removed after 2 weeks, and I was able to use a keyboard/mouse at that point.  I won't be able to do heavy lifting with that hand until 6 weeks post, but I am using it for light activities (brushing, eating, etc.) quite well. I can make a tight first and touch my pinky, but opening a bottle / pinching / making fine movements is still painful and weak.

They used general anesthesia and then I stayed on the oxy for 5 days followed by ibuprofen for two more. I was back to my office job (software) after only 4 days.  Now at 4 weeks, it gets quite sore (dull pain) during the day as it is healing and I do my exercises, and I expect that until about 2-3 months.  Ibuprofen works fine for pain.

Some advice from my doctor (who I believe was a resident under Yao) was that "I would tell him" when I was ready for the procedure.  He said when the OA pain was bad enough I would want the procedure, but until then, no need to get it. That was over a year ago.  Lately, just pulling up my pants in the morning was so painful, I knew it was time.  Also, I asked his PT nurse about complications with the mini-tightrope, where they needed to remove the wire or clips, and she said that has never happened to any of her patients and she hadn't heard of that.  But only time will tell for me.  If everything continues to progress like this, I plan to get the other hand done in October (4 months after the first).  I am a 54 y.o. male in Colorado USA.

I had the same surgery. My thumbs are a little stiff and sore but I can see that gradually going away. He did tell me the recovery was at least a year and it has not been a year yet.