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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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  • Emmie008
    Emmie008 caringbah

    Posted

    Your story sounds like mine. I know you had this done two years ago and I'm betting you now have full recovery in both hands! I have had this surgery done in both hands. Dr used tendon from arm, rolled up in a ball, and stuck it between the bones for cushion. I'm 62 years old. First surgery was about five years ago and was very successful! I had four weeks of PT after. I now am in week 5 of my second hand surgery recovery. BTW, my cast looked IDENTICAL to yours! Stitches came out after two weeks and then cast free. This time I am doing my own PT with good success. My second surgery was two hours long, as I had lots of bone the doctor had to scrape, under general anesthesia. If I had a THIRD hand I'd do it again! The major pain subsided after one week. Sure, some pain is still there, but bearable. I can probably lift 5 lbs by now after last surgery. No restrictions in previous hand that had surgery. I began using it right away after cast came  off and push myself to do as much with it as I can bear. I constantly exercise it by doing exercises that make it uncomfortable, again, pushing myself to the limit. Honestly, I don't understand the lengthy recovery time or the hesitation people have with having this surgery done.  Recovery is not a piece of cake but is doable, and the end results far surpass the inconvenience of the recovery time and pain. 

  • LBR
    LBR caringbah

    Posted

    5 weeks ago Dr Amy Ladd performed cmc arthroplasty at Stanford out-patient on my right hand.  My trapezoid bone was removed and I was sent home the same day with a nerve block and a catheter to continue the medication for the first few days at home. My recovery is going according to plan.  Having to use my left hand for everything is difficult because I have the same issue with my thumb joint in this hand. The pain from the overuse of my left hand is greater than the post-surgical hand.  Assuming my recovery continues to progress well, I will have the same surgery on my left hand in 4 weeks.

    Initially I had a plaster cast for 3 weeks, when the swelling went down I was put into a fiberglass cast with greater movement of my fingers and now I have a removable splint and will start PT in 2 days. I look forward to regaining the ability to ride a bike, play tennis and yes, pick up lose change, remove a credit card from my wallet and turn the keys in my car ignition all pain free .... the sky is the limit. 

    • tamara1026
      tamara1026 LBR

      Posted

      Wow, you sure are gutsy having surgery on both hands within such a short period of time. Next week I have my right hand done and already my left is getting worse, but I don't plan to have it done for at least another year so my right hand will be strong enough to pick up the slack.  My prayers are with you and it's good to hear recovery is going as planned.biggrin  I am encouraged!!

    • peter34761
      peter34761 tamara1026

      Posted

      Yeah, know the feeling well.  Been 8 months since I had the right hand done, and the left is excruciating most of the time, but need to get the right up to scratch before I do the left. It is virtually pain free unless I try to open a screw cap bottle or similar and it lets me know it has a way to go. Probably have pretty well full use of the right, but it is a pretty slow process. I can grab a chunk of firewood by the thumb and fingers with no problems, so that is all good considering it is winter here in Australia.  Saw my surgeon a couple of months ago and he is very happy with the progress, and asked me when he could do the left, needless to say I grinned at him and said something sarcastic and please wait a few more months. My next visit is November, so will probably make a decision to get it done in the new year.
  • CATKGT
    CATKGT caringbah

    Posted

    Do you know of any guitar players or are there any on this discussion who have had this surgery on their fretting hand? If so could you still play guitar??

    Thx

    • kathleen10572
      kathleen10572 CATKGT

      Posted

      Not sure of guitar spefically but know i have seen comments from patients who play piano and also music teachers. If you scroll back far enough you may find one or someone else might comment. Hope you can find some comments.
    • Devonia
      Devonia CATKGT

      Posted

      I'm a music teacher (woodwind & piano) & researched a lot through the web when considering surgery. Decided that this year I needed to start to make things more manageable so had worst hand operated on almost 7 weeks ago. 

      I've played a little piano today, only simple left hand as still have some lack of mobility in wrist/fingers  post cast ( only had cast off 6 days ago). 

      Funnily enough when I was doing my research I could find info from guitar & ukelele players  but not too much from woodwind & piano.  I think that was on a string player forum online. Do an internet search & you may find information there. 

  • judith98909
    judith98909 caringbah

    Posted

    I had right hand done in January 2017 and going in for left hand a week from Friday.  Still some mild soreness in right after a long day on the computer (I am an accountant), but pain and function is much better.  Left did take a beating while right was healing...looking forward to getting them both done.  I am only 52 and have many more working years ahead!  Anyone on the fence, I feel like it was worth it!  Judy
    • deberdoodle
      deberdoodle judith98909

      Posted

      Thanks judith, 

      What procedure did they do? I am a dental hygienist and I'm nervous about having enough grip strength after for what's I do.

  • deberdoodle
    deberdoodle caringbah

    Posted

    Hi Caringbah, Did you have your thumb surgery? I am about ready to do it due to the pain  but of course nervous about success and recovery. How are you?
  • Mamasmitty
    Mamasmitty caringbah

    Posted

    I am having my surgery on Dec 28th (so I can heal by Kayak/biking season!) I would love to hear the answers to Caringbah's questions. Also Wondering if people have tips on how to do things one handed afterward. I am getting an automatic toothpaste dispenser and shampoo dispenser'd that I can use one handed. I'm SURE there are other things I'm not thinking of. If people have tricks, I would love to hear! Thanks! 

    • linda01827
      linda01827 Mamasmitty

      Posted

      Get one of those battery-operated can openers that you sit on top of the can and it circles around.  Buy it early as they're tricky to use and you can practice.  Also - those plastic bags in the meat department of groceries are a good size to cover your arm while showering.  Just put a couple of rubber bands over it to secure it.  Trash bags are too big and I found that cast sleeve you buy very hard to get on.

      Got my cast off, pins out, and a brace on this morning.  PT starts next week.  The hand is tender and stiff (I also had broken my wrist a few weeks earlier) but the basal thumb pain is GONE in that hand!  I feel very optimistic and confident this was the right decision for me.

      Good luck to you.  Keep us posted on how you're doing.

      Linda

    • Mamasmitty
      Mamasmitty linda01827

      Posted

      Great suggestions! Thanks! So, you said you got your pins out. I was wondering if they put "hardware" in. If they do, they don't leave it??

    • caringbah
      caringbah Mamasmitty

      Posted

      Hi Mamasmitty and deberdoodle. 

      No I haven't had surgery yet. I'm still managing with three things....

      1. Arthritis cream. I slap this on when needed. Trouble is it's messy which makes me reluctant to use it because it takes about half an hour to get fully absorbed. 

      2. Beef Gelatin....works for me. I place three tablespoons in a large cup of boiling water. Add some chicken noodle soup and it's a tasty drink. I know it's working when I forget to take it.....hurts like hell.

      3. Arthritis compression gloves. These are brilliant. INSTANT relief. I don't know how they work but they do. 

      Using these three I can mostly avoid pain killers. 

      My arthritis is gradually getting worse....my next step is to try stem cell treatment. 

      I want to avoid surgery at all costs because....

      1. I'm afraid of unintended consequences.

      2. Long recovery time. 

       

    • judith98909
      judith98909 Mamasmitty

      Posted

      I just had my second surgery on my non dominant hand (ligament reconstruction with interposition Arthroplasty) two weeks ago.  I am now in a cast.  I took one week off work as I am an accountant and do light typing with my left hand if I take it east. I was also driving after a week and it took a few small trips to get comfortable with blinkers, etc.   smile  Some things that helped me were slip on shoes and pants with and elastic waist. When you are doing the dominant hand, flushable wipes instead of toilet paper helped, as that can be awkward with non dominant hand.   My kids leave the lid off the toothpaste anyway...ha ha.  Luckily I ask my family for help with jar lids etc.  Probably not the best, but I tend to use my elbow and teeth to open things... As I did the dominant hand first, this time it seems much easier.  I just try and power through - time is going fast.  Good luck!
    • Guest
      Guest judith98909

      Posted

      It sounds like you are doing well and have figured out ways to cope. I am 13 days
    • Mamasmitty
      Mamasmitty judith98909

      Posted

      Great ideas! Thanks! I am also fortunate that it's my non dominent hand!

    • Emmie008
      Emmie008 caringbah

      Posted

      Hi Caringbah. You have more patience than I do if you’ve been suffering with your joints as long as you have without having surgery! I’ve had cmc joint arthroplasy on both hands.  The right hand was done about 5 years ago and no pain and full usage now. I had the left hand done 3 months ago. Most days it gives me no problem. It still swells some if I overuse it, I’m guessing. Yes, the recovery takes awhile, but if I had a third hand that needed surgery, I’d do it again! I did not have pins. A tendon was taken from my arm, rolled up in a ball, and used for cushion between the bone on bone joints. I’m 63 years old so not much younger than you.  Ask me questions if you want!
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