I'm weighing up surgery on my thumb joints

Good luck with Surgery #2!  - I found it is a little easier as you know what to expect.  Hope all goes well!

Thank you! I had it done last December. It will be a year in December since surgery #2 was done so the hard part is behind me.

 

Thanks for the encouraging words Michelle. I'm finally scheduled to have the trapeziectomy on my left thumb on March 27th. I've lived with the excruciating pain in both thumbs for so many years and I've finally found a surgeon that has given me confidence in the procedure and potential results. There are so many horror stories on this site and others that it's nice to see someone with positive results. I know we're all different but most anything is better than what I'm going through now.

Hoping if all goes well to have the right done in Sept so my recently retired husband and I can hit the roads in 2019 for travel and some fun in the sun.

If there are others that want to offer words of encouragement or caution, all are welcome. God Bless

Ali,

So many of us know that pain in the thumbs.  I broke my wrist in May and it either directly (or indirectly from the cast) really did a number on my arthritic thumb.  It was literally fused and so painful!  First ortho offered no remedy for it so I sought a second opinion.  Like you, found an ortho hand specialist I really trusted and he did the surgery.  Bones crumbled and he put 3 pins in which were removed at 6 weeks.  The worst part for me was the casts.  The best part is a functioning thumb.  Be sure to do the therapy and stick with it.  It's a slow process but I'm so glad I had it done.  As someone said, it's not perfect, and may never be, but SO much better than before.  The main problems I have now actually result from the fractured wrist rather than the surgery.  People heal differently but a positive attitude and a good surgeon are definitely in your favor. Get a one-handed can opener and some small plastic bags, which I found easier to use than the shower sleeve.  Patience...patience...patience.  You'll need a lot of it but the payoff will be worth it.   Best of luck to you.  Please keep us posted.

Hi Debra, sounds like we’re about on same schedule, had mine on 9/25. On my second cast, also wear 24/7 except for exercises and bathing. Getting third cast on Tues. which I’m told will be shorter (not up to elbow) and think that will be a 24/7 also, until Jan. And then down to a hand brace which I think will be worn when working around the house, driving and at bedtime... I’m just going with the flow. Pain is not totally gone (2-3), especially after exercises (4-7). Do some of the exercises in warm water or in shower which seems to help, rarely take Rx or OTC but will use ice after for pain if needed. Hoping what pain I do have is part & parcel with the healing and will lessen over time. Also told it’ll be about 1yr. to know for sure how much mobility/strength is back...looking for 100%!!  Hope you continue to do well. It’s a long haul but will be so nice to get our hands back!

 Dear Kathleen I am now on my third cast it is a removable one. It has been exactly one month since my surgery. I remove the cast during the day while I’m at home and resting. I wear the cast every night to bed. I still have a little pain but not bad. I am taking ibuprofen. I go back to the doctor on December 14 for my six week check up after yesterday and then I will start occupational therapy . I have taken off from work until after the first of the year. That will give me three months of rest in therapy. 

Having been through this 10Months ago I know how you feel but we adapt. I did, but now it is all good.

I am glad you are doing well. I had the surgery 6 weeks ago and I am doing very well. Actually the surgery pain is much less than the joints pain. I do physical therapy at home by myself 4 × a day and in clinic 1 × a week. Good luck to everyone.

I managed quite well one handed. I learned to hold things under my arm on the surgery side. I loosened bottle caps before I had the surgery so I could twist easily one-handed. For shampooing etc I squirt a drop of the product on something with my good hand, then scoop it up with my good hand to use. You will learn a lot as you go on. Good luck!

yes necessity is the mother of invention

I bought a shampoo and liquid bath soap dispenser I could operate with one hand, and a toothpaste dispenser I could operate with one hand as well!! 😁

 It’s a little tough to handle everything with one hand. I suggest you practice before you have the surgery that’s what I did. Don’t wear blue jeans with zippers and classes. We are pull up pants and forget about wearing a bra you’ll never get it on. You’re gonna have to take it easy for a couple months it’s kind of a long haul for recovery but it’s well worth it considering the pain before. After you have your surgery you have to use a bag over your arm and you’ll have to shave your legs and wash your hair with one arm only. you have to do that for a month. After the month is up they will give you a removable cast that you can take off to shower or bathe. However I suggest wearing the removable cast as much as possible during the day.  especially when you’re sleeping.  without the cast you feel like your thumb  is loose. It feels safer in the cast. You cannot do any lifting, no pinching, no gripping. Do not try to open up a jar or anything because the bone above the one that was removed could collapse until everything heals that’s why they want you immobile for three months.   I know it’s a long haul but it is worth it. The pain I had before surgery was so intense that would stop me in my tracks and I had to stop doing whatever I was doing. Now the pain that I get is more of a nerve pain that the nerves are trying to heal and that takes time. Good luck to you and prayers are with you. 

THANK you for all the great advice!!! I do plan on practicing. I even found a you tube on how to put on a bra with one hand!!!

Hi! I am having the surgery Dec 28th. I bought a toothpaste dispenser I can operate with one hand, and also a combo shampoo, conditioner and Bath soap dispenser that can be operated one handed.  Also, a back brush so i can wash my arm pit of my GOOD arm! I won't be able to do that! LOL! I have also been trying to do things one handed to practice, and think of things I do every day to find a solution. There is a video on line where a woman shows how to put a bra on one handed! I hope this helps!