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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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  • caringbah
    caringbah

    Posted

    I had my first set of PRP (Platement rich plasma) injections yesterday. It went amazingly well.

    Doc did left thumb first ....hurt like hell for about a minute. Right thumb next....did'nt feel a thing.

    Results? left thumb is still a little sore...pain level down by 30%. Right thumb is brilliant ....no pain whatsoever.

    I'm having booster shots in two weeks time and thereafter every 3-4 months.

    I wish i had found out a out this a long time ago.

    Cost? $350 australian for both thumbs. i get a out 25% back on medicare. Money well spent in my books.

    P.S I was wondering why i wasnt getting any messages...turns out i had accident,y unsubscribed from everything.

    I would definitely reccomend this approach before trying surgery.

    • caringbah
      caringbah

      Posted

      that should have read....left thumb pain level down TO 30%.

  • Jwls
    Jwls caringbah

    Posted

    HI all,

    After being told I was going to have a thumb joint replacement I have now been told I am having a left trapezictomy and a sling procedure. Am very concerned about how much use of the thumb I will have afterwards as I make things, from felt, to silver jewellery to scultpure which I can only liken to light building work, ie welding, mixing plaster and lifting heavy things. Also does the surgery shorten your thumb? I have had three operations and am due a fourth on bunions so am no stranger to post op pain and the inability to do normal tasks, although the bra issue was one of the first things I thought of!! I can't go out without one!! My daughter goes out to work at 5 to 7 every morning so no lie ins as she will have to help! I will be alone all day every day of my post op time and I am wondering how I can manage as I am always active, also have a border collie I walk, and I normally drive to the best place. So very concerned about all of this. The other thing is touch typing, can't type when I am looking at the keyboard. How long was it before others could type with two hands? I will have all this recovery plus the 8 weeks of the bunion boot, what a great year I am going to have next year. Best not to think of my knee that has begun to cause real issues!! I hate arthritis, bring on a cure please.........

  • diana05210
    diana05210 caringbah

    Posted

    Okay here's my progress with the mini tight rope surgery so far. I had surgery Monday 10/8/18 at Duke university with Dr Mark Richards. After surgery we drove 5 hours to our home. The first day I had an arm block which was a very unusual feeling,but not much pain. I came home from the hospital with a tens unit which was great and really eliminated any pain!! By Wednesday afternoon I stopped the tens unit because I did not have any pain. It is now Saturday and I can't wait to go back after two weeks 10/22/18 to have the bandage off and stitches removed!! The same day they will give me a removable brace and start PT. At this point all my fingers are working great with the exception of my thumb because it is hampered by the bandage. So far GREAT!!!

    • caringbah
      caringbah diana05210

      Posted

      Diana, that sounds great. I'll be very interested in how long it takes for your complete recovery.

    • perl53886
      perl53886 diana05210

      Posted

      Diana, thank you for your progress report. It is very reassuring and reinforces my thoughts of going with the mini tightrope procedure. Having both procedures, I hope you realize what a valuable resource you are to this forum. Looking forward to reading additional progress reports from you. Thanks again!

    • deberdoodle
      deberdoodle diana05210

      Posted

      Diana,

      I'm so glad to hear it went well! I would so appreciate a little description of that procedure ,I'm sorry its probably back there somewhere:( I assume it was for CMC arthritis? I have surg set for Nov. and still weighing options as I am a Dental Hygienist so very important to make the right decision for the best outcome! It is definitely scary since this is totally how I earn my living but I can barely grasp the instruments now and it's very painful so I guess i have to deal with it. Thanks so much!!!!!

    • diane88458
      diane88458 deberdoodle

      Posted

      Dear Deberdoodle I responded to a couple of people on this forum. I Had the trapeziotomy with apl tendon sling. I am 7 weeks post op and i am able to use a computer. play guitar anddrive but the strength is usually the last thing to come back. But by 10-12 weeks i think it will be great. I am an xray tech so i need to he able to operate all the machinery. press hard on some buttons and carey heavy cassetes and I should be back to work by Nov 19. Seeing ortho this week for follow up!

    • deberdoodle
      deberdoodle diane88458

      Posted

      thanks! I hope you are 100% soon!!!!! What are the advantages of the mini tightrope vs. reg arthroplasty w/ tendon transfer?

    • diana05210
      diana05210 deberdoodle

      Posted

      Okay, I am now two weeks post op with the mini tight rope surgery. I can now type with both hands!!! Bandages and stitches are gone and I now have a removable brace made for my hand. I do Not have to go to PT!!!! I can do my exercises at home three times a day. My hand is tender but Therapist said in two week most of the pain will be gone. In four weeks I return to see doctor and therapist to see how I am doing at that point. So far sooooooo good!!! Very little pain except after I do my stretches.I will let you know if the pain is gone in two week!!

  • Donna7349
    Donna7349 caringbah

    Posted

    thank you for the update It sounds like it went great i hope you will continue to keep us informed. I wish i knew about this prior to my surgery Good luck

  • diane88458
    diane88458 caringbah

    Posted

    Hi again Im not exactly sure what the advantage thr mini is over the one i had but of course that take out the trapezium in mine. i think the important factor is using the apollicus longus tendon not the one on the lateral sifw of the wrist. Only one cut. Recovery time 3 months which i didnt think was that bad. And i think it gets even better as time goes on. Let me know what you decide andz how youre doing. GOOD LUCK!

    • caringbah
      caringbah diane88458

      Posted

      HI Diane....the mini tightrope sounds a lot better than the anchovy process. much faster recovery time.

      its a week since my PRP injections. Right thumb is 90% better and left thumb is 50% better. Another round in a week and then a third two weeks after that....thereafter every three to four months.

      I'M going good...can see some light at the end of the tunnel and its not another train coming straight at me. lol.

      cheers

    • deberdoodle
      deberdoodle diane88458

      Posted

      wow , That sounds incredible! So they use a different tendon for the anchovy procedure? I think I'm actually missing the Apollicus longus tendon 😦

    • deberdoodle
      deberdoodle caringbah

      Posted

      I'm assuming that you have not had an arthroplasy? What are PRP injections? Plasma?

    • caringbah
      caringbah deberdoodle

      Posted

      PRP stands for Platelet Enriched Plasma. The doc took about a test tube of blood and then centrifuged it.

      The red blood cells sink to the bottom and the pale yellow clear fluid above is the plasma. He injected about 2ml of the plasma into each joint using a scanner to guide the needle. It hurts like hell but for less than a minute.

      The relief was amazing. Im hoping for even better results after my third round.

      PRP is very popular with sports physicians.

      Cheers

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