Delaying hand surgery

[Bummer Knees]

Just wondering if ther are any IW's out there with a hand/arm injury?

I would like to share and learn from others who have a similar injury.

I have bilateral basilar thumb joint arthiritis advanced which requires CMC arthroplasty with tendon interposition as well as the metacarpophalangeal joint which may require surgery at that joint.

I also have ulnar nerve entrapment which has gotten worse and news yesterday was this may also require surgery.

I am on a time limit with the basilar thumb joint due to needing the surgery before it advances to the next stage. If it advances to the next stage I will need a second surgery on that joint.

I am wanting to talk to someone who has been thru similar surgery.

The web sites I have looked at have limited information.

I am wanting to delay surgery until warmer weather as the Bummer dosen't do well in cold weather.

Thanks for reading this.
Bummer Knees

[bodybuilder1958]

Bummer I have used medical journals for years in researching, I found this one particularly interesting for ulnar entrapment since the pt was actually a neurosurgeon resident. The article goes over a great deal of info, printing it out might be a good option for you.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2787211/

For your thumb problems I found this article interesting although a bit dated.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2527221/

I also found this article that has photos, I currently own about 4 wheeless text books on surgeries, they are great.

http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/liga...erposition

[Bummer Knees]

Thanks Bodybuilder, been looking at the information you have attached. Lots of information and very helpful!

I am looking for a forum I can visit, I would like to see how others dealt with the surgery, I would like to read about their success and suggestions.

[bodybuilder1958]

(02-03-2012 03:01 PM)Bummer Knees Wrote:  Thanks Bodybuilder, been looking at the information you have attached. Lots of information and very helpful!

I am looking for a forum I can visit, I would like to see how others dealt with the surgery, I would like to read about their success and suggestions.

I would check into about.com
They have many forums and lots of information. I used those forums years ago and then moved on.

Hands are rough, no two surgeries are ever the same then add to that individual scarring, other surgeries performed previously, rehab, etc. All those factors weigh greatly into recovery.

[Bummer Knees]

Thanks BB I will check it out.

Before the ACDF I visited several forums getting suggestions from individuals per the recovery, made things much easier.

[sonny1]

Hey Bummer,

I had both Basal joints replaced with tendons and they went fine! Of course I had them done at different times. They take the bone/joint out and replace it with some tendon that they can either get from right there in the incision area or somewhere else in your arm. They ball it up and create a new joint with the tendon, which creates some scar tissue to add to the formation of the new joint! LOTS of PT after, but sooooooooo worth it. Nothing like that wicked pain. I also had surgeries for the MCP joint, but I had fusions because I was planning on going back to work and we thought fusing them would give me better strength...but it turned out I ended up having 10 surgeries. If you have any questions let me know, I actually have the surgery notes from my surgeon...I can find them and tell you in his terms what the surgery entailed. It only takes about an hour, if that. Cast time, I think 4-6 weeks, depending on doctor.

[sonny1]

Hey Bummer,

I had both Basal joints replaced with tendons and they went fine! Of course I had them done at different times. They take the bone/joint out and replace it with some tendon that they can either get from right there in the incision area or somewhere else in your arm. They ball it up and create a new joint with the tendon, which creates some scar tissue to add to the formation of the new joint! LOTS of PT after, but sooooooooo worth it. Nothing like that wicked pain. I also had surgeries for the MCP joint, but I had fusions because I was planning on going back to work and we thought fusing them would give me better strength...but it turned out I ended up having 10 surgeries. If you have any questions let me know, I actually have the surgery notes from my surgeon...I can find them and tell you in his terms what the surgery entailed. It only takes about an hour, if that. Cast time, I think 4-6 weeks, depending on doctor.

[Bummer Knees]

Thank you so much Sonny this information is what I am needing to help me make decisions and prepare for surgery.

Why 10 surgeries and how long ago did your have surgery? How is your strength in your arms and hand?=s today?

I do know I may need the the MCP along with the CMC joint done on the dominant hand(right) and the doctor wants to do the right hand first.

I am having issues with the ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow on the right side, I am trying not to bend the elbow or do thigs that will make this worse.

In 1997 I fell and shattered the arms just below the elbow, I did not realize until recently the radius head had been removed during surgery in 1997.

The left hand is worse than the right and may also require mutiple surgeries.

[sonny1]

Well Bummer my situation started with Carpal Tunnel so we thought. It was actually mainly tendonitis in my left thumb and it was really bad. I am right handed though, weird huh? So after being told for so long by one doctor that I did not have CT, my thumb got worse and worse. I finally changed doctors, for a second opinion and by then it was a nightmare, the pain had moved to the basal joint and I for sure had CT. So we started surgery with CT and tendonitis which they call DeQuervain's (sp) release. After that healed, we moved onto the basal joint, then the MCP joint fusion. They had to remove the hardware out of the MCP joint due to constant inflamation. NOW, my right hand is overcompensating for the left hand always being casted and weak!!! All of the same sypmtoms start there.....UGH!!! Now we do CT and trigger thumb surgery on right hand, then basal joint. Back to left hand, they fuse the IP joint (the joint at the tip of thumb) which now makes my whole thumb fused! Back to the right, we finish off with the IP joint being fused there also.....so here I am.

I don't know much about the ulnar nerve but have been told it gets damaged like the carpal tunnel nerve. The nerve sheath gets inflamed and the nerve cannot glide through easily anymore which causes the pain. I think BB recommended the Wheeles books for info? They have good info online also, they were the best place that I could find for "english" terminology to explain the process. I watched some actual procedures being done on utube, but it is gross.

My PT did alot of utrasound on the damaged area and it felt good. Try some icyhot on the area as well. They used something like it, I can't remember the name, but it is expensive. It can be bought OTC, but to pricey. I used to buy it, but iceyhot works the same. Do you have a Tens Unit from any other injuries? That can be used as well, PT used that as well (for the ulnar nerve) especially if you are not moving it much, it will get really stiff and create more pain and stiffness. Plain old moist heat wraps too!!!

Well, my grip, strength in hands/arms would have been great if not for the thumbs themselves, so don't go by me! My surgeries were all between 2007-2010! The thumbs totally control your hand grip, pinch etc., and since mine don't bend, that makes it much worse. BUT, my basal joint's don't hurt anymore!!! HURRAY for something. You won't regret the surgery. Do it now, then you won't be casted in the summer! That was the worst for me, sitting in front of my pool with a cast, the waterproof casts stink!

[sonny1]

Well Bummer my situation started with Carpal Tunnel so we thought. It was actually mainly tendonitis in my left thumb and it was really bad. I am right handed though, weird huh? So after being told for so long by one doctor that I did not have CT, my thumb got worse and worse. I finally changed doctors, for a second opinion and by then it was a nightmare, the pain had moved to the basal joint and I for sure had CT. So we started surgery with CT and tendonitis which they call DeQuervain's (sp) release. After that healed, we moved onto the basal joint, then the MCP joint fusion. They had to remove the hardware out of the MCP joint due to constant inflamation. NOW, my right hand is overcompensating for the left hand always being casted and weak!!! All of the same sypmtoms start there.....UGH!!! Now we do CT and trigger thumb surgery on right hand, then basal joint. Back to left hand, they fuse the IP joint (the joint at the tip of thumb) which now makes my whole thumb fused! Back to the right, we finish off with the IP joint being fused there also.....so here I am.

I don't know much about the ulnar nerve but have been told it gets damaged like the carpal tunnel nerve. The nerve sheath gets inflamed and the nerve cannot glide through easily anymore which causes the pain. I think BB recommended the Wheeles books for info? They have good info online also, they were the best place that I could find for "english" terminology to explain the process. I watched some actual procedures being done on utube, but it is gross.

My PT did alot of utrasound on the damaged area and it felt good. Try some icyhot on the area as well. They used something like it, I can't remember the name, but it is expensive. It can be bought OTC, but to pricey. I used to buy it, but iceyhot works the same. Do you have a Tens Unit from any other injuries? That can be used as well, PT used that as well (for the ulnar nerve) especially if you are not moving it much, it will get really stiff and create more pain and stiffness. Plain old moist heat wraps too!!!

Well, my grip, strength in hands/arms would have been great if not for the thumbs themselves, so don't go by me! My surgeries were all between 2007-2010! The thumbs totally control your hand grip, pinch etc., and since mine don't bend, that makes it much worse. BUT, my basal joint's don't hurt anymore!!! HURRAY for something. You won't regret the surgery. Do it now, then you won't be casted in the summer! That was the worst for me, sitting in front of my pool with a cast, the waterproof casts stink!