Delaying hand surgery

[Bummer Knees]

Thanks Sonny

I had bilateral carpal tunnel surgery in 2009 and 2010.

The doctor who did those surgeries said nothing could be done for the hands. I then went to a doctor for a 2nd opinion who said CMC arthoplasty with tendon introposition is needed starting with the dominant hand. The left is worse than the right so I imagine surgery on this hand will follow the right especially since the pain has been increasing with the hand.

I have a hand spint to wear on the right hand but it is not user friendly and I return to therapy next week to have the splint remade. The thumb hyperextends and I keep reinjuring this hand.

Between 2006 and today I have had 9 surgeries, I am so tired of surgeries and need a break from them.

I've got a lot going on right now and need to delay surgery until fall. I have an autistic son and do not need surgery when he is home for the summer.

[sonny1]

Wow, you sound like me with these surgeries. Were yours all hand surgeries? Did your PT make the splint? When mine did for me they melted some "plastic material" around the basal area and a small band across the inside of the hand, with velcro to hold the top together. It really helped and was not too much bother. IT kept me from banging the basal area or extending it to much. I understand your situation about needing to wait til fall. You might want to start training your other hand/arm how to bathe and do bathroom things! That was a kicker for me!

Your PT should be able to make something for you that is functional and not overbearing that you are uncomfortable to wear it. It only has to cover the MCP joint as well. Any other questions let me know!!

[sonny1]

Wow, you sound like me with these surgeries. Were yours all hand surgeries? Did your PT make the splint? When mine did for me they melted some "plastic material" around the basal area and a small band across the inside of the hand, with velcro to hold the top together. It really helped and was not too much bother. IT kept me from banging the basal area or extending it to much. I understand your situation about needing to wait til fall. You might want to start training your other hand/arm how to bathe and do bathroom things! That was a kicker for me!

Your PT should be able to make something for you that is functional and not overbearing that you are uncomfortable to wear it. It only has to cover the MCP joint as well. Any other questions let me know!!

[Bummer Knees]

The first doctor I went to orderd OT to make the splint, it was pre-made. They pulled it off a shelf and attached velcro to it.

My surgeries since 2006 have been, bilateral knees scope, and 1 total knee replacement.
Bilateral carpal tunnel surgerys. 3 surgeries for skin cancer. I surgery for cervical injury/ C5-6 ACDF.

Been working on trainning the left hand to do things, not easy to do but I am working on it.

[sonny1]

I wish I had a picture of the "spica" splint they made for me a PT. It started with a hard piece of plastic/resign. Then they cut it to size (of your thumb, basal joint area), they soak it in hot, hot, hot water or something and then mold it to your hand and thumb. It does not cover your wrist or anything, JUST the basal joint and the MCP joint of the thumb. You could do everything like normal, without overdoing it. If they can't make you one, ask for a "Neo-prene sleeve glove" and some gel pads (those can be cut to size also) to stick in the basal joint area incase you bump it. The glove is like a compression glove, but helps the thumb stay a little more straight (with flexibility) and keeps the basal joint a bit more protected. I tried all of the OTC hand braces and they are useless. Some actually caused more pain, made me too immoblie. Then PT tried giving me their "out of the box" junk too.....sorry, not when I have screws in my thumbs, my thumbs don't stand straight like those braces/splints want them to. If you have to wait until next fall, insist that they find someone to make you a splint that forms to your needs and is functional because you will for sure create more pain and possibly more damage by trying to navigate around that pain. Basal joint pain is no joke! I tried looking up in my PT notes if there was an actual name they called the Spica splint, but there isn't. I will keep digging, but unfortunately these past 2 years my record keeping has gotten very sloppy! I will check on line also and if I find any good info on the actual surgery in my files and online I will send it your way!

[sonny1]

I wish I had a picture of the "spica" splint they made for me a PT. It started with a hard piece of plastic/resign. Then they cut it to size (of your thumb, basal joint area), they soak it in hot, hot, hot water or something and then mold it to your hand and thumb. It does not cover your wrist or anything, JUST the basal joint and the MCP joint of the thumb. You could do everything like normal, without overdoing it. If they can't make you one, ask for a "Neo-prene sleeve glove" and some gel pads (those can be cut to size also) to stick in the basal joint area incase you bump it. The glove is like a compression glove, but helps the thumb stay a little more straight (with flexibility) and keeps the basal joint a bit more protected. I tried all of the OTC hand braces and they are useless. Some actually caused more pain, made me too immoblie. Then PT tried giving me their "out of the box" junk too.....sorry, not when I have screws in my thumbs, my thumbs don't stand straight like those braces/splints want them to. If you have to wait until next fall, insist that they find someone to make you a splint that forms to your needs and is functional because you will for sure create more pain and possibly more damage by trying to navigate around that pain. Basal joint pain is no joke! I tried looking up in my PT notes if there was an actual name they called the Spica splint, but there isn't. I will keep digging, but unfortunately these past 2 years my record keeping has gotten very sloppy! I will check on line also and if I find any good info on the actual surgery in my files and online I will send it your way!

[Bummer Knees]

Thanks Sonny, I showed the splnt I currently have to the therapist who will be making the new splint and she laughed, said that is not what I need. I have an appointment next Wednesday to have the new splint made.

How soon were you able to write after your surgery for the basil joint?

I am on SSDI and expect to be re-evaluated by Social Security Administration in the next year.

I would welcome retuning to work but do not know how an employer would hire me with the hands/arm problems I have.

[sonny1]

Once the cast came off and PT got underway pretty good, the basal joint (the new one) would have moved fine IF I did not have these other thumb problems. I do not recall the basal joint causing me writing problems, it was my actual thumb. I am right handed, so between the trigger thumb and the IP fusion surgeries that created a lot of stiffness, not to mention that my MCP joint is shot in that hand as well, but I am leaving that alone. As long as you keep moving that basal joint, massaging it, you should be able to write after the cast(s) come off. Ok, well within a few days/weeks. You will still be very sore and stiff, but all things have to get re-introduced.

Depending on what your SSDI decision is for, this may make your case stronger for not returning to work, not sure. If you have other things preventing you from working as well, then this may just be another reason. I can say. when typing and writing at a leisurley (sp) pace is way different than at a work pace, so you may want to take that into account if thinking about going back to work after these surgeries. Your grip, grasp and strength will never be the same as before. I am sure you know that from having CT.

I just won my SSD case due to my hands and all of the surgeries. Additionally, just this past Saturday I received notification from the NYS Retirement system (I worked for the City I live in) that I was approved for Disability retirement and am now officially retired (at age 41) due to my hands. It has been a weird journey that is for sure.


Forgive my double posts, I have tried everything I can think of to get it to stop!!! I have the sensitivitey on my laptop pad set to where I have to almost hit the darn thing for it to post! I am on other forums and it doesn't happen on those! Weird...any suggestions?

[sonny1]

Once the cast came off and PT got underway pretty good, the basal joint (the new one) would have moved fine IF I did not have these other thumb problems. I do not recall the basal joint causing me writing problems, it was my actual thumb. I am right handed, so between the trigger thumb and the IP fusion surgeries that created a lot of stiffness, not to mention that my MCP joint is shot in that hand as well, but I am leaving that alone. As long as you keep moving that basal joint, massaging it, you should be able to write after the cast(s) come off. Ok, well within a few days/weeks. You will still be very sore and stiff, but all things have to get re-introduced.

Depending on what your SSDI decision is for, this may make your case stronger for not returning to work, not sure. If you have other things preventing you from working as well, then this may just be another reason. I can say. when typing and writing at a leisurley (sp) pace is way different than at a work pace, so you may want to take that into account if thinking about going back to work after these surgeries. Your grip, grasp and strength will never be the same as before. I am sure you know that from having CT.

I just won my SSD case due to my hands and all of the surgeries. Additionally, just this past Saturday I received notification from the NYS Retirement system (I worked for the City I live in) that I was approved for Disability retirement and am now officially retired (at age 41) due to my hands. It has been a weird journey that is for sure.


Forgive my double posts, I have tried everything I can think of to get it to stop!!! I have the sensitivitey on my laptop pad set to where I have to almost hit the darn thing for it to post! I am on other forums and it doesn't happen on those! Weird...any suggestions?

[Bummer Knees]

My hand surgery will be with the basal joint then the mcp on the dominant hand. I do hope I can get by without having surgery on the ulnar nerve entrapment.

I had the crush injury in 1997 of the dominant arm with 20 breaks at the elbow and radius head removed.
I do not know if this will complicate things with the tendon transfer.

After the right hand is done I will have surgery on the left hand.

A far as SSDI goes, I was awarded on the knees & lumbar spine injury and being hearing impaired. Since then the cervical spine was injured requiring surgery, and most recently the hands.

I worked as an Early Childhood teacher at the time I was injured. I received a 92% rating per work comp.