HI! New to site & dealing with thumb joint replacement

 Hi everyone! I had thumb joint replacement and carpal tunnel surgery done on my left hand the 4th of Oct. Got stiches out and hard cast on the 13th. Wasn't ready for how much it hurts to do even the simplest things like getting dressed. I decided I needed to talk to others who have experienced this or are going thru it right now as well. Look forward to hearing from others who understand!

awe, {{{{{{{{ big hug }}}}}}}}}}  even though i have not had hand surgery like that; i did have to get my knees drained & shot with steroids on friday.  OUCH!  yes, enough to make ya pass out!  NOT a nice feeling and not a nice process.

sooooo painful afterwards, and the 2nd & 3rd day after is even WORSE.  can't walk right; each step is torture; and ya can't bend or straighten the legs without bad pain.  and forget about getting onto the toilet! lol.

so yeah, everything....every little thing (even putting on a pair of pants) is difficult.

so we feel for you!

write back soon.

how long is your cast on for?

take good care.

sincerely,

erin

Not exactly what I wanted to read since I just came back from the surgeon and am planning to have thumb joint replacement on right hand for now and then later on left hand, along with carpal surgery. How long did you have to suffer and would you do it over, or just suffer without the surgery?

Hi bjc17618 and mihwa & welcome to Healing Well!
BJC...you along with your doc WILL ARRIVE AT THE RIGHT SOLUTION for YOU. Ya weigh the risks & benefits, exhaust all other treatments & therapies and really what it'll come down to is your quality of life.
I'm sure many more folks will come to share their experience with hand & joint surgery.
I suffer with severe knee pain from RA...it's unbearable most times. Am disabled due to it as well. But...if ANYONE came along wanting to practice knee surgery...I'd jump on that table & have knee replacement surgery in a heart beat! lol.
mihwa gave good input.

You'll do the right thing.
Hang in there.

Hi, my first time here, need some support.  I had left thumb joint replacement done on July 28th.  I was in a half cast for one week, a hard cast for six weeks.  I've been in a splint for the past 2 1/2 weeks.  I will say I did not have one minute of pain after surgery.  Even called the doctor and asked if he severed a nerve, I didn't feel pain!!! All I felt was relieve from the aching I'd had for over two years.  I had the tendon graff from my forearm kept in place with a pin.  That was the only thing that bothered me.  The pin was taken out after five weeks and then it was smooth sailing as far as that can be with a cast.  Never had one before and it is very confining, even had a panic attack the first night, thought I couldn't breathe!!! Anyway, I've been going to therapy twice a week for almost three weeks now.  I know I'm going to be sore and I'm impatient as the stiffness isn't going away as fast as I'd like it, but my main concern is I'm experiencing that aching feeling I had for the years before surgery.  I have a swollen lumptype spot towards the lower part of my thumb, between my thumb and index finger.  That developed a few months before surgery and I'm very concerned that's it's back again.  I see my doctor in two more weeks but want some piece of mind maybe that what I'm experiencing is normal???  My wrist is very tender and sore and it seems my nerves have been misplaced a little, which I understand is normal and they will sort themselves out.  My main concern is the aching.  I have tried to be good about not lifting or pinching, but know that I've done it subconciously, but nothing that I feel could have hurt this.  I have a top doctor, referred by many, and hopefully it's just my impatience that is getting the best of me.  Sorry for the long post, guess I just needed to vent.  Suppose to have the other hand done, don't know now.  Thanks again for your ear. 

Hi, I had thumb joint replacement on the 28th of July.  My biggest problem was the pin rubbing against the cast.  I found I'd have to lift the cast a little and adjust it to keep it from rubbing.  This was a problem the duration of the cast wearing, however, when I had my cast changed, they'd do it tighter and that seemed to help for awhile.  I was fortunate and had no pain after surgery and the whole time I was in the cast with the exception of the pin rubbing.  I still now after four months have stiffness and soreness but not nearly like before surgery.  I have a tightness in my webbing that I am trying to stretch, but I'm told it could take up to a year for things to settle down.  I'm not sorry I had it done, it hurt 24/7 before, now I can at least live with it.  I am planning on having the other hand done next summer.  Hope you do better.  Moving the cast around a little does help.  My nurse wasn't happy with me doing that, but I told her it's like stepping on a hot coal, you are going to move your foot!!! Anyway, good luck to you, it does get better.

 

I'm new to this site.  I just found out today I will probably need a thumb joint replacement.  I recently fell on my hand, broke my elbow and jammed my thumb into an already arthritic joint.   I have to go through the usual "stuff" - cortisone injections, therapy, etc. - before the doctor makes a final decision.  I'm an elementary technology teacher and was wondering how long it takes to get back to work after the surgery.  I'm in extreme pain right now (5 weeks post accident) - can't dress or do much of anything with my hand - and would prefer having the surgery sooner than later so I can start functioning again.  Any suggestions?

I'm sorry to hear you're not doing well.  I, too, had a knee replacement 17 years ago.  I didn't think anything could be worse than that!  My doctor says, if necessary, he will do a "tendon arthroplasty."  He's got to put me through all the "medical hoops" before he decides to operate, though.  Anyone know how long it takes to get back to work after that surgery?  My first cortosone injection seemed to have kicked in while I slept.  I haven't felt this good since the accident 5 weeks ago.  How long does this relief typically last? How many injections will the doc probably give me before he finally decides surgery is needed? (I fell at work so this is an L & I claim!)  My arthritis is Stage IV.  Sorry about all the questions, but I'm trying to figure out how long I might be out of work so I can nail down a good substitute teacher.

Thanks for your thorough answer.  It was very helpful.  I had my first injection yesterday and I'm feeling so much better.  I start therapy on Monday to try to get some flexibility back in the arm after the accident.  I guess when I fell I "jammed" my thumb farther into the already arthritic joint.  The past five weeks have been almost unbearable, but today I'm on top of the world.  I sure hope the cortisone lasts as long as yours.  I'm going stir-crazy being out of work.  I'll keep you updated as to my progress. Keep your fingers crossed, no pun intended!

After my pin was removed, I was still two weeks in a cast.  I then had the cast removed and immediately went to physical therapy.  For the first four weeks, after six weeks of a cast, I was still told I could not pinch with my thumb and finger.  After that I was given exercises to do.  I just finished two months of twice weekly PT.  My thumb is much better in that it does not ache 24/7, but I find I still cannot do everything with my thumb.  I'm a grandma and cannot put the handle down on the carseats using my hand that had the thumb surgery.  My thumb and fingers still get stiff, but the relieft from not aching all the time was worth it.  I was told it could take up to a year to completely heal.  I had a very bad arthritic thumb.  No cushion at all, bone on bone with four bone spurs having chipped off from the bone.  I am suppose to have my other thumb done next summer.  Right now it doesn't bother me as the other one did, but I'm thinking I don't want to wait cause the recovery seems to be longer.  I have talked with three others that came out of the cast and therapy good as new.  So, I think everyone is different depending on the severity of the situation before surgery.  I am thankful I had mine done, and if I have to live with it the way it is right now, it's still better than it was before surgery.  Good luck.

 Hi Thumbs up guys.  New to forum. Have a bad joint too now for 5 years have been get the cort shots only lasting about 2.5 months and then in the 24/7 pain sessions, yet again.  I'm going to see yet another doctor to see if there is anything better or to get another shot. Is the operation worth it please be honest.  I am getting crazy and depressed over this whole thing.  I really can't be out of work for any length of time so how long before you can go back to work at a desk type job?  I do have to do some typing and telephone duties.  Someone please give me a clue.  Any Doctor Recomenaton?  I live in New Jersey Willing to Travel in The tri state area. New York, Phil. Del I am desperate.  Thanks Princie

Thanks for your reply. Still looking for the right Dr. in my near by area of New Jersey. I did get a shot today it still hurts hope in a few days I will feel better. I really can not afford taking time from work so I may wait until I retire. good choic or bad?
Princie

I was fortunate I'm r handed and I had my left thumb replaced. I was miserable for about six wks. Once I got the cast off everyhing has beengreat. No more pain. Good luck I went back to work after one wk. I'm an athletic trainer and the kids had to cut tape for me.