Thumb fusion for 21st july 2008

Hi there - I'm totally new here, so if this is in the wrong place or I've done something wrong, please let me know. I'm very nervous and woried and am desperately searching for some help/ reassurance.

I don't have RA (but do have A), but didn't know where else to put this. (I should mention I have hypermobility, which is the reason for the extensive damage according to my surgeon).

I got assaulted by a kid 4yrs ago in school and he damaged both wrists pretty badly (ligament snapped, nerve and vascular damage), as well as my neck and right shoulder. To the extent I couldn't hold a pen, lift anything up, write, etc. I re-taught myself to write again and spent years in physiotherapy.

I've now had 4 operations. All surgery has been concentrated on wrists - not a lot they can do for shoulder, but it seizes up, and fluctuates between losing a lot of feeling/ numb, to lots of pain. My 5th operation is due July 21st 2008. It's a thumb fusion and the reason I'm here

_History_
1st Operation 11/05
(RH). Removing bone in thumb, cutting up a tendon to make a ligament and weaving ligament through hand. Pin through 3 bones to hold everything together and give it time to attach.

2nd Operation 09/06
(LH) Severed a nerve in my wrist and other stuff I really can't remember anymore. Very similar to 1st op, but without the pin bit.

3rd Operation 04/07
(RH) Moved a nerve in my elbow as I've been losing feeling in my hand. went make into scar to try and desensitize it. Severed another nerve into wrist.

4th Operation 04/08
(LH) Removed 2 thumb bones. Severed nerve in forearm

_Planned_
5th Operation 07/08
(RH) Thumb Fusion.

6th Operation 03/09 tbc
(LH) Thumb Fusion. (hoping it wont be needed - will be assessed nearer the time)

7th Operation 07/09 tbc
(RH) Some operation going right into the middle of the wrist that I don't even want to think about yet, but is a definite apparently (he can't do that and the thumb fusion at the same time due to depth he has to go to into the wrist - if that makes sense?)


I thought I'd got my head around all of this, but speaking to my mum last night, she's messed everything up again (I know, I'm 31, I don't know why, but she's always doing this to me. My husband is also very concerned at what I'll lose with this op). I used to play the piano and am aware my mobility will be limited. I'm scared of losing functionality, or it going wrong, etc etc.

I'm so so sorry this is such a long post, but I don't know where else to turn, and to be honest, finding you guys here has been the light at the end of a tunnel for me. It's the middle bone my surgeon is looking at fusing. Can someone reassaure me? Has anyone gone through the same? (I'm aware different joints cn be fused)

Post Edited (tadfish) : 6/12/2008 12:35:20 PM (GMT-6)

thanks :)

hello tadfish, iam sorry to hear about your hand problems,it sounds like a lot of operations! i have never had fusio n in my hand joints but i had my big toe (left foot) fused 4months ago.
I have severe Reumathoid Arthritis (RA) for the past 20 year., I am 47. My hands are pretty affected by RA, I have severe inflammations and I have lost all mobility in my letf thumb. Actually,middle joint has fused itself...I used to be a musician in my yearly years, but because i lost lots of mobility in my hands I had to change my career completely. At some point in time I was considering operation but then I decided not to go ahead.
Every 3month I have to see my reumathologist and I regularly have cortisone injections in different joints in my hands. They do help me with inflammation and pain.
4month ago i had operation on my left foot, this was because of pain and severe deformity of joints caused by RA. I had my big toe fused with 2 screws. I am stilll healing, I still have to use cruthes and I cannot fit into any footware as yet. I am still swollen and in pain. But I am trying to be positive.

By the way, I went back to work, full-time, 6 weeks after the operation, I was allowed partial weight bearing and was using crutches to move around.
Stay positive, and all the best with your recovery! many hugs.

Post Edited (shell4) : 3/27/2009 10:26:26 PM (GMT-6)

shell4, how're you doing now? :)