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Thumb joint replacement surgery - looking for info

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Posted 2/3/2012 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
hi all. i will be scheduling a thumb joint replacement surgery next week and happened upon this site looking for info on it. is there anyone who knows about this surgery? my surgeon states he has good results with inserting a ball in the joint, as you do a hip. i'm a bit anxious but it needs to be done. my thumb doesn't even stretch out any more and i have a large lump at the base. hurts alot, too. hope you are all doing ok this evening and i appreciate any feedback you can give me. thanks :: yeah

Post Edited By Moderator (Ides) : 2/2/2012 6:27:29 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/3/2012 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to Healing Well, grammy! If you noticed the message above saying your post was edited, I did it to insert a subject line [heading] on your thread. Having a subject line attracts people with similar conditions or knowledge on the subject.

I have severe OA in both my base thumb joints. Lots of deformity but the pain is mostly gone now. I wore thumb/hand splints for almost two years to help with the pain issue. Long story about why I am not a good candidate for surgery.

My aunt had both of her thumbs replaced. She is pleased with the results. She also is relieved to no longer have pain. Her recovery did require her to go to a therapist to learn exercises to strength her thumbs and hands,

I'm sure others will be along to weigh in.
~~Ides
Posted 2/4/2012 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
thanks so much; I appreciate your reply. sorry to hear you could not get the surgery but perhaps your have larger concerns. I have bad knees but I got some injections of synevist a couple years ago, did some water therapy and they are tolerable for now. also have terrible bunions but cannot afford to be off work for months which I'm sure is necessary. well, enough of that, I do look forward to pain relief and better control with my whole hand so I am hoping for the best. take care and have a good evening.
Posted 2/22/2012 11:36 PM (GMT 0)
My doc at the Mayo clinic wasn't too enthused about the ball replacement. I opted for the old surgery that took out the joint completely and used a piece of the arm tendon to fill the space. Long road to heal-been almost 3 months and just now able to use the hard with some precision and less pain. I'll be curious to know how your surgery works-too late for me to change, but we can compare notes.
Posted 2/23/2012 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
well, hi all. thanks for the replies. when I went to the ortho doc again he looked more closely and doesn't think I have enough cartllidge for the ball to fit in so he would instead pull a tendon? somehow and align my thumb for more mobility and less pain. Occupational therapist said she has a few pts. that had this surgery and she states they were pleased with the results. Opted to have the other thumb done, too. So for now I have postponed it until I feel comfortable taking time off from work for the rehab period. I am in data entry so hopefully I could return to work a month or so after the surgery. I hope your pain lessens and you also gain more mobility. keep me informed of your progress if you could.
Posted 4/21/2012 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

I have just found this thumb joint site thanks to another member who read my first post. I am a dental hygienist who is considering CMC joint surgery after increasing pain over the last two years. I want to continue working in my profession for several more years and am concerned about that as well as overall recovery for the tasks of daily life without pain. Any and all comments will be appreciated. I have not yet scheduled the surgery.
Posted 3/20/2013 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
I had basal joint surgery last Friday. I must say it was not nearly as bad as I had read it would be. I only took pain pills for one day then was fine with Motrin. The worst part is the cast only because it is cumbersome.
Posted 6/29/2014 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I got surgery on my right thumb joint on June 4. I had bone on bone and was told my option was joint fusion. I went out of town to a hand surgeon who said joint replacement with tendon was better. My left thumb is the same way. I had a subclavian block and the trapezial bone removed and replaced with tendon from forearm. I was in a padded wrap for the first 12 days then got a fiberglass cast the 16th. The pain has been bearable, and I quit pain meds after 4 days. The main difficulty I'm having is swelling whenever it's not elevated. It also hurts where the stitched area rubs on the cast. I ice it every time I get home, but still spend a lot of time with pillows. I will go in July 10 to see what next.
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