Basal Joint Degenerative Arthritis

Hi.

I read earlier posts but haven't seen anything recent. I need surgery in both hands and am trying to decide how long to hold out. It's starting to effect my quality of life. Anyone who's had the surgery can you post alittle about the pluses and minuses to having had the surgery ? Right now I'm planning to have the left done in the Spring as I'm right handed. I've looked everywhere for a forum on the subject and the is the only site I could find.

My thumbs "work" ok but they are painful. Flipping open a lid, opening a jar, riding my snowmobile. It's getting to be a quality of life with the pain. I find the daily pain, depressing and discouraging. I went from a twinge here and there 6 months ago to know certain movements of the thumb constantly cause pain. It's downward progression and noticeably getting worse.

Part of me wants to wait as long as possibly. After all, it is major surgery and as we know sometimes the fix just causes other issues. I worry fixing the pain will result in loss of function ?

I found a good surgeon but all he says when asked " I know it will fix it but what could I lose ?" He says he's done 308 surgeries and only one patient is having a tough time getting her tennis grip back.

So although I'm depressed and apprehensive about it all the other part of me wants to get it over with and start healing. Do one hand this year. Other hand next.

Totally .....stuck...sitting on the fence . Ugh.

Thanks. After reading your post I booked a ticket to Seattle to go back and see the surgeon for an eval. I found a top hand surgeon in Seattle who also specializes in microsurgery. Luckily I have family in Seattle as I live in Alaska.

I have become apprehensive everytime I do something waiting The particular movement when my thumbs catches and hurts painfully.m it's becoming too much a part of daily life and when I went out and rode my snowmachine, my winter passion, my hands ached and felt weak.

I ll do one this spring and recover over the summer and another next spring.

I appreciate your comments. It's nice to have hope.

My surgery went very well. They didn't even take my shoes off! I flew to Seattle and had Dr Miyano perform my surgery at Seattle Hand. It went fairly quickly and I ended up with a half cast. The bottom portion was cast and then the rest was padding and an ace bandage. My hand swelled pretty good but that was partially my fault as I forgoed my meds the next day and drove 5 hours to recuperate at the beach with my daughter. Yes, the doc was a little stunned when I told him. Overall I did really well. Had surgery on wed and the following wed had my stitches removed. My surgery turned out a little more complicated as the doc told me the tendon he needed for the repair was being frayed by the bone spur so he made an extra small incision and had to repair it at the wrist end before he could sever it at the forearm site. I flew back to Alaska the next day in a half brace. 3 mo later I flew back south and the doc was thrilled with my progress. I can do almost everything with my hand even flat handed push-ups. Very pleased with my surgery and the results. I will say and I told my Dr, I didn't wear the brace all the time like I was told. I wore it when my hand needed it. I used my hand as much as possible and rested it when needed. I think this contributed to my quick recovery. There was a woman here in town who had the same surgery up here in Alaska and she still couldn't use her hand When the time comes to do my right hand I'll go back and see Dr Miyano!

Most of my work is on the computer and I went back after 3 weeks. Typing with the brace was a little clumsy but I managed. And then I'd take it off a little bit at a time.

I had surgery at 7am. I stayed in a hotel with my son two blocks from the surgery center and the main hospital. I slept and vomited pretty much all day and evening. My son was staying with me but I finally sent him home as I felt there was no point in him being there because I was sleeping as much as possible. Saying that. I'm a pretty hard headed stubborn independent woman and that was against what the Doc wanted so I can say what you should do. They want someone there in case you need help or I imagine have some kind of emergency. I was in the hotel a block from the hospital so I figured I could call the front desk or hospital if need be. Not sure you'd want to be home alone. If you have anesthesia sickness like I did its brutal. Plus your hand is swollen and any little bump is pretty painful. Probably best post op to have a helper. Be safe plus you deserve to be waited on hand and foot 😉