I'm scheduled for thumb CMC excision surgery in a couple of weeks. I've
been getting cortisone shots in my thumb joints for about 4 years, and
now I know I need to have a more permanent solution to the
pain/swelling/cracking and ligament stretching. Eerything I enjoy doing
is with my hands! My orthopedic doc is planning to remove the
trapezium(?) and detach a ligament from my wrist which he will use to
wind around and through my thumb bone. I don't think he puts rolled up
ligament in the space between as some surgeries show. I noticed that
several group members had similar surgery in the past, and I wonder how
they are doing now? Would they recommend an amount of time to wait
between surgeries for each hand? I'm having the right done first, as
it's worse. I'm right handed, so that shouldn't be too bad. How is it
having the dominant hand done? How long would you say it will be before
I can play piano, type, garden, etc.? I just turned 50 and wondered the
ages you were when you had this procedure done? Did anyone have a
problem with nerve damage? I understand that that's a risk. I really
would appreciate any input from the group as I embark on this since I'm
pretty anxious about it. Did anyone do it with a block instead of being
put totally to sleep? Please let me hear from you if you have any
experience with this.

Lisa