thumb arthritis

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joan - 16 Mar 2007 23:09 GMT

Has anyone had the surgery on the basal thumb joint?

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Joan (AB)
...Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

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ladylove77 - 17 Mar 2007 00:51 GMT

Joan, I have.
Gwen

> Has anyone had the surgery on the basal thumb joint?

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joan - 17 Mar 2007 01:43 GMT

Can you tell me about it? Was it a success? Would you do it over again?

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Joan (AB)
...Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

> Joan, I have.
> Gwen
>
>> Has anyone had the surgery on the basal thumb joint?

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ladylove77 - 17 Mar 2007 16:49 GMT

Joan, I had wonderful results from my surgery. The doctor took a tendon
from the inside of my wrist (can barely see the scar) and moved it to the
basal joint to rebuild it. He did put a pin in the thumb to hold it in
place for a couple of weeks. It was in a cast with a small hole left for
the pin and I had to drop alcohol in it two times a day. The only problem I
had was that the pin was pulled out without anything to deaden the pain, and
I almost fainted. It was very painful. My thumb was being pulled down
toward the palm of my hand and now it is straight out from my hand. I would
do it again on that thumb (left hand), but I hesitate to have it done on the
right hand because I live alone and would hate to have the right hand out of
use (dominant hand). However, if it gets much worse, I will have to have it
done also. The group of orthopedic doctors I use had a hand surgeon, and I
went to him.
Gwen

> Can you tell me about it? Was it a success? Would you do it over again?
>
>> Joan, I have.
>> Gwen
>>
>>> Has anyone had the surgery on the basal thumb joint?

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joan - 17 Mar 2007 17:35 GMT

That is wonderful news. Your operation is just the way my doctor described
it to me. It is my right hand that is affected - I am left handed, but seem
to use my right hand a lot. My thumb is almost immobile now - very little
movement. The doctor (a plastic surgeon - one of 2 in the city who does
hands) said I would be in a cast for 4 weeks and then therapy for another 4
weeks and then I could get on with my life. The problem now is being on the
wait list for who knows how long. My other thumb doesn't have any signs of
arthritis in it - go figure.

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Joan (AB)
...Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

> Joan, I had wonderful results from my surgery. The doctor took a tendon
> from the inside of my wrist (can barely see the scar) and moved it to the
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> a hand surgeon, and I went to him.
> Gwen

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Cindy - 17 Mar 2007 12:47 GMT

Joan, I looked this up because I wanted to know which joint that was
exactly...Hmmm I have a huge knot on that joint on my Left hand...
Mine hurts more to touch than to use, but it is my left hand and doesn't get
as much action as my right hand...My right hand gives me fits...The whole
hand..but alot in my wrist...
I digress...Here is a link I found that describes the what they do when they
do the surgery and what results you can expect...
http://www.e-hand.com/hw/hw003.htm
But at least now...I know what that growing painful knot is...and really my
Rhuemy is doing all he can for it at this point...
So Whine Whine Whine...Poor me...Did I mention...I hate OA...
Cindy

> Has anyone had the surgery on the basal thumb joint?

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joan - 17 Mar 2007 17:38 GMT

Thanks for the link. I had done some googling and discovered lot of links -
this was one of the better ones. The knot on the joint comes from the bone
being pushed out of place by the arthritis. I have pain at times that goes
into my wrist and down my arm. My biggest problem is that I play the piano
and need my thumb in order to play chords.

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Joan (AB)
...Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

> Joan, I looked this up because I wanted to know which joint that was
> exactly...Hmmm I have a huge knot on that joint on my Left hand...
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Cindy
>> Has anyone had the surgery on the basal thumb joint?

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ladylove77 - 17 Mar 2007 23:00 GMT

Joan, I gave up playing the piano about 6 1/2 yars ago because of arthritis
in my hands. Now my piano is covered with pictures, books & junk!
Gwen

> Thanks for the link. I had done some googling and discovered lot of
> links - this was one of the better ones. The knot on the joint comes from
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>> Cindy
>>> Has anyone had the surgery on the basal thumb joint?

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joan - 18 Mar 2007 03:08 GMT

I'm not giving up the piano yet - I still play the hymns at church one
Sunday a month. Sometimes I come home almost in tears because my hands
hurt - arthritis is not only in my thumb. And my piano is already covered
with pictures, books & junk!

Signature

Joan (AB)
...Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

> Joan, I gave up playing the piano about 6 1/2 yars ago because of
> arthritis in my hands. Now my piano is covered with pictures, books &
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>> that goes into my wrist and down my arm. My biggest problem is that I
>> play the piano and need my thumb in order to play chords.

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