Hand surgery again?

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jan - 22 Jan 2005 23:02 GMT

I had hand surgery almost 7 years ago and it looks like I'm going to be
needing something done again. Anyone else here been through it more
than once. I had my knuckles replaced with the little plastic things,
no fusions.

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johnie - 23 Jan 2005 00:10 GMT

hey jan, i had mine replaced 4 years ago. what are you having done exactly?

johnie

> I had hand surgery almost 7 years ago and it looks like I'm going to be
> needing something done again. Anyone else here been through it more
> than once. I had my knuckles replaced with the little plastic things,
> no fusions.

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jan - 23 Jan 2005 01:28 GMT

Was it as successful as your first go around? Did they use the same
kind of implants? Was rehab the same? My hands are quite sore so
typing is difficult right now or I'd give you more details. I just saw
my RA dr. and had x-rays will need to see surgeon soon.

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Caroline Marold - 24 Jan 2005 03:24 GMT

Sounds like the implants you had were not working for
you from the get-go. Why was that -- do they know? Are
you seeing the same surgeon? Are you on any DMARDS.
Duckie

> Was it as successful as your first go around? Did they use the same
> kind of implants? Was rehab the same? My hands are quite sore so
> typing is difficult right now or I'd give you more details. I just saw
> my RA dr. and had x-rays will need to see surgeon soon.

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jan - 24 Jan 2005 16:38 GMT

Duckie,
Actually the first surgery was very successful. My fingers were
straight and I had no pain or very little for almost 7 years. It's
funny cause the surgeon predicted that they would be good for about
that amount of time. I tend to expect to much in all aspects of my
life I'm doing a little better this morning for some reason. I'm on
Remicade, 5 mg predisone, folic acid and MTX for RA and a handful of
other meds for stomach and anxiety. I get the remicade every 6 weeks.
Rhemotologist is uping the doseage for next infusion which isn't till
late february. He also starting me on a different anti-inflamatory, I
was on Etotolac but it was hard on my stomach. I haven't gotten the new
one yet to let you know what it is. The good thing is I feel better
today. Thanks for the concern by all of you that replied.

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debbie m. - 24 Jan 2005 20:51 GMT

Jan,
I also deal with depression and anxiety, severe! It is something that I
have to have meds for and also attend therapy. This helps. I just wanted
you to know that there is someone who understands how you feel.

debbie m.
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/angels1/

> Duckie,
> Actually the first surgery was very successful. My fingers were
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> one yet to let you know what it is. The good thing is I feel better
> today. Thanks for the concern by all of you that replied.

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jan - 25 Jan 2005 00:27 GMT

Thanks Debbie.

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AudieB68 - 23 Jan 2005 01:53 GMT

I had my fingers operated on twice. 1st time synovitis and the second time all
plastic joints. They only lasted a little while. Now they are so crooked I am
ashamed to show them to anyone. Wish you the best with your operation. God
Bless audie

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d'huit - 23 Jan 2005 06:08 GMT

>I had my fingers operated on twice. 1st time synovitis and the second time
>all
> plastic joints. They only lasted a little while. Now they are so crooked
> I am
> ashamed to show them to anyone.

((((((((((((audie)))))))))))) it would seem so easy for me to say, "don't
be ashamed of your crooked fingers". i also know how hollow it sounds and
how hearing it being said can make one feel like there is yet another
something else wrong for feeling ashamed.

i was ashamed of a mangled leg for a very long time, especially in my
twenties. i'm not now--- but, i'm still a little reticent about exposing
it and causing emotional reactions in those too young to understand that a
physical disfigurement isn't emblematic of the whole person. it took a
long time for me to realize that i am not my leg, nor am i the sum total of
my entire body's parts and all their flaws. took awhile to recognize that
most people didn't think about my leg, as much as i did, and weren't
bothered by it, as much as i was. then, i learned to love this mangled leg,
because i still had this leg to love and to use, even though it didn't work
quite as well as it once did and wasn't as shapely as it once was. this leg
is still willing to serve me.

it really isn't about "getting over it and getting on with it" as some might
believe. it's about loving how well they once served you and still try to
serve you. it's about loving that part of yourself that loves them enough
and makes you take even greater care of them, than you would have had to if
they were perfect. it's about also loving that part of yourself that
accepts them enough to allow them to continue to serve your in whatever way
they can now, that part of you that helps them to do that.

so, i won't say, "don't be ashamed of your hands", but i will say, "love
them", audie, recognize that you do love them, because they are worthy of
your love. and if you do, feeling ashamed of them won't come as easily as
it once did.

kate

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kenny - 23 Jan 2005 04:02 GMT

>I had hand surgery almost 7 years ago and it looks like I'm going to be
>needing something done again. Anyone else here been through it more
>than once. I had my knuckles replaced with the little plastic things,
>no fusions.

Jan

I've had hand surgery 3 different times. Left hand once and right hand
twice. My left hand I had done in 1995 and I'm past due to get it done
again. Supposedly, all I have to do is say something and they will do
it again. It really is time to do it but I just can't stand doing
without my hand or even the time it takes to rehab it. I'm sure if the
pain gets really bad I will do something. I have plastic knuckles in
both hands all the fingers including the thumbs. I don't even think
about the way it looks but it is obvious. Good luck to you.

~Kenny

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Caroline Marold - 23 Jan 2005 23:02 GMT

I have had 5 hand surgeries which includes wrist work.
Are you going to have those knuckles done again or is
this new work.
Duckie

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jan - 24 Jan 2005 01:11 GMT

Not sure yet what's going to happen. I need to call to get appointment
to see surgeon. I'm sure something is going to have to be redone as
I've lost a lot of strength and I didn't have much to begin with and
holding a glass, book, utensil is painful. I'm typing with my ring
finger. My question was really to find out if anyone has been through
it mutiple times and what their experience was as far as recovery time
and if the results were as good as the first time around. I'll need to
weigh whether to wait a while or jump right in and do it again. It was
no picnic with the first go around. I also had my left hand done and so
far it's holding up ok but it most likely will starting going down hill
since I'm using it more now due to pain in my right. What a vicious
circle this disease has been. I also suffer from anxiety so I'm dealing
with that as well. Thanks for any input anyone can offer.

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North - 24 Jan 2005 02:05 GMT

Well Jan I can't say that I know what thats like. I hope all goes well
for you, and that you will be able to at least have usage with it,
even if its not quite the same. I will keep ya in my prayers.
MM

>Not sure yet what's going to happen. I need to call to get appointment
>to see surgeon. I'm sure something is going to have to be redone as
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>circle this disease has been. I also suffer from anxiety so I'm dealing
>with that as well. Thanks for any input anyone can offer.

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Cindy - 24 Jan 2005 01:58 GMT

I just had to comment on this. I know that eventually my hands will be the
same. They are starting to now. I am 47 years old...
But what I want to say about the hands....My Grandmother and My FAther both
had the crippling of hands. And I remember as I grew up my Grandmothers
hands got worse and worse. But The things she did with those hands. And I
know she was in a great deal of pain, but she never complained. I guess that
is the way it was back then...but I loved her hands. They were so soft even
though she worked them like a man. All of her knots were kind of neat to a
little girl....She always sat up straight as a board. and when she got
tickled she would slap her hands on her knees and throw her head back and
laugh so hard.
I loved my Granny and her crooked hands...
My dad had arthritis in his hands also. And they grew more crooked with each
year. He could build anything with those hands. And he paddled my behind a
few times also....He passed away a year ago Thanksgiving...Oh how I would
love to hold those crooked hands about now...
Hugs Cindy

>I had hand surgery almost 7 years ago and it looks like I'm going to be
> needing something done again. Anyone else here been through it more
> than once. I had my knuckles replaced with the little plastic things,
> no fusions.

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debbie m. - 24 Jan 2005 20:48 GMT

Cindy, Jan, Adelle and others,

I have some slight hand involvement with some big knucles. However, my
Mother had severe RA and her hands were very crooked and knarled. It didn't
matter to me. They were hands that held me, loved me, etc. She was my
mother and her hands were just part of who she was.

debbie m.
http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/angels1/

> I just had to comment on this. I know that eventually my hands will be the
> same. They are starting to now. I am 47 years old...
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> > than once. I had my knuckles replaced with the little plastic things,
> > no fusions.

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