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CMC Arthroplasty with Artelon Spacer Expand / Collapse
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Elmer11
Posted Sunday, February 24, 2008 9:07 PM


 

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Last Login: Friday, February 19, 2010 1:36 PM
Posts: 96, Visits: 68
Don't know what the heck's going on, folks, but I've had BAD pain in my right thumb for about 24 hours now. I haven't done anything out of the ordinary with it at all. I'm hoping and assuming it's just something that'll pass pretty soon.
Post #4098731
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kieye1
Posted Monday, February 25, 2008 9:11 AM


 

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Posts: 210, Visits: 107
Sometimes a slight movement will pinch a nerve. It happened to me. We are still healing. Ice it down 3-4 times aday. Don't know if you have any Nsaids ( anti inflamatory). If you have a brace, I would wear it for a day. Hope you're better by tomorrow, if not, call your doctor. Take care Kieye
Post #4098732
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Elmer11
Posted Monday, February 25, 2008 10:01 PM


 

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Last Login: Friday, February 19, 2010 1:36 PM
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Thanks, Kieye! It seems to be somewhat better tonight. Wearing the brace does seem to help, and Ibuprofen is very effective.
Post #4098733
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Piano Rick
Posted Monday, February 25, 2008 11:54 PM


 

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Last Login: Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:45 PM
Posts: 64, Visits: 9
Hi, everyone. I made that comment back in early Feb. because we were pretty inactive. Then I haven't been able to access the site for about three weeks. The foundation sent me a different link than the one that USED to work. So I'm back.
I'm ahead of most of you in the healing process. There are just DAYS--ya know, when it hurts or aches, and you can't figure that you did anything at all to irritate it. And in a couple of days it's better. But before surgery, EVERY day was a bad day. And I often notice that following abusive activities when I EXPECT things are going to hurt the day after, it turns out it DOESN'T hurt. So I'm satisfied. We all have to make sure we check in annually to see if our repair is long-lasting.
Post #4098734
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Elmer11
Posted Tuesday, February 26, 2008 12:16 PM


 

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Last Login: Friday, February 19, 2010 1:36 PM
Posts: 96, Visits: 68
Thanks for the excellent perspective, Rick! You're absolutely right about the difference between then and now. I guess I was doing so great that all of a sudden I was ready to pronounce myself cured. Anyway, thanks for that, and thanks for the encouragement for everyone to continue posting. We're members of a pretty small group, and I know it is very helpful to me to learn about other people's experience with the spacer procedure. It really would be nice if we could all stick together for a few years to compare notes.
Post #4098735
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kieye1
Posted Tuesday, February 26, 2008 2:15 PM


 

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Last Login: Friday, October 16, 2009 4:02 PM
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DITTO Elmer! We are somewhat in uncharted waters. This surgerical procedure hasn't been around that long. It's nice to hear about the ups and downs of this new process. You all have helped me in my journey, that many of the things I'm experiencing seems to be normal.
So I'm all for posting for 2-3 years. I believe that at the 3 year mark the spacer is suppose to break down and form cartliage like tissue.
Doing ok with the thumb, still have weakness- ackey with my wrist.
Kieye
Post #4098736
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Piano Rick
Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2008 8:06 PM


 

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Last Login: Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:45 PM
Posts: 64, Visits: 9
Who was the guitar player? Was it you, Kieye? That post was a while a go. And I do have Aleve days like the rest of you.
Post #4098737
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Cher
Posted Thursday, February 28, 2008 5:56 PM


 

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Posts: 44, Visits: 0
Hi, everybody! Been a long time since I've last posted. Had my 6-month checkup last week, and all looks fantastic. I am back to doing my photography and art with no major pain complaints. My hand is finally to the point where I can put it down flat on the floor and push myself up. Pretty handy for a photographer! (No pun intended) Good to see everyone doing well. I agree that we need to keep in touch over the next coupla years to see how we progress.
Post #4098738
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kieye1
Posted Saturday, March 01, 2008 9:14 AM


 

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Last Login: Friday, October 16, 2009 4:02 PM
Posts: 210, Visits: 107
Glad you are doing well Cher
Had one of my real ackey days yesterday. We had a real weather change here. Does the weather have any effect on how your hands feel? Today we will have sunny weather with a high of 65. Guess what? My hands fell okay today
Kieye
Post #4098739
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Mickey1
Posted Saturday, March 08, 2008 9:45 AM


 

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Last Login: Thursday, November 27, 2008 12:28 PM
Posts: 33, Visits: 5
kieye1, yes, the weather does affect how your joints feel. Most of that is due to the barometric pressure. The cold, damp weather results in the arthritis acting up.
Post #4098740
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penelope
Posted Thursday, March 13, 2008 12:35 PM


 

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Last Login: Monday, March 08, 2010 9:09 AM
Posts: 71, Visits: 27
Hello to all!
Back from skiing- I think the Drs don't understand what the post op pain process is like. ie: mine said I'd have no trouble using a ski pole in Jan. I went 3 weeks ago and was uncomfortable using the pole- sometimes had trouble pulling on my mitten. In Jan, no way could I have managed.
I agree we need to keep in touch for some years to see how the Artelon does over time.
I spoke with a young hand surgeon who believs the other gold standard operation with tendon harvest was butchery and only an option for intractible pain; he hadn't heard of Artelon.
Post #4098741
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kieye1
Posted Thursday, March 13, 2008 4:58 PM


 

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Penelope, It does take time to heal and get back our strength. I'm at 6 mos and I've just played 2 days of golf in a row. Doing okay. But I do wear a soft brace by Cool Comfort brace when playing. It gives me that extra added strength and support. You might consider doing this Penelope when participating in active sports. They do have a web site.
Kieye
Post #4098742
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penelope
Posted Monday, March 17, 2008 7:54 AM


 

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I'm at 5 mos. I can't clap my hands yet unless I avoid the thumb. I have good ROM but certain motions are too painful to perform, and strenghth is less than half what it was pre op. I can write. I have continuous mild pain at the replaced joint. What are others experiencing related to pain? [The dr and his PT said not to use a brace- but I may now that you have said it's helpful.]
Thanks!
Post #4098743
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Piano Rick
Posted Monday, March 17, 2008 9:07 PM


 

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Last Login: Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:45 PM
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Clapping took me a while, and I go a LOT of places where applause is in order. I haven't used the brace on either hand since they told me I was done with it. They said I couldn't screw things up by using the hands after that initial healing period. Nothing has been so continually painful that has made me feel I had to revert--just occasional Advil treatment for a day or two, and not even much of that in the last 3 months. I just came in from a 90 minute weed pulling session. I've been doing that several days now (I have a LOT of weeds since I didn't really do them last year when I was impaired). I was pretty sure that was going to make me achey, but it hasn't. Yay! How was snow shoveling for y'all? I wouldn't know. I'm here in So. Cal. Last week I had to run the air conditioner most days after 2:00PM.
Rick
Post #4098744
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kieye1
Posted Tuesday, March 18, 2008 2:05 PM


 

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Penelope. The doctor never prescribed a brace or PT for me. Well before I decided to investigate surgery, I tried PT. Got a script from my GP. It was my PT person that suggested I try this soft brace when golfing. It really helped with the support and still does. I only wear it when I golf. Still feel I need to protect that joint alittle longer. Maybe I'm being over protective?? Jury is still out on that one with all that I've read about the spacer. I don't feel I need it any other time. I'm able to do all my daily chores without pain and yes, I can clap without any problems.
My main erk is that I can't spontaneously touch my thumb to the last crease of my little finger without stretching excerises first. Also, I feel I don't have full strength yet. A mild uncomfortableness when trying to unscrew a tight jar.
Type of brace I have is called Cool Comforrt Arthritis Thumb Splint. You can purchase one at activeforever.com for $24.95 on the web. Your PT person may have some on hand. I just bought some new ones, as my old one were wearing out.
Kieye
Post #4098745
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penelope
Posted Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:17 PM


 

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Last Login: Monday, March 08, 2010 9:09 AM
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Thanks for the responses Rick and Kieye.
The CMC joint is painful all the time and I didn't expect it to last this long. I know everything is in place and I can touch my thumb to the last crease of my little finger without stretching- but unlocking a door, turning on the car ignition, etc is still a problem I didn't expect at almost 6 months. It's hard to be patient. I never take any pain Rx; maybe I should.
Post #4098746
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Cher
Posted Monday, March 24, 2008 11:30 AM


 

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Last Login: Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:12 PM
Posts: 44, Visits: 0
Hi, everyone. Got a question for you. I am now 7 months out from surgery, and my CMC joint is doing well. However, I'm experiencing pain and stiffness in the joint above that one! Anybody run into this problem?
Post #4098747
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Piano Rick
Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:43 AM


 

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Last Login: Saturday, December 12, 2009 4:45 PM
Posts: 64, Visits: 9
No. I forget, are you OA or RA?
Post #4098748
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Cher
Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:20 PM


 

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Last Login: Thursday, July 31, 2008 1:12 PM
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I'm OA. Been tested several times for RA as every new doc seems to think my symptoms point that way. But tests always come back negative, so OA it is.
Post #4098749
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kieye1
Posted Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:49 AM


 

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Last Login: Friday, October 16, 2009 4:02 PM
Posts: 210, Visits: 107
Try posting this AGAIN Cher. Having trouble with this board.
I have pain in the joint just below my finger nail. Doctor is not worried about it. He said many of his patients experience the same thing. It's do to our stretching the thumb to our fingers.
You can have RA without having a positive test. It's called sero negative. There are other criteria besides a blood test. Check conditions on this web site. Only a rhematologist that sees hundreds of patients can really determine if you have RA. If you haven't seen one, I would suggest you do so. Alot of damage an be done with sero negative.
Kieye
Post #4098750
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