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CMC Arthroplasty with Artelon Spacer Expand / Collapse
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Piano Rick
Posted Thursday, July 24, 2008 12:15 PM


 

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Long time, no hear. How's anybody? I'm good, wish I was strong like when I could easily twist off tough jar lids, but I can do them with bearable discomfort. Before surgery, no way even the easy ones would budge. But I was going for piano facility, which I'm very happy with. Everybody check in, please.
Rick
Post #4098771
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Mickey1
Posted Saturday, August 09, 2008 11:06 PM


 

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Hey Rick, just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing.  Haven't been on here in a while and took me a bit to find the site.  I'm not sure I like the new lay-out!!

I have been keeping up with SBI and have found out that a lot of the hand surgeons have quit using the Artelon Spacer as the long term effects aren't what they were cracked up to be and a lot more people have been having rejection problems!  So, just thought you should know whats been happening.

Mickey 1     frostyml@hotmail.com

Post #4147334
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kieye1
Posted Tuesday, August 12, 2008 5:37 PM


 

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Mickey1, that doesn't surprise me.  I will be having the tendon procedure done on my right hand Aug. 26th.  My surgeon is no longer doing the artelon spacer.  A year ago on my left hand he did a combo of spacer and tendon on my left hand.  I do have some pain in my left hand with certain movements.  The pain is cut a good 85% of what it was.  Hopefully the tendon procedure will go well and I will totally pain free.  If so, I may question my left hand.  Will see if things remain the same or get worse.

Kieye

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Elmer11
Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2008 11:15 AM


 

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Hey Rick & everybody... I hate this new forum setup! Very confusing and - at least initially - hard to navigate. Anyway... I'm still around and my thumbs still hurt. My left one (2/2007) is not too bad, but my right one (11/07) is pretty painful most of the time. I can still do most everything I need to do, but I have to leave my thumbs out of it at times. For instance, I was helping a friend of mine install a new front door, and I had to repeatedly lift the door, put it in place, and then move it back. I could lift it ok, but I had to do it without gripping it with my thumbs. Very awkward. I still have relatively high hopes that one of these days they will quit hurting completely and will be more useful. (sigh) One of these days...
Post #4148328
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B Bissett
Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:06 PM


 

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Hello all, I had a CMC arthroplasty with artelon done in Feb. 2008.  I have more pain,swelling,unexplained tendonitis,inability to extend my wrist and extremely limited thumb movement.  The only way I have tolerable discomfort is if I wear a thumb spica splint at all times. All I keep hearing from my Dr is my progress is very slow and keep up with the therapy.  I am very frustrated. Anyone have similar problems?

B

Post #4148546
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kieye1
Posted Saturday, August 16, 2008 1:43 PM


 

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Bissett,  I would seek another opinion if you are in that much pain.  Also note, Many doctors have stopped using the Artelon Spacer.  My own doctor is one of them and I did get another opinion from a doctor that has also stopped using it.  I will be having the tendon procedure done on my other hand in 10 days.

Kieye

Post #4149407
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Piano Rick
Posted Friday, September 12, 2008 9:57 PM


 

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I'm still here--but this new format and procedure is a mess, I think.  It took me 5 minutes to get to the end of the posts and sign in.  Then everytime I tried to sign in, I'd lose the forum and have to search it up again.  Well, I wish my hands were 19 again.  But I'm still better than I was before the fix.  However, my career of ripping phone books is over.  Elmer, I know what you're talking about with the door job.  I've subconsciously developed all these little adaptive behaviors like grabbing something by wrapping my 4 fingers around it instead of depending on my grip strength using the thumb.  I don't even notice I've changed my movements until someone questions it.  And how about being reluctant to offer a handshake to one of those people who tries to assert himself by giving you the "power shake"--I hate that.

Rick

Post #4158933
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kieye1
Posted Sunday, September 14, 2008 3:10 PM


 

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Most of the time my left hand with the artelon space is fine through out the day.  Certain movements will give me a twinge.  Will never be able to open a jar with my left hand,Glad I bought a Black n Decker jar opener.  I've been using that, when my husbands hands aren't available.  I was able to play golf this last summer wearing a soft brace.  Will probably always have to use it. It's been one year on my left hand.  Overall, it's alot better.  It just disturbs me to find out that the two surgeons I went to have stopped using the spacer.  So I don't know what is in store for my left hand down the road??

 My right hand was done Aug. 26th, using the tendon procedure.  Still in a cast and all is going well so far.  Recoup time and cast process and minor pain seems like the same as last time.  Looking forward to playing golf  at the end of January - I hope

Kieye

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Elmer11
Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2008 2:48 PM


 

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I agree, Rick. This new format is seriously flawed and definitely not user-friendly.

I've taken to calling my thumbs "oppositional" instead of "opposable." Still having lots of pain even after all this time. I can still get the job done, but with lots of cheating on my grip, etc. We had major wind damage here in Kentucky and I have at least 3 100-year-old oak trees to cut up. Got some help from some friends yesterday which saved me a couple of days of cuttin' & draggin'. Anyway... I'll get it done, but a bit more slowly than I'd like.

I know what you mean about the handshake thing. All my life I've prided myself on a firm and "manly" grip. My dad always told me, "Honey, don't ever hand a man a cold fish when you go to shake hands with him." I can still give a good solid handshake, but I'll have to admit I sometimes catch my breath just as I extend my hand.
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penelope
Posted Wednesday, September 17, 2008 8:33 PM


 

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Hi all- Elmer helped get me back to this discussion. I was busy much of last yr with my dad's illness, then getting his home ready and on the market. In june I started having trouble with my knee and took Arcoxcia[Merk-legal elsewhere, but not in US] in a high dose for 4 days- well my thumb got and remained much improved- which means to me that my pain and lack of progress is due to inflammation. i WONDER IF MANY OF THE aRTELON PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO INFLAMMATION. Cortisone was not effective at resolving this- maybe the 2 drugs deal with inflammation by different methods.

What do u guys think?

Since Knee got so bad this summer & I couldn't walk for a few wks, I had a scope last Wed which revealed mess everywhere- he did menisectomy, synovectomy,abrasion artroplasty,  & resection of medial plica. All this and it never hurt before June!

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Elmer11
Posted Thursday, September 18, 2008 10:12 AM


 

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Hey, Penelope! That's interesting about the medication you mentioned. I keep wondering how on earth can my thumbs hurt at this stage - with the Artelon stuffed in the joint and all - but inflammation would definitely explain it. I have an appointment later this month and hope to have some of my questions answered.
Post #4159756
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Elmer11
Posted Tuesday, September 30, 2008 10:44 AM


 

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Well, hell's bells!!! Had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon yesterday to see what's up with my right hand hurting so much more. I expected him to say it would just take time. Instead, he showed me the x-ray and the bones are starting to rub together again. What's up with that??? Three months after surgery I asked him if I had any limitations on physical activity and he said none at all. Now he's saying that maybe I "ground it down" by working too hard with it. I really like my doctor a lot and everything, but I don't think I share much or any responsibility for the darn thing not working out right. Now he's recommending the arthroplasty with tendon interposition procedure, although we both think it would be prudent to wait awhile. In the meantime, I did get a shot of cortisone which will hopefully make things a little easier to bear for the time being.
Post #4161569
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kieye1
Posted Tuesday, September 30, 2008 3:13 PM


 

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What a bummer! So sorry to hear this. It's bad enough going through it twice, but three times.  Will this happen to your other hand?  I have heard others on the message boards have a similar problem.  The spacer just disappered?  Never found any info on the web as this being a side effect. 

As you know, one hand is with the spacer and the other is the tendon arthroplasty.  Had my hard cast taken of yesterday ( 5 wks) and a removeable put on for 3 wks.  All looks well.  Had the cast off for 3 hrs last night watching tv.  Sure felt nice, but was painful to do the one exercise the doctor wanted me to do and bending my wrist was painful.  I also had it off for two this morning having coffee - early riser.

Kieye

 

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Elmer11
Posted Wednesday, October 01, 2008 12:06 PM


 

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Don't know, Kieye. I hope the left one doesn't develop the same problem. It looked really, really good on the x-ray, so I'm hoping it'll be fine. As far as the right one is concerned, I'm pretty puzzled right now. I'm wondering why he didn't suggest re-doing the Artelon thing. Does anyone know if that's ever done when one fails?
Post #4161764
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penelope
Posted Saturday, October 04, 2008 9:05 PM


 

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It's sure hard to find your way into this forum- I even have it book marked! I don't think many new people will be able to find us.

I have been VERY diappointed with the results of my surgery done mid oct 07. I have trouble with strength- still can barely tun the car on- I could do this pre op, but with alot of pain. Now it hurts all the time but not with activity like before. My left thumb is almost bone on bone, but I'm going to live with it. [My right wrist still isn't the same due to being immobilised in the cast the therapist said.]

Post #4162417
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Cindy Camp
Posted Thursday, October 16, 2008 5:58 PM


 

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Hi

This is the first time I have joined this gorup.  I am in the process of trying to decide if I should have the Artelon Spacer surgery.  What is the general opinion of most of the people here who have had the surgery?  My physical therapist said that 99% of her clients have been very happy with the results and have mostly no pain once they recovered fro the surgery.  Any advice?

Post #4164312
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Elmer11
Posted Monday, October 20, 2008 1:54 PM


 

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Hey, you guys... Cindy has added a poll to the board. You can find it at:
http://community.arthritis.org/forums/Topic4164313-1817-1.aspx
I seem to be the only participant so far, and I'm afraid I had to give the spacer the lowest rating, since it was definitely a failure in my right hand. I suppose I should - in all fairness - log in under a different ID and give a rating for my left hand; it falls under the category of "Mostly releived of pain but my hand is weak." All in all, I don't really know what to think. I like my doctor a lot, but I'm looking for a second opinion at this time to see what my options might be for correcting situation with my right hand.
Post #4164869
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kieye1
Posted Monday, October 20, 2008 4:24 PM


 

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Glad you posted Elmer.  This site has been slow.  Sorry to hear that you are having so much truble with your hands.  The doctor that did my surgery on both hands stated on my very first visit, " We have been doing basil thumb surgery for 30 years and we still don't have it down.  If you leave things alone, it will fuse together and the bones below will take over its movement with out pain.  I've seen this happen many times.  If the pain is unbearable we can go in to help relieve the pain. 

Well, I've had two different procedures.  The pain on my left hand has been relieved, but I haven't regained all my strength and gripping things hard will cause pain. Since i had a combo of tendon and artelon spacer, my doctor feels the pain is coming from the spacer. My right hand done totally with the tendon - we'll have to see.  I hope I'll have more strength and no pain with my right hand??

Will check out the forum

Kieye

Post #4164898
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Elmer11
Posted Friday, October 24, 2008 9:38 AM


 

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Hey, Kieye! Yeah, I wish the postings would pick up. We need all the shared information and experience we can get. That's interesting and revealing what your doctor said about the progress they've made. Boy, I wish I could wave a wand over my right one and say, "FUSE!" and have it over with. ;-) I'm going to a new hand specialist next week to get a second opinion about what I should do, but I'm leaning more and more toward fusion.
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kieye1
Posted Sunday, October 26, 2008 2:40 PM


 

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Elmer, keep us posted.  Hope you get some good info from your new doctor.  Will be seeing my doctor on Monday.  Just feel this tendon procedure is going alittle slower.

Kieye

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