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CMC Arthroplasty with Artelon Spacer Expand / Collapse
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Laurie Daigle
Posted Thursday, January 01, 2009 3:50 PM


 

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You all were right about the post being difficult to navigate; it took me forever to get to the recent posts. Am I ever glad I did. The tune has changed so dramatically from the initial postings. I sense that my surgeon would prefer I go with the tendon suspension procedure; now I know why! I was worried about the long recovery process involved in this; I'm a PT (of all things), but in a mostly management position. But I want to know that somewhere down the road I could go back to treating patients. This is a big decision, and any help anyone could give me, now that I realize I'm talking to whoever will listen, would be appreciated.
A Happy, Pain-free New Year to All!
Post #4177237
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KeaC
Posted Thursday, January 01, 2009 7:38 PM


 

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Laurie, if you are wondering about recovery, that varies by individual. Since your work is mainly managerial, I would estimate that you could return to work fairly quickly. I am a consultant in the computer industry and will be returning to work on Monday, less than 3 weeks after surgery (half-time initially to see how it goes). If you had a career where fine dexterity and/or strength was required with both hands, a much longer recovery time would be required (cast removed and some serious P/T time behind you) before returning to work. In my case, I can type with 1 or 2 fingers of the surgery hand...which makes for much slower typing, but the point is - I can do most of the things required at work. The key is "patience". Everything takes longer to do while recovering, so schedule your day - and daily tasks - accordingly.

Also, feel free to ask any question to this forum. There are people here with varied experience and perspectives, which is what makes it so helpful to those with questions. We all joined because we had questions at some point.

Wishing everyone a healthful new year. KeaC
Post #4177251
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kieye1
Posted Friday, January 02, 2009 5:04 PM


 

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Laurie, My left hand was done with a combo of tendon and artelon spacer.  My right hand was totally tendon . I am able to type, sew, cook, exercise lifting 4lb weights.  I can touch all all fingers, but I have some pain in my Lf. hand and none in my RT.  What I can't do with both hands is, open jars or exert any pressure on them.  Now I do expect to play golf in a couple of weeks.  But I will have to wear a cool comfort thumb brace on both hand to give support, which i did use prior t6o both surgeries.   Yes, I would like to have my normal expected strength.  That will not happen and I've not heard/read of anyone that has.  What has been accomplished is getting rid of that white lighting pain 24 hrs.

My surgeon stated to me that they have been doing surgery on the thumb for 30 years and have not perfected the procedure.  What has been the goal is reduce the pain level.

Hope I've answered some of your questions.

Kieye

Post #4177348
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Elmer11
Posted Saturday, January 03, 2009 11:59 AM


 

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Glad to see some posts on the board! It's really helpful to hear from other people who have had the same or similar procedures. I'm happy to report that in the past few days both of my thumbs have felt much better. I don't have a clue why this might be, but I'll take it as a hopeful sign for now. Maybe some cartilage is growing on those little Artelon fibers after all! ;-) In any event, I'm putting off any further procedures or trips to the doctor. I had planned to wait it out anyway, and there really has been significant improvement in the way my thumbs feel.
Post #4177407
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Elmer11
Posted Thursday, January 15, 2009 12:26 PM


 

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Hey, everybody! Just a quick update to let you know that my thumbs are still feeling somewhat better. That's not to say they're doing great, by any means, but there's a lot less pain. I'm hoping that's a good sign and that they will continue to improve. Hope all is well with the rest of you guys.
Post #4179208
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kieye1
Posted Thursday, January 15, 2009 2:25 PM


 

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That's GREAT NEWS Elmer.  Doing ok with my hands.  I've been swinging the pitching wedge in the backyard with my braces on. Looking good so far.  Definitely can tell the difference in the procedures with my hands.  The tendon arthroplasty has healed quicker and I have less pain. Wish I didn't have the artelon spacer.  The pain is not enough to go back in, but there is a difference.  Just hope it doesn't get worse.

Kieye

Post #4179273
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Elmer11
Posted Wednesday, January 21, 2009 11:45 AM


 

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Thanks for the update, Kieye! I'm hoping that the thumbs will keep improving, but of course there's not way to know for sure at this point. As long as they are bearable, and don't interfere too much with my daily life, I'm going to hold off on any further procedures as long as possible. Glad to hear you're swinging the clubs again!
Post #4180487
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Marsha Caccamo
Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2009 8:17 PM


 

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This is my first time posting on this site.  I had the cmc arthroscopic surgery on left thumb on 1/5.  Am now in a smaller cast until 2/17.  Thumb doesn't hurt at all, but once in a while when I'm using my left hand fingers, the thumb moves inside the cast and hurts.  I'm assuming this is normal.  I have no swelling or pain when hand is quiet. My hand surgeon is at a top teaching hospital in Chicago - he's well-known and an expert in this procedure.  He didn't really indicate how much pt I would have once cast is off, and I'm in a splint.  Any information on this would be appreciated.  Definitely looking forward to removal of cast!
Post #4182142
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Piano Rick
Posted Wednesday, January 28, 2009 8:23 PM


 

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Just checking in.  Still playing piano and the other instruments.  I'd have you all come to see me in performance, but you're probably a quiet audience.  If you're like me, you're reluctant to bang your hands together repeatedly to make applause noise.  I do it much more carefully now, more for show than actual thunderous noise.

Rick   

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Suzanne Colton
Posted Wednesday, February 04, 2009 5:22 PM


 

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hi.  just had my surgery on jan 20.  2nd cast put on then.  is your cast really tight?   cast feels like it's digging into my hand.  i thought this was a very painful surgery.  if it doesn't releive the thumb pain, i will be very disappointed.
Post #4183216
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Elmer11
Posted Thursday, February 05, 2009 10:15 AM


 

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Hey, Rick! Would love to hear you perform. Speaking of which, this Saturday I will be performing my own adaptation of Carmina Burana as interpreted by a Stihl MS280 chainsaw, accompanied by ax & sledge. We got hit with the proverbial mother of all ice storms here in Kentucky last week. They say 1/4" of ice is considered a major ice storm; we had over an inch. Every single tree of any size in our county has had its top broken out. Thousands of people are still without power. We live in a pretty isolated setting, but thankfully our power was only off for a week. Anyway, if you're in western KY this weekend, stop in for my performance!
Post #4183330
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kieye1
Posted Thursday, February 05, 2009 11:38 AM


 

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Just checking in.  Sorry Elmer, not interested in your concert.  We had snow fall twice in the Carolina's this year.  We haven't had snow fall here in 10 yrs.  Our winter weather is usually 50 to 72 during the day.  Today it will be 38.

Hands are ok.  My right hand with the tendon procedure  out does my left with the artelon.  At this point, the pain in the left is not significant enough to go through surgery again.  Hoping it won't get worse.  Wish I never had the artelon procedure done.

Piano Rick, glad you are able to plays the keys.

Kieye

Post #4183357
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Marsha Caccamo
Posted Wednesday, February 18, 2009 10:15 PM


 

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Your cast should not hurt. Don't hesitate to go back to dr. and have cast re-done. Mine was too tight at my wrist, and after a day I could feel it rubbing.  Went back to dr., they removed cast, and skin was already raw. Cast should be comfortable, and you should be able to get a pencil between cast and your skin. Just had my cast removed yesterday - am now in a splint, doing exercises, and using lots of lotion on my very dry hand!  Best of luck to you.
Post #4185360
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Suzanne Colton
Posted Friday, February 20, 2009 2:52 PM


 

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thanks for writing back.  fif go in that day and get a new case.  thumb,wrist was raw and indented.  This case cimes off 3/2, then i guess, it's splint time.  just want to get back to kayaking and stuff!!!  hope all is going wellwith you.  When is PT?
Post #4185728
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Kitsy Jones
Posted Monday, March 02, 2009 7:46 PM


 

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Hello,

I'm new to the boards but have questions. I have osteoarthritis and lupus. My right thumb is gradually freezing in place, decreasing my range of motion.

I'm planning to have an arthroplasty later this month. I don't understand the abbreviations being used here, sorry. My dr. is not using anything artificial- just the tendon.

I'm planning to take two weeks off. I have a desk/travel job and sometimes have to carry boxes, etc.

Does this sound realistic? Have you had a successful recovery of this procedure?

I'm getting nervous as the date approaches. How bad is the pain? Where is the pin? Does it get hit on things as you walk around?

Sorry to be so full of questions, but I want to know what I'm in for. I've never had general anesthesia, either.

Thanks!

 

 

Post #4187324
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kieye1
Posted Tuesday, March 03, 2009 4:24 PM


 

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Kristy,

Had both of my thumbs done.  And in both cases I was told ,NO HEAVY LIFTING for 3 mos.  That means, nothing over a pound.  Your hands need time to heal and that takes time - being relistic, about a year. At that time you'll know where your maxium strength and pain level is..  For you'll never regain full strength and hopefully eliminate all or most of your pain.. This is a real invasive procedure.  Bone and muscle will be cut.  You push it and it will take 3 times as long to heal, or you'll be back under the knife again. 

I am a golfer. But I now need to wear a soft brace when playing, which I do on both hands.  And I do well.  This is the only activity I need to wear a braces.

I found that people were more than willing to help with things when they know you just had surgery.

You'll do well, just have patience.  Oh, and don't skip your pain meds.  You really need them for 1 -2 wks.

Kieye

Post #4187439
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Piano Rick
Posted Monday, May 04, 2009 12:56 AM


 

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Still here--still good--any of you still out there?

Rick

Post #4201855
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penelope
Posted Tuesday, May 05, 2009 3:21 PM


 

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HI

STILL HERE TOO. NO CHANGE WITH THE THUMB- HAS BEEN SINCE 10/07.  DON'T KNOW AS I'D DO IT AGAIN- WEAKER THAN B/4 AND STILL PAINFUL.

TROUBLE NOW WITH BOTH KNEES- THE MENISCUS ON BOTH DETERIORATED AND TORE WITHIN MONTHS OF EACH OTHER AND STAGE 3 ARTHRITIS WAS FOUND UPON ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY. I NEVER HAD  KNEE PROBLEMS B/4. I HAVE ALOT OF INFLAMMATION, FLUID BUILD UP AND PAIN-HARD TO WALK GET IN AND OUT OF A CHAIR ETC. THIS HAS REALLY BUMMED ME OUT CAUSE I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GRIP MY BIKE HANDLE BAR, AND STARTING TO GET ACTIVE.

PENNY

Post #4202072
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Scott1
Posted Wednesday, May 06, 2009 8:41 AM


 

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I'm still here reading the forums. 

Penelope, I am sorry to hear about your knees.

The artificial joint in my right thumb has become unstable.  The Doctor wants to remove the artificial joint and put the Artelon Spacer in.   I finally told the Ortho Doc that the Artelon Spacer was not an option. The problem is my left thumb is starting to cause persistent pain.  The Doc wants to do the artelon spacer surgery on that hand too. 

The artificial joint did not work in my right thumb and the spacer has a high percentage of negative reviews.  I have a major dilemma; suffer or have the spacer put in.

I believe at this time I am going to suffer.  Hopefully in the future they will come out with a better procedure. 

Take care everyone.

Scott

Post #4202165
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Elmer11
Posted Wednesday, May 06, 2009 2:00 PM


 

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Hey, Rick! Good to hear from you. Penny, so sorry about your knees!

My thumbs are doing ok. Not great, but ok. I've decided not to do anything else unless and until they get really, really bad. They actually seem to be getting a little better, but that could be a matter of perspective.

Since January I've been faced with some pretty serious health issues, but everything has tuned out great. I had a couple of seizures one night in January, which ended up with a trip to the ER. I have had one or two seizures a year over that past 10 years, and they're generally not too serious; in fact, I rarely even lose consciousness. But that night I had two, back-to-back. The doctor checked me over and basically said the same thing others have said - if I'm not going to take medication for them, there's not much they can do. I just don't see the benefit of taking something that's possibly going to make me feel weird every day to possibly avoid one or two seizures a year.

Anyway, while I was there, they ran every kind of blood test in the world and found my pancreatic enzymes were elevated. That led to some further tests and one medical person told me I either had pancreatic cancer or gallstones. WHAT?!?!?!?!? Well, sir, I never thought I'd be tickled to death to have my gallbladder removed, but by the time they pinpointed it to that, I was happy as could be. In the meantime, they ran every CT, MRI, and other tests possible and ruled out any problem with my pancreas.

Then the other day I got the results back from my brain MRI, and was delighted to find out that the seizures are most likely caused by some old scar tissue. No tumor, which was great to know. But even more gratifying was finding out that it's not some hereditary condition (my dad had seizures), so I can stop worrying about my kids and grandkids.

Oh, by the way, I broke my toe the other day. Clean in two the doctor said. Going on a 3-mile walking tour of Boston this weekend, so that should be interesting.

So, like I said, it's all about perspective. Thumbs? What thumbs??? ;-)
Post #4202251
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