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Jill Willmott
Posted Saturday, October 24, 2009 1:20 AM


 

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I am new to the site, and have lost my right wrist joint which is my dominant hand. So wrist fusion is in my future. i just saw my hand surgeon this week and said I need a partial and not a full wrist fusion, which was good news. I have tried to read about them and I asked my dr as much as I could. I would like to talk to someone and get their experiences as I am only 25. So if anyone has any advice, suggestions, or answers i would love to chat. thanks
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starshine
Posted Saturday, October 24, 2009 1:29 AM


 

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Hi and welcome to the site. Here is a link to a thread devoted to wrist fusion. http://community.arthritis.org/forums/Topic4081716-1817-1.aspx Good luck, starshine
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Jill Willmott
Posted Monday, October 26, 2009 9:26 PM


 

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Thank You, I have read most of these
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Chrissie
Posted Monday, October 26, 2009 9:36 PM


 

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I have not had a wrist fusion, but my my mom has (when she was younger/I was still a child). I read your post and asked her to comment, and she said that getting used to the fusion was a bit awkward at first (not being able to bend - though she had a full, not a partial)... but that she really experienced some tremendous relief from the fusion itself. She said that the most important thing for her was finding a good doctor to do it. She also said that she's had quite a number of surgeries, and her fusion surgeries gave her more relief than her joint replacement surgeries.

I'm sure there will be many different stories out there, but hopefully hearing that pain relief came from one (and without complications) will give you some comfort

Good luck, feel free to PM me if you need some virtual hugs, and let us know how the surgery goes!!!

_________________________________________

28 y/o - Diagnosed: April, 2009.
MTX (15 mg/wk), Enbrel 50 mg/mL autoinjector, Naprelan (500mg), Prometrium (200mg), Supplementing Folic Acid and Vit D
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Jill Willmott
Posted Monday, October 26, 2009 10:46 PM


 

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Thank You-
That is exactly what Im looking, people who have had this surgery and their experience with it. My dr said with even a partial fusion I would still have to adjust as my wrist wouldn't bend near as much. Due to the fact that I still have good range of motion she wants to hold off awhile longer as long as I can handle the pain. Its rough though cause I work full time, and am finishing up school part time. So I am always using my hands rather its typing at work or taking notes in class. My dr said I may need a full fusion later in life but as of right now a partial would suffice my problem. I go back in Feb to check my range of motion and pain level again, if it gets worse before that I go back in. I guess my problem how bad does my pain have to be? My right wrist joint is gone so im sure the pain will only get worse from here. I have lose almost all flexion in my right hand but have alot of the other direction thus that is why my dr wants to wait. So during my waiting period I am looking for advice, hints, and anything else. I have never had surgery in my life so that scares me, plus i haven't had kids yet and want to be able to hold my children so that is another thing that I worry about due to my hands being the worst affected by my RA.
Thank You so much for your post lll keep in touch
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Hollywoods
Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:50 PM


 

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Jill,
Not sure if it's the same because I've been diagnosed with Ankylosing Sponylitis. I did not, however, have any diagnosis at all at the time my wrist began it's evil pain that traveled up my arm and into my shoulder. Thankfully mine was my left. No doctor could explain my pain as all my blood tests were sero-neg. thus giving little explaination to what I was actually suffering for. After all the tests, my ortho decided an MRI of my wrist was in order. Nothing stood out, but there were small cysts in there and I opted to have them removed though my ortho said that IS NOT the reason for your pain. I just knew it was the thing to do. While in there, he found bright fiery red, angry tissue that was suspect so he did a complete Synnovectomy (removed all that tissue) and sent it off to pathology. It was then that my disease was finally visible where my blood work had failed me so many times before. Because of the chronic inflammatory disease and compromised immune system, my incision did not want to heal and inflammation took over. I developed an infection at the site and as a result had limited movement. Even with Phys. Therapy, I lost movement in that wrist and it eventually partially fused itself. I can flex back but forward is a no go. I had just given birth to my third and final child who is now 3 and it did hinder my ability to hold and change my son. The good news is that once the fusion took place, the pain subsided and I was then able to hold him and care for him. My issue now is the pain and weakness in my hands and shoulders (and his growing and gaining weight so quickly) that once again has kept me from being able to pick him up and play with im like I'd like to. You find ways though. It'll be okay. Can't imagine having to go through it with my dominant hand though. For that I sympathize. Keep your head up and God Bless!
Heidi
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JudyT
Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:20 PM


 

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Jill,
I had a fusion of my right wrist 8 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did! The pain prior to the surgery was horrendous, I had difficulty sleeping at night -trying to keep it flat under the pillow-trying to keep it elevated-nothing helped. Finally, my rheumatologist sent me to a hand surgeon and he suggested the fusion. When I awoke after surgery, the pain was gone!!! Hallelujah! There was pain from the surgery and it was quite intense but I was given medication to help me through it. I had to have a cast on for about 4 weeks and then had to have physical therapy but came through it all just fine. I have absolutely no pain in my wrist - the incision is long but not very noticeable. I had a titanium plate put in my hand and it doesn't bother me one bit. The surgery was on my right-hand and I am right-handed. If you go through with the surgery, you will have to make some changes until you get all use of your hand back. The only thing I don't like about it is that I can't make my wrist bend to get the dog's ball from under the couch..have to use my left hand for that. You will be surprised at how easily you will adapt to being a "lefty". I use that hand as much as my right now.
Hope this helps.
Judy
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Jill Willmott
Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 6:39 PM


 

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Judy-
That is great advice, thank you
My right wrist joint is completely gone as of my last Xray in late september. Was your gone or near gone? My hand surgeon right now wants to wait on the fusion and mine would only be a partial right now, may need to be a full later on but she said a partial would suffice that problem. She wants to wait because I have so much Range of Motion left, I can not flex back hardly at all but I can extend my wrist pretty far. So I guess when is the right time. I have been having some pretty intense pain the past couple days. I was unable to scrap my car windows the other morning when there was ice and snow on them. The pain did wake me the other night as I must have moved my wrist wrong and it woke me up. So I started a pain log this week and am going to record that for a couple weeks. call my surgeon back and see what she thinks. She was going to check me in Feb again and see if i have had more pain or lost more range of motion. i guess the thing I need to know and im sure no one but myself will know, is when is the right time to do the surgery?
Thanks again for responding I really appreciate it
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doxie lover
Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:10 PM


 

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Hi Jill, I too have had problems with my right wrist and yes I am right handed too. Mine started as an injury to the wrist, I tore the scapholunate ligament. After a year of minor surgery many splints, casts and lots of PT my hand surgeon did a blatt dorsal capsulodesis which left me with a loss of about 25% of my range of motion. My surgeon said that was better than he expected. After 2 years I began having severe pain again and he did a scope and found a great deal of inflammation. He cleaned it up and I went into my 5th cast and more PT. That was almost 2 years ago and I think the beginning of my RA. The Dr said the next step would be a full fusion. I have adjusted to the loss of range and at times when I can not do something (it is funny as Judy has experienced I also have to use my left hand to get the ball for the dog from under the couch) it is frustrating but at the same time you just do it different without even thinking. I will put mine off as long as possible but if the pain gets to the point where I can not even use my wrist I may go ahead with it. I am a kindergarten teacher so I would wait until retirement.
I hope you do not suffer too much you are too young for that. I will keep you in my prayers that you find a good solution.
Julie
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Liz M
Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:25 PM


 

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Hi, Jill! I can't speak to fusion myself, but I just wanted to say welcome!

My worst RA pain issues are in my right (and dominant) wrist, also. They thought I had damage by an u/s, but the MRI showed nothing. I still cannot bear weight on it without excruciating pain, to which I have adapted (just don't bear weight on it anymore - ). I also get severe tendonitis in that hand, to add insult to injury. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is b/c I dealt with some pretty severe pain during pregnancy and after child birth b/c of it, but I managed with the kids anyway. After my first, I could barely move my right wrist due to carpal tunnel and God knows what else (I didn't know at the time I had RA). It hurts to change her, but I did it. After my son, my forearm muscles began to atrophy and I had weakness in my arms and hands and that is when my wrists began to hurt (and then came the RA dx). I made it through it with the babies (it gets easier as they get older and can do more for themselves). You will be able to find ways to adapt, whether it is to the pain or after a fusion limiting the movement.

Just wanted to encourage you. I'm sorry you are having to go through this so young. I am still young and have small children, so I can relate. It is hard for everyone, but sometimes the length of time ahead to deal with this stuff seems daunting. Thank goodness we have resources like this site to talk to others that are going through similiar circumstances.

Liz
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Jill Willmott
Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 9:07 PM


 

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Liz-
You hit one of my biggest fears in the world, which is not being able to hold, change, pickup, or carry my children. I have loved kids since the day I was born and have always wanted a good size family, but depending on how pregnancy and post pregnancy goes I may have to settle for 1 or 2. I have twins in my family so hopefully I can get two in one shot Anyway yes I am unable to bear weight on it and haven't been able to for quite awhile. My recent annual xray showed the main wrist joint completely gone, which was hard for me to accept being I have only had the disease for 7 years. My dr said that for some reason the RA has really attacked my right wrist joint, and he has seen it in some other patients. Due to that joint being gone, a fusion is in my future if not near future. I am unable to open any jars, I can barely lift a gallon of milk out of the fridge, I usually use my left hand, I can not do push ups or a cartwheel as I am unable to bear weight on that hand. Just recently I have been waking up at night from the pain in my wrist.
I truely am so happy I have found this site as my first week has helped out tremendously. Thank you for your post, I wanted to ask you. "Do you get annual Xrays on your wrists?" as if you have that much pain with them you may want to keep an eye on that joint. My frustrating part is last year on my xrays my dr said my wrist joint was damaged and I said ok, but this year it was gone. I guess last year it had to be half or partly gone so these meds we are on are suppose to be helping to prevent further damage so why didn't it help that joint? I know there is no answer, just frustrating.
thanks again for your post
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Jill Willmott
Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 9:10 PM


 

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Julie-
thank you for your reply, I am pretty nervous and scared for when they do have to fuse my wrist as one I have never had surgery. Second I am scared to lose range of motion and how I will adapt to it, specially since its my dominant hand. So your post helps, and encourages me. Everyone that has responded has had good outcomes from these fusions so I think it is the right thing to do, its just scary. I have only had the disease for 7 years and this is something I thought would come 15+ years of having RA. My dr said for some reason my RA has attcacked my right wrist joint.
Thank you so much for your post.
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Liz M
Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 10:12 PM


 

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Jill - Yes, yearly wrist x-rays. My rheumy feels like wrists are a good indicator of damage, as they are often the first joints to show damage (and where my most major issue is - right wrist)! I'm glad you found us! It has helped me greatly to have these folks as support this year!

Liz
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Lorna72
Posted Sunday, November 01, 2009 11:21 PM


 

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Hi Jill-

I have had a full wrist fusion of my left (non dominant) hand in 2005. I was 29 at the time. I would love to give you my story and experiences, if you pass me along your e-mail, I will email you. I do not have my own kids as of yet, but have had no problems at all holding my friends kids once I got past the fear of my wrist giving out on me! I do have to say though that it gets tired pretty quickly! My biggest adjustment was opening those ring tab cans for the kids at school- I work at a school and those little buggers were hard to do at first! =)

Lorna
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Jill Willmott
Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 8:06 PM


 

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sure, my email is Jilly84@hotmail.com
thank you I look forward to talking with you
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