General announcement… I am going to have surgery on my left thumb on the 28th. The problem is that my thumb is becoming more and more painful when i try to do certain things. Typing doesn’t bother it, but sewing, stitching, cooking, wrapping presents, unscrewing lids, holding things, folding clothes, opening doors, pushing buttons, and sometimes just moving it sends a zinger shock and hurts.
The surgery is Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition. My doctor tells me the base of the thumb is a common place for arthritis to cause problems and this surgery is 90-something percent effective and should permanently fix the problem. He also says that right handed people usually have the problem with their left thumb. The right hand moves around while the left holds things still… which puts more stress on the left.
I am going to be in a brace that will keep me from doing anything (woohoo – no cooking!) for a couple of months and it will take a year to heal. After a year I should have most of my pinch power back and there should be no pain. Almost everything I have read online about the surgery, from people who have had it, is positive. I have yet to find anyone who regretted having the surgery. I am looking forward to being able to do things without my thumb zinging me every few minutes.
I’m glad you are getting the surgery.
Updating… It’s been 3 weeks. The surgery went well. I was pleased by how easily I came out of anesthesia. 🙂 For 12 days I wore a wrap with a plastic form that kept my thumb and wrist in position. When they took that off and I saw the incisions for the first time and was impressed with the stitching. They called the method subduralsomething which means that the stitches were under the skin – they ran the needle under the skin back and forth to catch both sides and hold the cut together and taped the surface. I am going to have the flattest tiniest scars.
Since then I have been wearing what they call a splint, a wrap with metal inserts that keep everything in the right position. I take it off 3 times a day to soak my hand in warm water, move it around, make a fist, and rub my incisions to keep them soft. I’ll be wearing the splint for a month.
Being one handed is a pain but not as bad as one would think. I can get dressed one handed, and cook to an extent. Sadly, I can’t wash dishes… 🙂
I take the splint off to shower, of course, One would not think that was dangerous, but this morning I raised my arm to wash my underarm and jammed my thumb into the shower head. That hurt, but I wrote the doctor and they said it was ok.
I do have one negative thing to say. I think the surgery is changing the shape of my hand. It is curved like it is relaxed. I cannot flatten it without using my other hand to press it. I can’t move my thumb up. I have a feeling that is going to be the way it is. The back of my hand looks like it is swollen under my index and middle fingers, only it isn’t. I suspect replacing the ligaments is reshaping my hand. I asked the doctor in an email. A man of few words, he just said it was normal.
But if this surgery does what it is supposed to and gives me a useful pain-free thumb, I guess its worth it. I’ll get used to the changes. It’s taking a toll on my vanity right now, though.
Took the splint off a week ago. Happily I think my hand is going to look ok. That funny hump shape is going away. It’s still weak though. Getting better is frustratingly slow. A few days ago I was able to turn the windshield wipers on in the car. It is difficult but I can now buckle my own seat belt. On the flexibility side, yesterday I was able to touch my little finger and thumb – It was so hard my little finger visibly trembled; it was funny to watch. 🙂 So…. baby steps….. but every day I see a little progress.