Thumb arthritis: Did anyone have carpometacarpal (CMC) surgery?

@heatherblynn Hi Heather - Yes, I can use/thread a needle, operate my sewing machine, do intricate weaving/fabric manipulation, use both scissors and rotary cutters, paint, and more.

On the first surgery, I think I went back to work after a week or so, in my splint, and didn't try to use the (non-dominant) hand until week 4 . After the second operation, I was already retired, but I was back using the hand gently, in the splint at 3-4 weeks. I was using watercolors, and sewing with my machine by then. Therapy and full recovery takes about 3 months, with full strength at 5-6 months.

Now, years later, I continue to use my hands extensively every day - sewing, painting, gardening, cooking and baking. During really heavy use, I still protect my thumbs with the splints.

Be prepared for a feeling of helplessness at first, but at least in my case, it was very worthwhile. Be sure to find a hand therapist (OT) who makes custom splints that are adjustable as you heal. My friend whose doc used off-the-shelf splints had a lot more issues.
Finally, don't wait too long to have the surgery - another friend "never had time" and by the time he was ready for surgery, the thumb joints had collapsed and he had to have them fused, so he has little use.

@heatherblynn
Am not an artist but I can thread a needle etc since surgery I have no pain to date. I did have pre pt to strengthen and had pt after because I had to desensitize my hyper active nerves
I was not allowed to use hand for 2 weeks post op. My
surgeon said most of his patients don’t even need pt post op. I did, I believe because of my reverse total shoulder on same arm. Surgery for me was worth it, feels like a normal thumb. It was a long recovery for me but worth it

@sueinmn
Thank you so much this gives me so much comfort
You have no idea

@dmk thank you for your reply
Helps knowing it’s results are worth it

i had surgery yesterday. i have CPPD in that thumb. the nerve block was ineffective likely due to CPPD. so it hasn't been fun. also i was given strict instruction for NO ice which goes against everything i've read. saying to keep dressing dry i guess they've never heard of plastic bags.

@jonijean Yikes, I never heard of that in my 2 CMC surgeries. Also, the nerve block was less effective for my thumbs than the one I had yesterday for wrist replacement. Maybe they think they can use less fot the smaller joint, or it is harder to get it in the right spot?

@sueinmn they used ultrasound but he also a trainee. I don’t know who did it. I had my eyes closed it was so painful. Google said they may have hit the ulnar nerve instead. Or the CPPD changed my nerve pathways. I don’t know but I have learned after 10 steroid injections it’s all about the doctor.

I had CMC with arthroscopy in 2024. I had a block which was a surprise being administered in the neck. The block lasted about 20 hours and that was a strange sensation, but I felt nothing in terms of the surgery. It took a while for the recovery, I did have a great OT who was very gentle and she also did scar therapy and gave me exercises to do at home which I did faithfully. Anyone who looks at my thumb cannot see any kind of a scar.
The surgeon did remove the small bone at the base of the thumb and then took a section of a tendon from the forearm, which replace the bone was replaced the bone that was removed. I can use my hand my thumb all my fingers I can do pincher grasp without any problems. Full use came back with time and therapy. I did practice at home in addition to the to the OT. that I think the prognosis is really good if you’ve got a good hand doctor. my doctor was a hand doctor and follow orders. You can buy a plastic sleeve from Amazon that covers your hand to just beyond the eIbow. It has elastic at the top so no water gets through. Keeping the incisions dry was important until the doctor or PA gave the okay.
I was a bit helpless at the beginning couldn’t cut my meat, tie sneakers, or button buttons. Washing hair was a bit of a challenge also as well as blow drying hair, which I gave up pretty quickly lol, since my surgery was on my dominant hand. good luck with your recovery!

@pat9892 I had arthoplasty on my right thumb in 2012, and 2013. Yes, same thumb 3 times!
First time he did the process, and packed the space with cadaver tendon. That tendon material slid into the palm of my hand. Second surgery, he removed about half of that tendon material. Again, it slid into my hand.

Third try, doctor took my own tendon. That was the trick! However, that was a long process. No more pain, that’s the point.

I had the suspensionplasty where only sutures are used, no tendon transfer, on 4/6. Let me know if this is relevant to your interests at all.