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!