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Thumb arthritis: Did anyone have carpometacarpal (CMC) surgery?
Has anyone had CMC surgery where the trapezium bone is removed and your tendons are knotted to sit in the space to cushion your thumb? If so what was your experience? Thanks in advance
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I had both thumbs done a year apart 20 years ago. First one was at the base of my cmc joint where he inserted a zerconia sphere “ball”. Lots of PT for a month.
Second thumb he did a “snap” procedure attaching a wire the size of a thread as he described it, attaching it to my middle finger then to the base of my thumb. No PT required for that one.
Supposedly both lasting 10 years…. It’s been 20 plus. Doing fine.
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1 Reaction@heatherblynn I am an artist and 25 years ago my thumbs and rest would swell and I was misdiagnosed with tendinitis and told I had carpal tunnel, osteoarthritis and more. I went to see an acupuncturist and we got the swelling down, and I learned not to put severe stress on my thumbs, which twisting glue and paint containers. Fast-forward to two years ago when my hands were stiff and swollen and I could only miserably use my hands. I went to a top drawer arthritis doctor at UCSD. He said my hands were so loaded with arthritis. He wouldn’t know where to start with the surgery. I was pretty depressed. I’m 69 and Art is all I know my whole life. Someone here recommended tart cherry capsules (I bought Zazzee brand on Amazon 10,000:1) for $10. In 24 hours the pain and stiffness was gone after 25years. Turns out I had gout, causing the pain and stiffness beyond the osteoarthritis that everyone could see. It was a true miracle. My finger stopped looking like sausages and I could go without my day doing the things I love like pulling weeds and opening bills, lol. But now I could do my artwork pain-free.
@SusanEllen66 that's a lot of time, inconvenience, and therapy to go through, especially if involves your dominant hand. Glad to hear that the third time was the charm. It's pretty amazing surgery when it works isn't it!
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1 Reaction@pat9892
Yes especially when you don’t trust your doctor.
@loriesco you have had quite a journey!
The tart cherry help gout. Do you know if it did anything for your arthritis?
I’ve had 4 different surgeries on my left hand alone. The right thumb has had arthroscopic surgery.
I love to do art. It is something I do almost everyday. I’ve never had a lesson except a YouTube video here and there.
Right now I’m attempting to learn Modeling paste, and oil pastels.
Do you have a TOTALLY hands free can opener?
I recommend using one and a totally hands free jar opener.
I got mine on Amazon.
@loriesco Thanks for this tip! Having a hard time with finger swelling post-CMC Suspensionplasty. Was supplement 10000:1 or 10:1? I am looking on Amazon right now. Thank you!
@handsdown whew! It went up in price! last I bought it was $10! But I ended up going on the medicine Allopurinol for the gout does the same thing. Here's the link: https://a.co/d/0ivB3SDE oh, you can buy less: https://a.co/d/0alkSLm2
@SusanEllen66 hi Susan! To answer your question gout is one of the many types of arthritises. There are two kinds of gout one is because a person has too much uric acid running through their system and their body creates crystals which depositsqin their joints. The other gout is called pseudo gout, and it’s formed by calcium deposits. There’s rheumatoid arthritis (there are several kinds of RA) and there is osteoarthritis which I have as well along with some erosive arthritis. there are inflammatory types of arthritis (which might fall outside of RA and be called immune disorders instead of arthritis.)
I have moved beyond the supplements to a medicine called allopurinol. My father and other relatives had gout. it’s something that is inherited. With the medication I have no pain and I can move pretty well at 69! Be well!