@hnbmomof3, @var122, @lioness. As I recall this was a painful surgery. I had the tried and true anchovy surgery where they remove the thumb joint and replace it with a ligament harvested from your wrist. I too was miserable. My salvation was ice. They forgot that I lived at 6000 ft up on a mountain. The bandages became way too tight. I had to go back to the surgeon and have it refitted. And they gave me Percocet trying to be helpful. i just vomited......my sensitivity to opioids is pretty conclusive. Now you can use medical cannabis.
It is awful to be in unrelenting pain. May you begin to be free of suffering tonight. Chris
Thank you for the information on your thumb replacement my thumb is in to that extent yet and I don't think I'll be getting up replacement even if it gets to that point I'll have to make my mind up when and when and if it gets there president with all of my other aches and pains ice is my go-to as well as
I just had the surgery 2 days ago and am in Excruciating pain and my doctor is not addressing it. Is it normal to have this level of pain after a 24 hour nerve block wears off. Only taking 1 5mg Oxycodone every 6 hours (Along with a rotation of Tylenol and ibuprofen)? I’m miserable.
@hnbmomof3 I had thumb joint replacement in Jan 2018 and had the tendon harvested from my forearm. I remember when the nerve block came out about 24 hours after surgery that the pain was moderate. I took the 5mg of Oxycodone for the first day and found it made me sick. After that I used ice and ibuprofen for a week and it was manageable. The first cast was open on the top and rigid on the thumb and bottom of forearm. At the 2 week check they put the permanent full cast on and it was fine the first 2 weeks, then for some reason it swelled so bad I felt my arm and hand were in a vice so they removed it and re-did the cast. That lasted a week and swelling came back so they molded the brace for my thumb and forearm which was open on the top again and I had that for 3 months. It is a long recovery of 3 months, you don't start to move it or do PT until the end of 2 months in a cast. I did not think the pain was as bad as you are experiencing, but not the exact same since you had Pyrocarbon. I hope you get some relief from the pain. And be patient during the 3 month recovery it will be over before you know it and your hand should feel much better each month. I felt like the 6 month mark was when I felt normal again.
@hnbmomof3 I had thumb joint replacement in Jan 2018 and had the tendon harvested from my forearm. I remember when the nerve block came out about 24 hours after surgery that the pain was moderate. I took the 5mg of Oxycodone for the first day and found it made me sick. After that I used ice and ibuprofen for a week and it was manageable. The first cast was open on the top and rigid on the thumb and bottom of forearm. At the 2 week check they put the permanent full cast on and it was fine the first 2 weeks, then for some reason it swelled so bad I felt my arm and hand were in a vice so they removed it and re-did the cast. That lasted a week and swelling came back so they molded the brace for my thumb and forearm which was open on the top again and I had that for 3 months. It is a long recovery of 3 months, you don't start to move it or do PT until the end of 2 months in a cast. I did not think the pain was as bad as you are experiencing, but not the exact same since you had Pyrocarbon. I hope you get some relief from the pain. And be patient during the 3 month recovery it will be over before you know it and your hand should feel much better each month. I felt like the 6 month mark was when I felt normal again.
I had the tendon replacement surgery in my right thumb in June of last year. I did so as my right hand is dominant. The regimen following surgery was tedious and not without pain, which after a couple of weeks became discomfort. Now, well over a year later, I still experience some discomfort in that thumb, and some numbness in the surgical site area. Yes, went through similar post-op protocol: splint, cast, another splint, only PT was instruction in exercises to do at home.
My left thumb is also in need of similar surgery. It is often quite painful and feels as if the thumb is out of joint. I'm hesitant because I don['t want to go through the entire thing again, and I'm trying to weigh the result vs. the discomfort now. Post surgery last year, the doctor gave me some pain med that really didn't do too much. The pump I went home with didn't do much either.
I'm struck by the fact that physicians are loathe to offer and write scrips for "opiods" as they "might" be habit forming in everyone. So what are folks to do? Most of my fingers, some of my toes, and some larger joints are quite painful from arthritis. Well, forgive my digressing. Frustrated.
Hello! @stoney - I'll try to help with insight to my own experience.
First off, I too was bone-on-bone. I am 3 weeks post-op this past Wednesday. I will get my cast removed tomorrow, x-ray series & possibly another cast or splint.
Here is a link for what I have implanted: http://www.integralife.eu/products/recon/orthopedics/upper/hand-wrist/hand/nugrip-cmc-implant/
My size is 30s.
Right now, I can't say whether I have improvement or not; too soon to say, lol! I will keep you posted on my own journey....
If you don't mind a few questions:
1) how old are you?
2) what is your profession?
What does your surgeon say regarding your progress? Did he give you an idea of how you should be progressing?
My surgeon said it will take approximately 1 year from the surgery to have the optimal results....
Hi. My husband is interested in the polycarbon implant. May I ask which surgeon you used and how you found him? Also, how is the implant working for you? We live in the Denver area but are willing to travel. Thank you for your time
My implants were done by a non-Mayo hand surgeon from Marshfield WI (Steven Sanford). The implant is called Stablyx but I would recommend the Biopro implant because it is more of a ball and socket. With the Biopro, you're getting two brand new surfaces, free of arthritis and defects. The Stablyx only provides a new "ball". I am coming up on three years for both thumbs. They healed equally well. Strength is 90%. I have permanent, low-grade numbness in both index fingers. I'd do it again but with Biopro. I'm 62. The Mayo Clinic system is amazing and by far, my first choice for all major surgeries. I had prostate surgery about a year ago and Mayo treated me extremely well. They have nice hotel accommodations attached to the clinic so you never have to even go outside. Dr. Steven Moran M.D. is a good first option for a hand surgeon. I can help you more with the info if you need help.
Hello @mihalcin and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you are interested in learning more from @var122 regarding the location and surgeon for your husband. I did go back into this discussion and was able to find the information that was shared. Please see the information shared here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pyrocarbon-thumb-joint-replacement/?pg=3#comment-102940
Has your husband already consulted with a provider in the Denver area or he is looking to start that process?
Hi. My husband is interested in the polycarbon implant. May I ask which surgeon you used and how you found him? Also, how is the implant working for you? We live in the Denver area but are willing to travel. Thank you for your time
I can't say that I'd recommend getting a thumb arthroplasty using any implant like the pyro carbon or stablyx systems. Both have a high failure/success rate of about 50%
I've had my cmc joint replacement for almost 3 yrs. I'm a mid-40's female that works in surgery as a Surgical Assistant for almost 27 yrs (I'm the doctor's 3rd & 4th "hand" during surgery).
The short story is this: my implant is loose & needs to be removed. It is eroding the bone that the implant rests on. Not good for someone that needs the dexterity that performing surgical procedures needs.
Based on that, if I were you, I'd get a 2nd opinion from another surgeon before getting an implant based arthroplasty in your thumb.
I have to have another surgery to remove the implant & do the old fashioned, yet super reliable, "anchovy procedure" which is where a tendon ball us placed into the space where the joint is bad instead of an implant.
Hope this helps!
Hello @mihalcin and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you are interested in learning more from @var122 regarding the location and surgeon for your husband. I did go back into this discussion and was able to find the information that was shared. Please see the information shared here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pyrocarbon-thumb-joint-replacement/?pg=3#comment-102940
Has your husband already consulted with a provider in the Denver area or he is looking to start that process?
Thanks for your help. He has been to a few hand doctors and been through steroid shots. Unfortunately, they are not working well anymore. He is looking for the best option for his thumbs and that is why we are looking for input from those with experience. We are looking for a surgeon and he is willing to travel to get to someone good if that's the best choice. Thanks.
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Thank you for the information on your thumb replacement my thumb is in to that extent yet and I don't think I'll be getting up replacement even if it gets to that point I'll have to make my mind up when and when and if it gets there president with all of my other aches and pains ice is my go-to as well as
@hnbmomof3 I had thumb joint replacement in Jan 2018 and had the tendon harvested from my forearm. I remember when the nerve block came out about 24 hours after surgery that the pain was moderate. I took the 5mg of Oxycodone for the first day and found it made me sick. After that I used ice and ibuprofen for a week and it was manageable. The first cast was open on the top and rigid on the thumb and bottom of forearm. At the 2 week check they put the permanent full cast on and it was fine the first 2 weeks, then for some reason it swelled so bad I felt my arm and hand were in a vice so they removed it and re-did the cast. That lasted a week and swelling came back so they molded the brace for my thumb and forearm which was open on the top again and I had that for 3 months. It is a long recovery of 3 months, you don't start to move it or do PT until the end of 2 months in a cast. I did not think the pain was as bad as you are experiencing, but not the exact same since you had Pyrocarbon. I hope you get some relief from the pain. And be patient during the 3 month recovery it will be over before you know it and your hand should feel much better each month. I felt like the 6 month mark was when I felt normal again.
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1 ReactionThank you for sharing your experience. I appreciate helping me navigate what to expect.
Have you turned the corner on the pain?
I had the tendon replacement surgery in my right thumb in June of last year. I did so as my right hand is dominant. The regimen following surgery was tedious and not without pain, which after a couple of weeks became discomfort. Now, well over a year later, I still experience some discomfort in that thumb, and some numbness in the surgical site area. Yes, went through similar post-op protocol: splint, cast, another splint, only PT was instruction in exercises to do at home.
My left thumb is also in need of similar surgery. It is often quite painful and feels as if the thumb is out of joint. I'm hesitant because I don['t want to go through the entire thing again, and I'm trying to weigh the result vs. the discomfort now. Post surgery last year, the doctor gave me some pain med that really didn't do too much. The pump I went home with didn't do much either.
I'm struck by the fact that physicians are loathe to offer and write scrips for "opiods" as they "might" be habit forming in everyone. So what are folks to do? Most of my fingers, some of my toes, and some larger joints are quite painful from arthritis. Well, forgive my digressing. Frustrated.
Hi. My husband is interested in the polycarbon implant. May I ask which surgeon you used and how you found him? Also, how is the implant working for you? We live in the Denver area but are willing to travel. Thank you for your time
My implants were done by a non-Mayo hand surgeon from Marshfield WI (Steven Sanford). The implant is called Stablyx but I would recommend the Biopro implant because it is more of a ball and socket. With the Biopro, you're getting two brand new surfaces, free of arthritis and defects. The Stablyx only provides a new "ball". I am coming up on three years for both thumbs. They healed equally well. Strength is 90%. I have permanent, low-grade numbness in both index fingers. I'd do it again but with Biopro. I'm 62. The Mayo Clinic system is amazing and by far, my first choice for all major surgeries. I had prostate surgery about a year ago and Mayo treated me extremely well. They have nice hotel accommodations attached to the clinic so you never have to even go outside. Dr. Steven Moran M.D. is a good first option for a hand surgeon. I can help you more with the info if you need help.
Hello @mihalcin and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I see you are interested in learning more from @var122 regarding the location and surgeon for your husband. I did go back into this discussion and was able to find the information that was shared. Please see the information shared here:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pyrocarbon-thumb-joint-replacement/?pg=3#comment-102940
Has your husband already consulted with a provider in the Denver area or he is looking to start that process?
I can't say that I'd recommend getting a thumb arthroplasty using any implant like the pyro carbon or stablyx systems. Both have a high failure/success rate of about 50%
I've had my cmc joint replacement for almost 3 yrs. I'm a mid-40's female that works in surgery as a Surgical Assistant for almost 27 yrs (I'm the doctor's 3rd & 4th "hand" during surgery).
The short story is this: my implant is loose & needs to be removed. It is eroding the bone that the implant rests on. Not good for someone that needs the dexterity that performing surgical procedures needs.
Based on that, if I were you, I'd get a 2nd opinion from another surgeon before getting an implant based arthroplasty in your thumb.
I have to have another surgery to remove the implant & do the old fashioned, yet super reliable, "anchovy procedure" which is where a tendon ball us placed into the space where the joint is bad instead of an implant.
Hope this helps!
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Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThanks for your help. He has been to a few hand doctors and been through steroid shots. Unfortunately, they are not working well anymore. He is looking for the best option for his thumbs and that is why we are looking for input from those with experience. We are looking for a surgeon and he is willing to travel to get to someone good if that's the best choice. Thanks.