Hello All,

I had my second Stablyx implant, this time my left thumb, done on 11/26/2019. I must say that so far its been a different experience than the right thumb I had done back on May 23rd 2019.

The surgery went great. Pain was about the same as the right thumb. I got out of the temp cast 10 days after surgery. All was good. Then a freak incident happened. I had a U.S. flag in my flag holder and it had fallen out and was on the bushes. I grabbed the flag pole in my right hand and was inserting a small wood spacer in the holder with my left hand and POP! Something in my left hand popped so loud my wife standing next to me herd it. I went to my knees in pain!

I regained my senses and called the 24 hour number since this was a Sunday afternoon. I was told to brace it so I went to CVS and bought a wrist support. This did help stabilize the hand and relive most of the burning pain. I was able to see Dr. Vo the following morning. X-rays were taken. The thumb was fine. No movement of the implant was visible. The pop and injury were in the tendons in my hand that run down the inside of my fore arm. Large bruises were now present and the pain was located at the inside side of my wrist below the palm. When Dr. Vo just touched the area it hurt very bad! I almost gave him a right hook when he pressed on it. LOL.

So I was given a prescription for a steroid since I can not take harsh anti inflammatory drugs. This pain did subside over the next few days and week. The pain did not go away completely and when I lift anything over 10 pounds I still feel a pull in those tendons.

I probably did to much to fast. I had taken a few cases of water to my dad earlier in the day and that was a NO NO! That probably stressed the hand and tendons.

I am doing well at this point. My right hand is feeling some discomfort due to that hand having taken on the main responsibility after the surgery on the left hand. I am mostly pain free when I am just at rest or doing minor things. The drastic weather changes do cause some aching. I can button most of my pants now with some discomfort. The pushing of the thumbs trying that type of action is going to take a bit to get well. I can open bottles with twist caps. I don't think I am ready for push ups or hanging from a chin up bar. Hummmmm? I don't do either of those anyway! LOL!

I am on the road to recovery. I am still having less pain than I had from the arthritis. I do not regret anything so far. It has only been 9 months since surgery on my right thumb and 2 1/2 months on my left thumb. I have been reading some of the 12 and 24 month surveys that are out there now and I feel I am right in line with what I have read and I am very confident of a 100% recover and looking forward to many years of 2 THUMBS UP!

Shamu