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Thumb surgery

Posted by anniebrook @anniebrook, Oct 25, 2018

I had left thumb surgery for osteoarthritis 7 yrs ago which went well,don't get full strength back but no pain so that's OK.had right thumb done 2 yrs later which was OK for a while although took longer to recover.Now I have so much pain in what I think is the scaphoid area into my wrist.The surgeon had me get a shot around the scar area which is not where the pain is and about a yr later it's still as bad if not worse.I am right handed which doesn't help.I have been wearing a wrist/thumb brace and now I have a bruise or broken blood vessel where the shot went in that won't go away. It was a plastic surgeon that operates on hands here in BC,Canada .My question is should I seek a 2nd opinion form an Ortho ? I can't hold a glass,can't even pat my pillow as it's so painful.

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anniebrook | @anniebrook | Apr 12, 2019
In reply to @tennbee "I have osteoarthritis in both thumbs, mainly right but I don't think I'd every have the..." + (show)
@tennbee

I have osteoarthritis in both thumbs, mainly right but I don't think I'd every have the surgery. The few people that I know who have had it suffered through the pain but in the end didn't gain much from having it done. I'll be 74 this June and I think my thumbs will have to last me to the end.

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My left one went great but I'm right handed so I wish it had been the other way round then I would manage to dot hings better and with less pain I think. The docs do say if you can put up with the pain till it fuses itself then the pain would be less or even go completely.

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sparklegram | @sparklegram | Apr 14, 2019
In reply to @tennbee "I have osteoarthritis in both thumbs, mainly right but I don't think I'd every have the..." + (show)
@tennbee

I have osteoarthritis in both thumbs, mainly right but I don't think I'd every have the surgery. The few people that I know who have had it suffered through the pain but in the end didn't gain much from having it done. I'll be 74 this June and I think my thumbs will have to last me to the end.

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Besides pain, what are your symptoms in your thumbs. A weird thing is happening on my right thumb. When I bend it, instead of straightening back normally, it pops back at the knuckle. It is worse in the morning, returning to normal in the afternoon, although still achy.

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2 replies
anniebrook | @anniebrook | Apr 14, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "Besides pain, what are your symptoms in your thumbs. A weird thing is happening on my..." + (show)
@sparklegram

Besides pain, what are your symptoms in your thumbs. A weird thing is happening on my right thumb. When I bend it, instead of straightening back normally, it pops back at the knuckle. It is worse in the morning, returning to normal in the afternoon, although still achy.

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the pain is around the Scaphoid bone area. When I bend my wrist I get a searing pain in that area if I try to put any weight on it. Even just wiping down my kitchen works tops with a cloth causes terrible pain. The pain clinic gives me some exercises for my arthritic back but many are like yoga so to put my body weight on my hands say on all fours feels like my wrist is going to snap in two.

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1 reply
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Apr 14, 2019
In reply to @anniebrook "the pain is around the Scaphoid bone area. When I bend my wrist I get a..." + (show)
@anniebrook

the pain is around the Scaphoid bone area. When I bend my wrist I get a searing pain in that area if I try to put any weight on it. Even just wiping down my kitchen works tops with a cloth causes terrible pain. The pain clinic gives me some exercises for my arthritic back but many are like yoga so to put my body weight on my hands say on all fours feels like my wrist is going to snap in two.

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Annie, I'm so sorry. That sounds awful. Have you seen a specialist outside the pain clinic?

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tennbee | @tennbee | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "Besides pain, what are your symptoms in your thumbs. A weird thing is happening on my..." + (show)
@sparklegram

Besides pain, what are your symptoms in your thumbs. A weird thing is happening on my right thumb. When I bend it, instead of straightening back normally, it pops back at the knuckle. It is worse in the morning, returning to normal in the afternoon, although still achy.

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Besides pain it's the usual stiffness and difficulty with task especially when gripping or the use of thumb is involved. For instance, using a knife and cutting an apple or anything where the item is held in your hand. Mine is no worse at any partiicular time of day but just gets more painful after overuse. I'm always overdoing this time of year since I love to work in the yard and garden.

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lioness | @lioness | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @anniebrook "I had my Left thumb operated on 10 yrs ago for joint replacement using the tendon..." + (show)
@anniebrook

I had my Left thumb operated on 10 yrs ago for joint replacement using the tendon from my inner forearm. It went well although I was warned I would only get 70% strength back which I did but no pain so BONUS ! My right one however did not go well and 8 yrs later I am in more pain than ever,I can't even wipe the counter tops down without being in terrible pain. I have been back to the hand surgeon a few times who just sent me for a new brace then an xray with a shot into the area where it doesn't hurt and nowhere near where it does. I am 65ys old ,have put this pain for 8yrs and it is getting worse with each yr.Has anyone any advice what to do next.I am in BC,Canada where hands are done by a plastic surgeon,not sure whther it's the samein the US or if you guys get Ortho surgeons ?

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@tennbee When my thumbs hurt I put thumb braces on so I can use my thumb they help

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1 reply
sparklegram | @sparklegram | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@tennbee When my thumbs hurt I put thumb braces on so I can use my thumb..." + (show)
@lioness

@tennbee When my thumbs hurt I put thumb braces on so I can use my thumb they help

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Good morning. Where do you get thumb braces?

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2 replies
lioness | @lioness | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @sparklegram "Good morning. Where do you get thumb braces?" + (show)
@sparklegram

Good morning. Where do you get thumb braces?

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sparklegram It's been awhile since I got them I ordered them through a catalogue I shop them alot but Amazon probably has them Just found them inDream Products catalogue 20.00

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sparklegram | @sparklegram | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @anniebrook "I had my Left thumb operated on 10 yrs ago for joint replacement using the tendon..." + (show)
@anniebrook

I had my Left thumb operated on 10 yrs ago for joint replacement using the tendon from my inner forearm. It went well although I was warned I would only get 70% strength back which I did but no pain so BONUS ! My right one however did not go well and 8 yrs later I am in more pain than ever,I can't even wipe the counter tops down without being in terrible pain. I have been back to the hand surgeon a few times who just sent me for a new brace then an xray with a shot into the area where it doesn't hurt and nowhere near where it does. I am 65ys old ,have put this pain for 8yrs and it is getting worse with each yr.Has anyone any advice what to do next.I am in BC,Canada where hands are done by a plastic surgeon,not sure whther it's the samein the US or if you guys get Ortho surgeons ?

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lioness @lioness Thank you, Lioness!

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lioness | @lioness | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @anniebrook "I had my Left thumb operated on 10 yrs ago for joint replacement using the tendon..." + (show)
@anniebrook

I had my Left thumb operated on 10 yrs ago for joint replacement using the tendon from my inner forearm. It went well although I was warned I would only get 70% strength back which I did but no pain so BONUS ! My right one however did not go well and 8 yrs later I am in more pain than ever,I can't even wipe the counter tops down without being in terrible pain. I have been back to the hand surgeon a few times who just sent me for a new brace then an xray with a shot into the area where it doesn't hurt and nowhere near where it does. I am 65ys old ,have put this pain for 8yrs and it is getting worse with each yr.Has anyone any advice what to do next.I am in BC,Canada where hands are done by a plastic surgeon,not sure whther it's the samein the US or if you guys get Ortho surgeons ?

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@sparklegram Your welcome They have a splint in them to protect thumb

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