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Just Want to Talk | Last Active: Dec 17, 2023 | Replies (4297)Comment receiving replies
@artscaping Yes, I wore mine out - combination of arthritis, strenuous work in early years, keyboards, gardening & sewing. I'm left-handed, and you're correct, the right one failed first.The surgery is called CMC Thumb reconstruction. They remove the trapezius bone at the base of the thumb, in my case also part of the next bone due to damage. There are various repair techniques - mine are called the "tightrope" - a clot is placed where the bone is removed, and a nylon line is anchored to the first carpal & the thumb for stability. No tendons (anchovy technique) are involved in this surgery, which makes healing & restrengthening go faster & easier. It was in a cast for 2 weeks, now a full-time (except when sitting watching TV) for 4 weeks, then therapy commences.
So far, so good with the recovery - no pain since the day after surgery - now I just have to behave while it heals.
Good luck deciding when to do yours - I definitely have better use from this technique than friends who had the other, but according to my hand therapist, 50-60% strength and 80% range of motion are considered full recovery - the main goals are pain relief and stability (the one I just had done was totally unstable this spring.)
Sue
Replies to "@artscaping Yes, I wore mine out - combination of arthritis, strenuous work in early years, keyboards,..."
Interesting! I have both thumbs done, about 5 years apart. I actually had my non dominant hand done first, but I injured/tore ?thumb tendon around age 31 so arthritis was much more pronounced in that side. That was done using the tendon repair method. I had my dominant hand done by same surgeon years later and by then he was doing the newer anchor technique. Pain level postop was same, much better by third day out. I had nerve blocks for both of them, lasting almost 24 hours, so really that 48 hour time was the most aching. Ice, elevation, aspirin, ES Tylenol and some Vicodin helped. I got my function back pretty fast both sides. In the long run? For me, personally I think the side with the tendon repair feels better, stronger and the side with the newer repair still aches when weather changes. Maybe I have more arthritis already again? Nothing that aspirin can’t help.
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Hi Sue,
Now I know why you are artistic. You are a south paw.
I’m a lefty Also.
It said left handed people are artistic, and want their life in order and no clutter. There is some truth to that.
I’m sorry you have arthritis.
Was your surgery at Mayo?
I thought maybe you broke your thumb, but now know it was more complicated then a fracture.
Funcountess