Good evening @focusonyousalon and welcome to Connect. Thanks for telling me that you are a hairstylist. That helps me understand what your thumbs are required to do many, many times during a workday.

Have you had any images taken of your thumbs? If so, what did they reveal? Do you have pain frequently? I watch the hairstylists in my salon as they perform more than one styling step during a haircut. And if color is applied, there is even repetitive pressure on your thumbs.

You know......when I had my first thumb surgery, it was in my non-dominant hand because that was the one with the most wear and tear. I was told that we don't use our thumbs evenly. The non-dominant thumb does more holding and stabilizing than its partner. Therefore it wears out earlier.

Have you been told that you have arthritis in your thumbs? Has anyone mentioned carpal tunnel to you? One clinician tried to sell me on that diagnosis.

The bottom line is that the surgery for the thumb is annoying but not a nightmare. I just had my second thumb done in December 2021. After removing arthritis he chose a good tendon in my arm with which to cover the joint. Lots of exercises and helpful medications were prominent elements in the recovery.
Have you ever used topical medical cannabis?
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris