var122
@var122
@var122
Posts: 16
Joined: Jan 15, 2018
Pyrocarbon thumb joint replacement
I have had this procedure done to both thumbs. I'm 60 and in good shape. operations on 11/23/2017 and 2/26/2017. I'm putting my faith in the doctor's prognosis of up to one full year of healing. It is difficult to perform tasks but I get a little advancement of mobility with each passing week.
Im passing 9 months since my Stablyx implant and its not going well. It seems I have more pain than before the procedure. Staying patient and will wait for my 1 year anniversary before going back for an LRTI or something else. Cannot button my pants, hold an IPad etc with this thumb. Improvement is so slow its undectable if indeed there is any. Is the Stablyx also know as the Carbon implant?
@nancylh
Mine was a joint replacement. The formal name is a "hemi-arthroplasty".
I started this thread. The type of implant along with other information is in this thread with links to click for education 🙂
I had my joint replacement at Mayo Clinic in Rochester by Dr. Elhassen.
I put my 1st post-op xrays up here for you to see. Basically, they cut the end of my thumb bone off (cmc joint), made a hole into the center of the bone for the stem to be inserted into the thumb. Then, for the articulating surface, they burred a conical area for the "ball" part of the new joint to ride in….
Thank for your postings. I'm having Dr. Elhassan do what looks like the same surgery as yours – PyroCarbon CMC thumb arthroplasty – on the 18th. It's nice to hear how it may go based on patient experience, though Dr. Elhassan's description of my post-ob experience is the same as yours.
var122
@var122
@var122
Posts: 16
Joined: Jan 15, 2018
How are you doing one year after the surgery by Dr. Elhassan? I'm having the same surgery on Feb 18th and would be glad to know what I have to look forward to in a year. Thanks!
@gbreierson – Hi! My new thumb jt seems to be good, but unfortunately I have just as much pain in my hand as I did prior to the surgery. I believe it's because I am having arthritic changes in the carpal bones of my left hand near the cmc joint. I currently take Aleve twice daily (a.m./p.m.) & have had to resume cortisone injections. Too much use causes pain, of course.
I do not think I will ever be able to go back to assisting in surgeries in the same capacity.
Im passing 9 months since my Stablyx implant and its not going well. It seems I have more pain than before the procedure. Staying patient and will wait for my 1 year anniversary before going back for an LRTI or something else. Cannot button my pants, hold an IPad etc with this thumb. Improvement is so slow its undectable if indeed there is any. Is the Stablyx also know as the Carbon implant?
I also had a Stablyx implant in April 2018. My pain is so bad I have a hard time picking up and holding a pencil, tightening up a nut on a bolt, opening a jar and basically anytime I use my right thumb. The surgeon has left town and his replacement told me I could either learn to live with it or he could remove it and perform another procedure for my original problem. Went to another surgeon out of town and was also told it needed to be removed. I have surgery scheduled to have him remove it on Feb. 15.
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 5244
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
I also had a Stablyx implant in April 2018. My pain is so bad I have a hard time picking up and holding a pencil, tightening up a nut on a bolt, opening a jar and basically anytime I use my right thumb. The surgeon has left town and his replacement told me I could either learn to live with it or he could remove it and perform another procedure for my original problem. Went to another surgeon out of town and was also told it needed to be removed. I have surgery scheduled to have him remove it on Feb. 15.
@gregnashleanas @gbreierson Hi Ive been following this I have bone on bone inboth thumbs I use to work in the O.R. but glad I'm retired now. I wanted to let you know there is a machine that will open jars . Just put the jar in it adjust to size and turn it on ,it opens it and your done.
I also had a Stablyx implant in April 2018. My pain is so bad I have a hard time picking up and holding a pencil, tightening up a nut on a bolt, opening a jar and basically anytime I use my right thumb. The surgeon has left town and his replacement told me I could either learn to live with it or he could remove it and perform another procedure for my original problem. Went to another surgeon out of town and was also told it needed to be removed. I have surgery scheduled to have him remove it on Feb. 15.
Will you have the LRTI procedure now? Thats what my surgeon says is next. I wondered when he explained the Stablyx procedure why the Trapezium side of the joint would not be worn and painful, I should have listened to my instincts. It didn't make sense to me to replace half the joint and new xrays clearly show the Trapezium is damaged.. Doc tells me to wait a full year before giving up and nothing is lost going back to LRTI, nothing for him I guess, only $22,000 and a year of lost time.
Will you have the LRTI procedure now? Thats what my surgeon says is next. I wondered when he explained the Stablyx procedure why the Trapezium side of the joint would not be worn and painful, I should have listened to my instincts. It didn't make sense to me to replace half the joint and new xrays clearly show the Trapezium is damaged.. Doc tells me to wait a full year before giving up and nothing is lost going back to LRTI, nothing for him I guess, only $22,000 and a year of lost time.
Mine was done early April 2018 so it's close to a year. Ran into one of my OT therapists last night and she confirmed that since I have had trouble since the beginning, she wasn't surprised. Was told my thumb will be a little shorter now. Also, every article I have seen written by surgeons all have a disclaimer at the end. "If the implant doesn't work they can always take it out and do the other procedure with little damage."
Var122 I would be very interested in hearing how you are doing a year after your cmc joint arthroplasty? I have alot of pain at the base of my thumb and have had 4 steroid injections that help mildly. I have an appointment with the surgeon in a month and hope to have surgery soon. Thanks for any information you can give me postoperatively! Theresa
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@debbraw
@debbraw
Posts: 1084
Joined: Dec 04, 2017
Var122 I would be very interested in hearing how you are doing a year after your cmc joint arthroplasty? I have alot of pain at the base of my thumb and have had 4 steroid injections that help mildly. I have an appointment with the surgeon in a month and hope to have surgery soon. Thanks for any information you can give me postoperatively! Theresa
Hi @maiby5 – Just wanted to welcome you to Connect! I'm curious whether the pain limits what you can do with your hands? I had a thumb injury last fall and I was amazed at how many activities I had to change or curtail while it healed. Wishing you the best with your surgeon visit. Please keep us posted.
lioness
@lioness
@lioness
Posts: 5244
Joined: Jan 09, 2018
I have Stablyx implants in both thumbs. My right thumb was done 10-6-17 & the left was done 2-6-18. I have had great results. I was in a splint for about 3 weeks and then exercises on my own at home. I occasionally get some stiffness and mild pain in my right thumb if I over use it. I am not sure if that is normal or if it is because I have autoimmune inflammatory arthritis.
I am now 2.5 months out from Stablyx joint replacement in my left thumb. It has been a tough recovery but now it's going well. I had nerve damage that is healing without medication and my thumb doesn't hurt at rest like it used to. Every day I can do more and more. It's still tight but improving and I plan to try playing tennis again likely in another month or so.
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var122
@var122
@var122
Posts: 16
Joined: Jan 15, 2018
Var122 I would be very interested in hearing how you are doing a year after your cmc joint arthroplasty? I have alot of pain at the base of my thumb and have had 4 steroid injections that help mildly. I have an appointment with the surgeon in a month and hope to have surgery soon. Thanks for any information you can give me postoperatively! Theresa
I still have pain 🙁 I think it's due to the carpal bones near the cmc joint having arthritic changes. I had a cortisone shot at the beginning of January '19 with minimal relief. I am back to taking Aleve twice daily to help with pain & keep inflammation at bay. I'm not sure what I'm going to do next, but will try conservative measures for now….I have at least 19 more years of work. I changed jobs so that I can manage my pain better. Not the sunny report I would have liked to have given 🙁
@nplevin
thanks so much for you info. it gives me hope! yes, my nerve pain is from moving that big nerve out of the way that runs along the outside of the thumb just under the skin. no bruising, just the nerve pain. but today for the first time i am feeling a slight decrease in the burning so am hopeful. thanks much! excuse typos please, it's hard to type.