Connect
Rheumatoid Arthritis and hand surgery, anyone had surgery?
I've suffered from Rheumatoid arthritis, for 10 years I have had knee replacements and now I need hand surgery, I have a ring finger that is deformed and it slants to the right.
And bad wrist issues, I need surgery on both. Has anyone had this type of surgery? And also, what medication are you on for RA and pain? I currently take Sulfasalazine and leflunomide or Areva, doesn't help much and Medicare isn't approving Humira without a big copay, that i can't afford
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.
Connect
I have had successful surgical release of trigger finger on 3 fingers. And I take infusions of Remicade every six weeks.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsTY, thats great. Was it just you fingers or wrist also? What was your recovery time? My son and his wife are expecting baby#3 in November and I had a 70th bday party in the works November 15th. I was wondering should I wait till
end of November. Or if I'll be good if I did the surgery now?
Humira is expensive. My doctor started me on infusions . It is covered by my supplemental. I am not on an advantage plan, that could complicate things.
I am on SIMPONI ARIA. After a month it is already working. See if that is an option for you. Stopping the pain, stops the damage. The only ever hand surgery I had was for a trigger finger. That was 20 years ago at the beginning of my RA. It was a very simple surgery. Also exercise has saved my life. It has kept me strong. For the joints it is Use It Or Lose It.
I had my left hand and elbow done 8/14/25 doing pretty well. My right one same surgery is on 9/11/25
I may not get the strength back but the pain just about gone.
What surgery are you going for? I have a completely messed up joint on my first finger right hand, also RA, and I'm right handed, but the surgeon who saw it last week has refused to do a joint replacement on the grounds that it still has far too much angle of bend in it and can be used, and a joint replacement won't necessarily improve anything and may make it worse.
Cubical release elbow, carpal tunnel on hand, try to scrape out arthritis