Thumb arthritis: Did anyone have carpometacarpal (CMC) surgery?

Ice, ice ice. Before and after exercise. In the morning and before bed. Sometimes it helps to alternate warm (warm soaks or a paraffin bath) with cold soaks. Also, the more you move your hand as and fingers, the more you will force the fluid to subside. One exercise to try is to hold your hand up and massagage firmly from fingertip to wrist. Ask your therapist to show you how.
Sue

Thank you! I have been icing a lot . I appreciate your input. 😊

I had same one last October. Eight months past now. I have pain but everyday I can do more things. I hope I can do tennis again someday. Hang in there.

Hi, Did you have any issue with all your other fingers stiffening up? My knuckles are all still swollen and tight. It’s been a month now since surgery. And I e only had 2 therapy visits so far.

Hi, I'm going to tell you something you might already know, but I think it bears repeating.
The surgeon is done when they successfully do the CMC surgery and it heals without infection. You see the therapist for the prescribed number of short visits to get you started on recovery. After that, your recovery is literally "in your hands."

It takes a lot more than an hour of surgery and a dozen 30 minute appointments to get the use of your thumb and its mobility back. The longer you wait the harder it will be.

Here are two excellent YouTube videos about how to bring the swelling down so you can do your exercises, because your swelling seems persistent. Do something like this at least twice a day until you wake up with little swelling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIJ-1fXxOw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8aerWhC-IQ

Did the therapist send you home with a paper or folder of exercises to do? You need to do each of them faithfully, as prescribed, 2-3 times a day. Even if it hurts. Even if your fingers are swollen. Just do the best you can. Your therapist should be able to measure progress from one visit to the next.

I am not trying to be harsh or mean, just realistic. It took 12+ weeks of more than once a day therapy, and another three months daily, to get back full use of my thumbs (I have had them both done.) My artist friend was just as diligent because she wanted to keep painting. Our friend who wouldn't do anything that hurt never regained much use of her hands, even though her pain was relieved.

Do you think you can at least try the lymphedema massage today and tomorrow?
Sue

Thank you for your help. I have done my therapy at home as instructed. I am not one to expect it to get better on its own. I do know it takes dedication.
Thank you for the videos. I’ll watch them as well.

I’ve had both hands done. Ice is your friend but you may want to use heating pad for 10 minutes before exercising your hand at home. It took almost a year for swelling to go down in my left hand. I just had right hand done last year & it had severe arthritis. I still have some pain & numbness so I went back to therapy for 2nd go round. My doc say could have some nerve damage but doing your therapy is key to getting better. I pray & hope you have continued recovery. I am still in the process.

There are four trigger finger surgeries already. So, my fingers are stiff but can move without fazzy feeling. I use kinesio tape now and practice correct bending way for my right thumb.

Please go to physical therapy first. It is so much better than surgery if it works. Like KT tape (you tube directions) and various stretches. I've had the shots but they only last so long; have to keep up the stretches to keep the flexibility once the inflammation is gone. It has been a few years since a shot. Also, look at how you use your hands as it can be ergonomic, too.

I agree. I was headed for CMC joint surgery, but managed to avoid it through physical therapy and wearing a brace when using the computer mouse. I also changed to an ergonomic vertical mouse. The exercises suggested by the hand therapist didn't help. However, another physical therapist suggested weekly hand exercises with 3 pound weights. That worked by building muscle and relieving stress on the CMC joint. I wear the CMC joint brace when doing these exercises.