I am 8 months post op from my CMC thumb arthroplasty with tendon transfer, carpal tunnel and Dequervains release all done together.
I have had nothing but problems, starting with regional pain syndrome which has now gone thank goodness. My palm would go purple and be incredibly painful and then developed nodules on the palm of my hand over that very area and they are on the A1 pulleys of my ring and middle finger and I am now developing " cords" down my palm which seems to narrow my hand. Dupuytrens seems to be the diagnosis of that, no family history and it started 12 weeks after surgery. So rapid onset.
My thumb does not stretch sufficiently to grasp a glass and it's become very painful on the MIP joint, I keep dropping things and it's much worse than before the ops.
I went back to my ortho and he gave me a cortisone injection into the thumb joint. That was a month ago and it's made not the slightest difference to the pain.
I am finding it so hard to do anything, I can't even open a jar and doing up buttons really hurts. I'm supposed to have my non dominant thumb done but that's a no no.
Any ideas why I have all these issues, I preferred my thumb as it was, at least I could do things and it's very depressing having to ask for help all the time.
I just happen to be married to a Surgeon, so I get no empathy what so ever, just told not to keep focusing on it. My orthopedic surgeon is a colleague and friend, so it's a bit awkward.
I would really appreciate any advice.
your described surgery was the first I had for my thumb issue, 16 years ago.
My pain and disability returned within a year.
They tried a different surgical solution 3 years later (giant pins) and the results were also failures.
The third attempt, cutting bone so it would no longer rub against my hand, worked like a charm, 6 years ago, for pain only . i should be grateful for that,
but the thumb is now useless as a true appendage and it hangs and can be manipulated at an alarming angle.
My dominant thumb, for the past 2 years, has become increasingly painful and now I am dropping things on a daily basis. The last thing I want is to have TWO useless thumbs, so I will not be having any surgeries.
Are you willing to try a different surgery?
If you had to choose, what is more important to you, lack of pain or lost ability?
wishing you well.....
Sick in April 2018. Took forever for my doc to believe me when I said I had Lyme. While she putzed around, it really took over. By the time I found a LLMD it was late stage and in my brain.
On antibiotics since early December, lots of herbals, and radical diet changes.
I hurt 24\7 and am so drained of hope and energy
My pain and disability returned within a year.
They tried a different surgical solution 3 years later (giant pins) and the results were also failures.
The third attempt, cutting bone so it would no longer rub against my hand, worked like a charm, 6 years ago, for pain only . i should be grateful for that,
but the thumb is now useless as a true appendage and it hangs and can be manipulated at an alarming angle.
My dominant thumb, for the past 2 years, has become increasingly painful and now I am dropping things on a daily basis. The last thing I want is to have TWO useless thumbs, so I will not be having any surgeries.
Are you willing to try a different surgery?
If you had to choose, what is more important to you, lack of pain or lost ability?
wishing you well.....
Sick in April 2018. Took forever for my doc to believe me when I said I had Lyme. While she putzed around, it really took over. By the time I found a LLMD it was late stage and in my brain.
On antibiotics since early December, lots of herbals, and radical diet changes.
I hurt 24\7 and am so drained of hope and energy