I have been experiencing extreme pain in my left basal thumb joint. I am considering arthroplasty but I would really like to hear from others who have recently had the surgery. Are you happy with the result? Would you do it again?
I have been experiencing extreme pain in my left basal thumb joint. I am considering arthroplasty but I would really like to hear from others who have recently had the surgery. Are you happy with the result? Would you do it again?
First of all, are you taking Lipitor or any other statin?
I had a sudden attack of the same thing after being on Lipitor for nearly three years, and it took a while to connect the cause to the drug.
Since stopping Lipitor, the basal thumb pain has totally disappeared.
I am not sure how you would go about finding a hand surgeon. I guess you can try going by word of mouth, or visiting with a couple of them and asking many questions. I started a new thread because i have questions too with this basal arthritis problem.
I've been talking with nurses in the Ortho field and former patients. Fortunately, I live in a good-sized city that has many options.
So, today is the day that I have my surgery. I'm a little apprehensive but figure that instead of the pain continuing to get worse, it will begin to get better. My surgeon has done this surgery for 26 years so he should know what he's doing. And the fact that he would rather be doing surgery on a Saturday rather than playing golf is encouraging. I probably won't post for several days but the dr. said that I should have my hard cast on the 11th.
i had surgery on my left hand on May 1st of this year. i would definitely consider my surgery a success! I'm still gaining strength and the joint will never be again as God made it but I no longer have that sharp, excruciating pain.
i had surgery on my left hand on May 1st of this year. i would definitely consider my surgery a success! I'm still gaining strength and the joint will never be again as God made it but I no longer have that sharp, excruciating pain.
Good to hear that it was a success. I am 8 weeks post op and although I haven't started PT yet but will next week. I too think the surgery was a success. No more grinding pain ALL the time...So much better. I do miss my old thumb though and will be glad when I have more flexibility in it.
Just an update, bad news from the Physical Therapist. She says the my thumb/hand is now deformed. Haha..ok, so the top joint of my thumb has taken up the work of the rest of my thumb. The next joint down to which the tendon is now attached is locked up almost completely. When she asks me to bend my thumb pretty much the only thing that moves is the very top joint... Doctor blames the Physical Therapist, and she blames him. he says she should have worked it more, she says he had me in a cast too long. She did rig up something to give me a slow light stretch to see if we can't get that joint to work again.. Pinch is at 50%, but only with the top joint. I trying to do the exercises, she gave me, all the time. Thumb is sore this week. How is everyone else doing?
Is this caused by over use? I think it's what I have, my GP put me on darvocet & soma for now.
I think it is from over use, or over use before I was suppose to use it. They had taken the hard cast off after a week because it was rubbing on the incision but I was told not to use my hand. Well, in my life, not using my hand isn't an option. So I started using the joint that worked which was the very top joint, once it took up all the work the other joints shut down completly. The PT said with a lot of mild stretching and a lot of time, it will eventually start to work again. Not so sure about that, its pretty stiff. I haven't be prescribed anything for it. Its just sore today, but all in all soooo much better then before the surgery...
I'm glad to hear there's at least a plan to regain flexibility! I wish you luck. May I ask if you had erosive arthritis? Also, I was told if I had surgery on my basal joint in my thumbs, these would be locked for good.
I'm glad to hear there's at least a plan to regain flexibility! I wish you luck. May I ask if you had erosive arthritis? Also, I was told if I had surgery on my basal joint in my thumbs, these would be locked for good.
Honestly, I don't know if its considered erosive. but there was nothing between the joints which is why it was so painful before surgery. If you are having tendon replacement, then I would think you would have flexibility. I know that there is a surgery that fuses the joints. That is not what I had, I do have 2 additional scars, on further up my arm then near the joint where the tendon was taken from. You might want to ask what options you have. There are a number of threads here that talk about both types. keep us posted.
Also had Basal surgery. Still have pain. Cought RSD. Make sure you ask your surgen about this crippling condition. Alot of doctors do not know about it. Mine did and cought it in its first stage but it is still ther. Look it up before you talk to your doctor.
Re: basal thumb arthritis 
Recup is going ok so far.
