Top 3 Things Patients Wish they Knew Before Thumb Arthritis Surgery by Debra Anne Bourne, MD 

I'm 6 weeks into my surgery, and I am still having a lot of pain. I wish I had really known what was involved with this surgery. I still can't move my thumb, and my wrist is painful as well. The worst part is that I had my dominant hand done first. It is very difficult with day to day activities. I start OT this Friday, and I pray that it speeds up my recovery. Do you still have pain?

Thank you for your opinion. I was wondering which type of surgery you chose. I'm having to make a decision about which surgery that would allow me the most post op mobility of my thumb. I have arthritis in both hands at the base & just above it below thumb knuckle. Right hand worse than left but both painful! Please let me know which surgery your referring to. I'm just finding out about everything. Less invasive one seems to be to have trapesium removed. Just don't know if my thumb will be limp post op. 2:07

Thank you! I appreciate ur honesty. I have to consider both thumbs, and I’m not a fan of what they have to offer. I was told by a doctor, I wouldn’t be able to pull up and button my jeans or us anything with buttons. I love jeans and pants because I like being comfortable. Can’t do a lot in dresses in my life. I don’t understand why they can’t use cadaver bone or cartilage to try and replace what is removed like other surgeries?

I had my left thumb done 1 year ago. I wish I never did it. I have so much nerve pain in the tissue surrounding the thumb and extending outwards. My surgeon told me it would go away in a few months after my surgery. It never did and it's much worse. My thumb is shorter, floppy and it doesn't feel stable. It's almost as painful as it was pre-op. I can pick up a light glass or tiny can but NOTHING heavy. I wear a splint on my right thumb (which is so painful) and I was scheduled to have it done 10/23. I'm never doing it. I'll wear a splint forever before I do it (I'm 73). Some people have great outcomes. Some of us do not. I'm an RN, I did all my therapy diligently, followed up with my surgeon and was a "good" patient. I'm not a stranger to joint replacement surgeries. This one sucked and I'm stuck with it.

I have severe arthritis in my thumbs. My doctor actually talked me out of having the surgery and instead advised I have a procedure known as denervation. It’s supposed to take away the pain around the thumb. Just had it done yesterday. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.

@@jacksonjames7177how’s it feeling ?

I just had the surgery this morning. How’d it go for you? I hope you’re well

@@LucaB0830 unfortunately the surgeon didn't even book me in but promised 100% it's the first of December. I'm waiting already for about 5years to get treatment done. I hope you are doing well and it will be successful eventually 🤞🤞 I have no new information if and when I get it done. Quite frustrating to be honest because my whole hand is in pain after all the years. Happy holidays

i had this surgery on both my thumbs . first one November 1996 and left thumb June 1997. I had no pain for 20 years. it was wonderful. However I'm back to square one .

@@jeanettebaker621 I’m having so much pain🤦🏼‍♀️

@@jeanettebaker621 considering my age , 20 years would be brilliant because I won't be here so long anymore 🤣 but before I get an appointment I might be 6 ft under already 😧

WOW! I wasn't aware of learning how to tie a shoe with one hand. I will search for that video, thank you for the heads-up!

It will take a couple years

I wonder if it’s something I could ask for. I really don’t want to take pain killers.

I just had my thumb joint replacement yesterday and the surgeon went over everything. I will have the initial hard cast splint for 2 weeks and then the stitches come out and I will be fitted with a smaller splint cast that can be removed for showering but to be worn the rest of the time for the next 4 weeks. At 6 weeks after the surgery the smaller splint cast will be taken off and then I will be starting with hand exercises and physical therapy for a period of time to regain range of motion and strength. The doctor said at 3 -6 months would be when I could expect to get most of the strength and motion that I expect, though it may take up to full year to gain the maximum amount. I have had both knees replaced and also hip and shoulder so I understand that doing all of the physical therapy and home exercises has almost as much to do with getting the desired results as the surgery itself. I won't lie, the PT can be quite rigorous and will DEFINITELY hurt, but you need weigh that pain against what you will benefit from it in your long term satisfaction and funtionality. I think many people chicken out with the PT once they see how much it can hurt, and as a result their long term results can be poor. I think that you may have misunderstood that you would be all better at 6 weeks, this is just when many will shed the cast, and you got yours off earlier so you must be healing up qucker, and now its time for you to get to work on the often times painful PT. If you don't do all of the work then you'll just be short changing your recovery. Its up to you on how committed you will be with doing all of the work to regain full use, as the surgeon did what he needed to do, and now its your turn.

@@DG-ie5ip I am coning up on 1 year in a couple of weeks since my surgery and although I don't have the sharp arthritic joint pain, I still have some pain though not as intense. I went for two months of PT and worked hard at it and also did exercises at home and continued even after two months of PT. My hopes that my thumb would be almost as good as new have been tempered with the reality that it never will be the same.. Despite extensive strengthening exercise I only have about 70% strength in that hand and have not regained much of the dexterity I once had. It always feels on the stiff side like the muscles are fatigued as if I had just done a lot of exercise and my thumb was about to cramp up. Overall I don't have the nagging constant of a painful joint and I had believed that with diligent exercise that my hand would recover to something close to the way it used to be but this is not the case and I tend to use that hand more to assist my good hand because I don't have all the strength or dexterity and even have lost grip and dropped some things as a result. If I had to do it again I would perhaps have explored some other procedures as well. I chose this particular procedure because it has been done for about 4 decades and has a very high success rate. My procedure isn't a failure but it has not yielded the results that I had hoped for. I have had a couple of total knee replacements that required far more extensive recovery and painful PT which I worked through because I knew that the effort would be rewarded with better results. When I mention I have artificial knees most folks are amazed at how well I move around, and tell me horror stories about people they know that didn't end up with good results. Upon some questioning it usually is revealed that most folks didn't stick doing the rigorous PT because it hurt so much which I fully understood as it more like torture but it has to be done to ensure better results. Do your homework on what procedure you think will best suit you and get the best surgeon you can since you'll live with the results. Getting it done while you are relatively young will help with getting better healing and recovery. Every surgeon I have ever seen all said the same thing, that I will let them know when I am ready, a.k.a., be tired of the constant pain. Expect that it isn't going to be a fun time getting surgery and doing ALL of the PT necessary to get good results, but once you get through it you'll be glad you did. My situation is more of an exception and it may also be attributed to being more than a decade older than you are and things just don't work quite the way they did when I was younger.

The majority of cbd people see is snake oil. It needs to be cbd extracted from the cannabis sativa plant with some thc in it in order for it to work. Glad you find that it helps

Where did you get this cbd ointment? Did you use it preop?

@@maryannpiccirilli454 Vermont Hempicurean

I really feel your disappointment I'm about to do this surgery but now I don't no... I will pray for you. I'm about the same age and I like to do a lot of things. May Lord Jesus help you, heal you and save you my brother!

@@arad67 i had a second surgery and they removed the wire one year later. A lot of therapy and now its better than it was but still wrong..... good luck to you

@blacksheepministry my current job requires me to grip pull and lift things all day long. But I'm glad yours is working out. I'm managing my pain with lots of fish oil

How you feeling after 3 months. I’m debating this but the pain I live with I think I can take it.

@@denisegasparini64dont trust me. I’m just starting to feel relief but this month marks 3 years. EXTREMELY painful post surgery

Why?…

Which surgery type did you choose???

Has it improved?

I’m sorry you’re in the same boat as me. Definitely wish I had just found a way to tolerate the pain and forego surgery. I’ve had two now on the same thumb and at my 6 week check up, doc said the revision part of the surgery didn’t work and I may need a third surgery to cut away more of the lower bone. You have my empathy. Hope things improve.

I just went through carpal on my right hand. You use your left hand. You find ways to do stuff. Nobody would ever have surgery after reading that women's post. If you have a terrible experience don't scare the p**p out of everyone else. I have to have my left thumb Arthroplasty and carpal together. I'm not going to read anything else.

​@@barbsedlacko4054seriously 🙄

Ask your doctor about CRPS. Can occur after this type of surgery and it is awful.

@@kymharris4753 Thank you, but what is CRPS?

Just looked it up. Thank you again. I still don't know what to do. I saw my doctor (surgeon) 2 weeks ago and he said there is nothing he can do. Just go to pain management. Very disappointing.....

@@susanekstrom5960 That is awful. I just posted my experience. I go back on Monday and am afraid what he will say.

Ask your doctor about a procedure known as denervation. They kill the nerves in the pain areas.

blood fills that area... your thumb doesnt shorten

The space fills with blood and then scar tissue. So if the tightrope is placed correctly you won't shorten. I will say at three weeks this is still hellish. I'm regretting it.

BioPro

Had this done 4 weeks ago on left hand. I am left handed but play guitar right handed. Just started PT today. Plan on 3 months no guitar, but I will update. My goal is to start playing in 4 weeks. Everyone is saying longer, but I am dedicated to recovery.

@@tribe56helpall Any updates on your hand surgery?

@robanderson9756 Yes, I am back playing regularly with minimal pain. Getting back to full strength is slow, and I usually ice it after a gig. Not regretting at all, the surgeon did a great job. It has been 3 months. I worked hard on the PT exercises, which helped. Age (67) may explain the delay. Just take the time to heal.

@@tribe56helpallit’s good to see someone that has had a good outcome. I need this surgery, but I’m afraid. I’m a locksmith, and I need every bit of my hands to function. It would be catastrophic for me if it didn’t turn out well. I went with a process called denervation instead.. hopefully that helps. just had it done yesterday