Thumbs up or thumbs down on thumb surgery

[Oldiron]

OK, guys I know that many of you have had a knee or two replaced but, have any of you had a thumb joint replaced? Have had trouble with my right thumb for some time now and after having to use the last half of my hoarded away Loritabs from my knee surgery to get the thumb to quit hurting in Nov. I decided to get it looked at. Went yesterday and as the Dr. walked in after reading the Xrays, she points to her thumb joint next to her wrist and said "let me guess, it's right here isn't it". All I could say was yep. Anywho, she said we had three options, #1 do nothing and just live with it, #2 try the shots, #3 replace the joint. The joint is bone-on-bone and she had to do an ultra sound to see if there was any room to get a needle in the joint. Finally found a spot, that with a little pulling would let the needle go in. We are trying the shots.
She said that the surgery would be out-patient but couldn't do anything for several days and after about 2 months we could start therapy and it would be good to go after about 8 months.
If any of you have experience with this sort of thing let me know what the outlook is. I may have to just tape the thumb to my hand until after I finish painting the Mustang this spring.
Larry

 

[H Richard]

I do not personally, but my old neighbor told me of a relative that had a joint replacement and she went back to doing knitting and embroidery. I understand it is very specialized and not the kind of surgery an ordinary orthopedic surgeon could do. Try options first.

 

[MasterTech1960]

Had some joint pain and thumb surgery as the result of a fight with a table saw. Not quit the problem you are having but other than the scars and some tightness when it is cold out It is good to go and even looks normal. They can do amazing things these days.

 

[Oldiron]

The doc I went to is the leading hand surgeon in the SE if not the nation. I have never heard of any of her patients having to question their care. She did the carpal tunnel surgery on my wife and SIL. When I had my yearly checkup on my knee, my knee Doc, without a second of hesitation, said to go see her, she was the best on hands. Larry

 

[BARgunner]

I had a thumb joint replacement done about 5 years ago and I'm really glad that I did. The shots didn't work for me as it was bone on bone. My hand surgeon was highly regarded by the orthopedic doctors around here and he did a great job. I was in a cast for about 6 weeks and after about two months of therapy, I was able to do my job (millwright) without any problems. If surgery is recommended and the surgeon is also, I think that you will be happy with the results.

 

[Oldiron]

Thanks BARgunner, I figured there had to be someone here that had been through it. I'm going to see what the shot does and finish up my '67 Mustang (block sanding really aggravates it) and will contemplate the surgery. Just don't know what couple of months to be out of the loop if the shots fail.
Larry

 

[ordy]

If it's bone on bone, the adjoining surfaces will just grind on each other and make things worse. The steroid shots may reduce the inflammation in the surrounding soft tissue but won't do anything to solve the real problem. If you decide to have the surgery, the rehab is a 'must do'. Good luck with whatever you decide.