Thumb Joint Arthritis - Anybody have surgery?

[John F.]

I really appreciate all the replies. Getting old just isn't pretty. Godfather - pm sent.

John

[sayheyjeff]

John

One of the surgeries my wife had was the same tendon transplant in the thumb joint described above. She had to have it on both thumbs. The healing process was similar. Some great PT involved in the healing.

Jeff

[John F.]

I had my surgery 12/27, and post op visit yesterday 1/5. Same "anchovy" procedure, but the surgeon doesn't use the pins shown in Godfather's post. It was pretty painful for a few days, and now advil. The surgeon said that the joint was total bone on bone, and that some of it had broken away, resulting in "floaters" that had to be cleaned out. Basically, the joint was trashed.

I'm in a splint now, and hopefully go to a shorter splint in 6 weeks or so and no splint in another 4 weeks or so after that. Then PT.

A few years ago, before this all started, I probably played an hour a day and more than that on weekends. That had progressively gotten to where, in the past few months, I haven't been able to play guitar for more than 15 minutes every few days--and that's nothing up the neck and no barre chords. Even with that, the joint would swell and make itself very known. So, hopefully this works out and I can get back to playing. No loss to the world of music if I don't, but I do enjoy it.

John

And I talked to Godfather before I had the surgery. That was great and I really, really appreciate it.

[John F.]

I saw the other post on arthritis and thought I'd update this. I'm 11 weeks post-surgery. The splint I had initially was for my forearm and thumb, and was cut down early February saw it just kept my thumb from moving.

I started doing light stretching per Dr's orders in early Feb., and that progressed on to light PT--basically, squishing silly putty to build up strength.

As of 3/4, I only have to wear the splint if I'm doing something that puts a heavier load on the hand--like yard work. Otherwise, I'm rid of that thing.

I started playing guitar again about a week ago. My thumb gets a little sore afterwards, but its pretty minor. I actually was able to play with barre chords for the first time in awhile. I just couldn't manage them anymore before the surgery. I also have about 4 years of bad habits to break regarding hand-position and how I play certain things. I've played around this thumb for that long. I'm looking forward to relearning some stuff I haven't played in a few years. I gotta' say--playing without pain and just enjoying it was great, relly great. It had gotten where I couldn't play more than a few minutes at a time, and more than a few times a week. I had basically stopped playing because it just wasn't at all enjoyable. I actually think I'm going to get back to where I can play for an hour or two or three and just enjoy it. No grimacing, no gutting through it, no workarounds that sound almost right.

I haven't taken advil much in the past few weeks. There are times when I completely forget that I had surgery because it doesn't hurt at all. That was never the case before the surgery--the thumb just ached all the time. I do get shooting pains now and then. They last a few seconds. The PT said that it may be from nerves regenerating. My thumb was pretty numb to touch after the surgery, and that numbness has gone away except for right around the scar/incision.

The PT did a grip strength and pinch strength test the other day. I'm right-handed, and had suegery on my left thumb. My left hand strength should be be within 10% of my right/dominant hand. The grip strength was about 50%, and the pinch strength was about 20%. The Dr and PT told me that I had years of atrophy to make up for, and it would take 15-18 months total to get my strength back. The Dr. also said to expect some soreness for up to 8 months post-surgery.

In addition to my PT exercises, the Dr. said to play guitar. He said its great hand therapy and will help build up my strength. Absent complications, that ws my last Dr visit and I have 1 or 2 more PT visits--then I'm on my own.

I wrote all this because I had lots of questions pre-op. Godfather (see above) was kind enough to talk me about the surgery before I had it. Hope this helps someone.

[Ryler]

Thanks for posting the update. I'm glad things are progressing for you and I think it gives hope to those of us who may someday be facing a surgical option. I'm arthritic all over my hands, but not as bad as yours yet. I'm glad to hear that surgery could be an option someday. Congratulations, even though you've got a ways to go.

[JFS]

Haha, boy, how right you are about using your thumb for *everything,* and a funky CMC joint will remind you of that all day *every* day.

[Nailpicker]

Originally Posted by musicman1951

My wife (piano player) had it done a few years ago and her immediate response was, "Don't do it!" Needless to say, her experience was not as successful as the one the Godfather had.

Good luck.

I know two people who say the same thing. When I started having pain about 10 years ago I went to a hand specialist who diagnosed Basal Joint (of the thumb) Arthritis. If I used my thumb just a little "wrong" I'd have excruciating pain that would shoot through the thumb. He said it would not impede my guitar playing. I was skeptical, but he was correct.
He did give me a sort of a small neoprene support which did alleviate the pain and did not impede my guitar playing. Over the interceding 10 years I have been able to dispense with the support and in fact the pain for whatever reason has magically greatly reduced. Some days my thumb will give me some discomfort, some days hardly noticeable. But it seldom impacts my guitar playing. Any impact it does give is mimimal. The orthopedic surgeons, including the knee specialist at the large clinic I go to, believe that joint replacement or substitution surgeries are never to be done except as a very, very last resort. I second guessed them and did a little research which told me the same thing.

[John F.]

I just thought that I'd post an update. The surgery is about 10 months behind me. The Dr. and PT said that it'd take about 12-18 months to fully heal. My thumb was pretty good after a few months, and now its pretty much back to how it was pre-arthritis, so I guess I'm ahead of the game. I'm generally completely unaware that I ever had the surgery or a bad thumb. Its just great. I started playing again and am really looking forward to the winter when I tend to play a lot more--in the summer I fish and bike. And it had gotten to the point pre-surgery where reeling hurt, simply gripping the bars on my Cannondale hurt, and pulling the clutch in on my motorcycle hurt. Just sucked.

The results are just great. I plan on retiring in a few years, and was looking forward to spending time just sitting around playing in retirement. That all went away when my thumb went bad., which was kind of depressing. I just couldn't play anymore, and if I tried to even play cowboy chords, my thumb joint would look like I glued a marble on it from the swelling.

Well, I'm back to being able to play without pain. I haven't played much in 4 or 5 years, so I have to relearn stuff and break some bad habits I got into. But its just great to be able to play again and do other stuff, like button the top button on my shirt.

Your experience my vary, but for me, the results were just awesome.

John

[MGordon514]

Reviving this thread.

It's been 4 months since I had arthroplasty LRTI surgery on my left, fretting hand. Recovery is going as expected, but I would appreciate any insights on thumb opposition.

Please see the diagram below based on the Kapandji score for assessing the opposition of the thumb. At 4 months post-op my score is about a 8 out of 10. (On my other hand I can oppose to 9.)

Anyone know how much further improvement is possible?

Thanks.

[Lyndacita]

Hello....I am a professional guitar player and recently gigs are starting to come in since the pandemic, I am trying to get by with cortisone shots in my left thumb which is bone on bone and my OS says I need surgery. The last shot I had was so painful I was dropping F bombs in the office. I'm really scared of the surgery....so my understanding is your thumb is in a cast for about 4-6 weeks? Then some other kind of immobile splint? It sounds like I won't be able to even wash my hair or other chores for about 3 months....does that sound right? I'm a female with very tiny hands and I'm wondering if there are any other females that have had this surgery and what their success (or not) rate is. Would you be willing to hav a phone convo with me? Let me know, thank you so much. Respectfully, Lynda

[MGordon514]

Originally Posted by Lyndacita

Hello....I am a professional guitar player and recently gigs are starting to come in since the pandemic, I am trying to get by with cortisone shots in my left thumb which is bone on bone and my OS says I need surgery. The last shot I had was so painful I was dropping F bombs in the office. I'm really scared of the surgery....so my understanding is your thumb is in a cast for about 4-6 weeks? Then some other kind of immobile splint? It sounds like I won't be able to even wash my hair or other chores for about 3 months....does that sound right? I'm a female with very tiny hands and I'm wondering if there are any other females that have had this surgery and what their success (or not) rate is. Would you be willing to hav a phone convo with me? Let me know, thank you so much. Respectfully, Lynda

Hi Lynda,

Here's my experience. Haven't looked back. Saved my fretting hand.

1. Temporary splint for two weeks after surgery.

2. Post-op appointment for wound check, x-rays, suture removal, and hard cast or custom removable splint fitting.

3. 4-6 six more weeks in cast or splint.

4. Cast removal, if applicable.

5. 4-6 more weeks occupational therapy 2-3 times per week while weaning off the splint.

Showering Tips:

"Seal-Tight Adult Freedom Cast Protector Waterproof Cast Cover Arm, Hand, & Wrist Cast and Bandage Cover"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(Keep 2 of these on hand - one as a spare in case the other starts to leak a little.)

First, snugly wrap hand and arm in Press n’ Seal, then gently pull on cast protector as far up arm as it will go. Be careful to pull only on the rubber seal and away from the seam around the edge of it. Work your way around the circumference of the seal, tugging a little at a time, leaving no ripples around the edge where it meets the upper arm.

Try to keep the wrapped arm straight up and leaning on the shower wall away from the water flow while letting the good arm do the washing. Also, lukewarm water helps prevent condensation forming inside the cast protector.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Mike

[DavidE]

I'm guessing I have this surgery in my future. My doc put me on Mobic, but it's not helping very much. Most of the time it doesn't hurt when playing guitar, but sometimes it's a killer. I've woken up in the middle of the night from the pain many times as well. I haven't tried a shot yet, but I'll be seeing a hand doctor soon. I can't take NSAIDs due to kidney disease in the one I have left (lost the other to cancer 5 years ago) and steroids for my asthma caused adrenal insufficiency so I have to be careful with them as well.