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Old 04-07-2015, 11:54 AM
jaylynch@yahoo. jaylynch@yahoo. is offline
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Default Arthritis in left thumb - surgery

I've been undergoing treatment for arthritis in my left thumb for about two years, injections and NSAID's. The pain is getting worse and I've scheduled surgery for May 4. The surgery involves removing the arthritic bone section and attaching a tendon to stabilize the thumb afterwards.

Has anyone had similar surgery for arthritis in the thumb? What was your experience? Were you able to play after recovery (three months per the doc)? How much capability did you lose following recovery?

I searched the forum and could not find any related threads. Thanks for any input.

Jay Lynch
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Old 04-07-2015, 12:00 PM
Inked Inked is offline
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All I can say is good luck and here's to a speedy recovery! Do what the doc says as far as recovery time and don't push it. Better to not play for several months and then get back into it than to rush it and never play again.

I'm sure you'll be fine.
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Old 04-07-2015, 01:11 PM
KY000 KY000 is offline
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Seven years ago I was given the choice of arthroplasty (the surgery you're referring to) or CMC fusion. I chose fusion and had both hands done. I'm happy with that choice but it's not right for everyone.

My pain was so bad I had actually quit playing guitar eight years before the surgery.

The downside of the fusion is limited mobility. The downside of arthroplasty is loss of grip strength.
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Old 04-07-2015, 01:22 PM
exterra1 exterra1 is offline
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Default Yes, basal joint

I had the surgery in June 2013, I had bought a guitar two weeks prior in a sudden mood to learn to play, I really didn't know what I was in for. After a few weeks in a removable splint/cast thigamajiggy I could hardly move my thumb, the pain was severe but by August I started basic training with plenty of gentle stretching. The strange part was that I could use the fingers on my left hand to learn chords and notes and rest the neck in the stiff depth of the thumb with no pain. So basically, I could enjoy playing, or learning guitar, without pain, it was when the playing stopped that the pain would return with a vengeance. In mid-September I took a six week beginner's class and had a ball, I just had to ice the hand down and drink a little scotch when I'd get home from the lessons, not all bad! I was so happy that I found the Mini GS with its short scale, many times less painful to play, so I bought one. I played everyday for one hour, and a couple of glasses of scotch. My joy from learning to play over came the pain from my surgery and the pain in my finger tips (the Demerol helped too I guess). I'll never regret spending the time with that guitar during my recovery, hell, it hurt whether I was playing of watching the TV and the playing was still a lot more fun! My Doctor did recommend to me early on not to play much, but what did he know. It took one year before the pain stopped, just as everyone on the internet said it would, as did the doctor, but now that I look back on it I know that I would do it all over again, and what I gained in learning the guitar at 67 years old will never be forgotten, best move I ever made. I am now preparing for the same surgery but on the index finger of the fretting hand, darn it.
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Last edited by Glennwillow; 04-07-2015 at 10:17 PM.
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Old 04-07-2015, 01:26 PM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
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I would recommend, if possible, to see a physical therapist as part of your recovery and let them know that you will be working back towards playing guitar. A good hand therapist can do a lot during the recovery period to help maximize recovering the range of motion and how to accommodate limitations without creating other stresses.

Best of luck!
Jayne
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Old 04-07-2015, 02:49 PM
jaylynch@yahoo. jaylynch@yahoo. is offline
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Question

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Originally Posted by jaylynch@yahoo. View Post
I've been undergoing treatment for arthritis in my left thumb for about two years, injections and NSAID's. The pain is getting worse and I've scheduled surgery for May 4. The surgery involves removing the arthritic bone section and attaching a tendon to stabilize the thumb afterwards.

Has anyone had similar surgery for arthritis in the thumb? What was your experience? Were you able to play after recovery (three months per the doc)? How much capability did you lose following recovery?

I searched the forum and could not find any related threads. Thanks for any input.

Jay Lynch

I should also add that the week after I'm scheduled to complete therapy, I'm going to Swannanoa Guitar Week.

Thanks for the responses.
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Old 04-07-2015, 03:42 PM
Kyle76 Kyle76 is offline
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I recently saw an orthopedic hand specialist for the same problem. I was having pain and, from time to time, the lower bone in my left thumb would pop out of position against the adjoining small wrist bone. The doctor described to me what I think is the surgery you describe. They remove the small wrist bone, stretch the tendon from the thumb bone through a hole they make in an adjoining bone to hold the thumb bone in place, and then roll up the end of the tendon to replace the bone they remove. That must be one stretchy tendon. The doctor said she has had great success with this and told me that I could return to playing guitar after about six weeks and that guitar playing was actually great therapy following the surgery. My bone has quit popping out for the time being, and at any rate, I did not want to have the surgery in the spring with golf season upon us. I will decide how bad things are in the fall and maybe consider it over the winter.
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Old 04-07-2015, 07:25 PM
DJ in FL DJ in FL is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jaylynch@yahoo. View Post
I've been undergoing treatment for arthritis in my left thumb for about two years, injections and NSAID's. The pain is getting worse and I've scheduled surgery for May 4. The surgery involves removing the arthritic bone section and attaching a tendon to stabilize the thumb afterwards.

Has anyone had similar surgery for arthritis in the thumb? What was your experience? Were you able to play after recovery (three months per the doc)? How much capability did you lose following recovery?

I searched the forum and could not find any related threads. Thanks for any input.

Jay Lynch


I would not want to put down any $$ on that 3 month frame...but maybe yours will be better...GOOD LUCK with the recovery
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Old 04-07-2015, 09:44 PM
dadmire dadmire is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyle76 View Post
...........They remove the small wrist bone, stretch the tendon from the thumb bone through a hole they make in an adjoining bone to hold the thumb bone in place, and then roll up the end of the tendon to replace the bone they remove. That must be one stretchy tendon. The doctor said she has had great success with this and told me that I could return to playing guitar after about six weeks and that guitar playing was actually great therapy following the surgery. ........
I'm a recently retired US Army Occupational Therapist and spent the last 16 years working as a hand therapist with both military and civilian orthopods and hand surgeons.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the procedure sometimes called an "anchovy procedure" (due to the use of the tendon as a cushion where the trapezium bone used to be) but more technically labeled an LRTI (ligamentous reconstruction, tendonis insertion) uses a ligament for stabilization, not a tendon. The tendon is the replacement for the arthritic bone, the ligament provides stability for the joint.

In my experience few people need formal therapy post-op. Listen to the surgeon's instructions and......The biggest thing to remember is to take recovery slow and respect any pain you have. Afterall, pain relief is the reason for the surgery!
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  #10  
Old 04-08-2015, 07:40 PM
dphill dphill is offline
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Jay,
I just had the procedure done to my left thumb on March 20th. They moved me from the recovery splint to a cast last Tuesday. Three weeks from now the cast is removed and the PT starts.
I have full confidence that I will be playing as well as I did before the surgery. I have talked to several people that have had the surgery and they say they are pretty much back to normal. One had it done 5 years ago and the other 11 years ago. They don't play guitar, but one is a potter. From their viewpoint, the best thing to do is to get back to doing what you were doing before but remember not to push yourself to much, listen to your therapist and be patient.
I remember to listen to Pete Seeger's "Turn,turn,turn". :-)
I'm also studying 3 and 4 note chord bass runs in "DADGAD" to keep me busy. I mean, after playing guitar for about fifty years you think I'm gonna stop now?

I'll come back and post when I start therapy.

Stay positive
Dan
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Old 04-08-2015, 09:53 PM
darylcrisp darylcrisp is offline
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Jay

my former issue at the left thumb base is probably different than what you have, but i will tell you what has worked wonders for me.

i have a noticable "lump" at my thumb base, osteoarthritis. for 5 years or thereabouts i lived with it, loss of grip strength as i could not fully use the thumb to clamp. the area stayed very sore to touch-the lightest bump/bang into the region was agonizing. on xray the thumb base was very contorted and the space at the joint was for the most part gone. sometimes the thumb would lock up, i would have to gently manuever it around and about and a pop would be heard and it would be free again.

i took a chance on a friends recommendation, went to an acupuncturist, and within the first treatment there was huge relief. that was in 2005. did treatments 3 days a week for 2 weeks, then we started lengthening them out to a month,then 3 months, then to the point where i show up if i feel things starting up again. i haven't been back in over a year. it moves free, no pain, i can use it just about normal. i do watch it and take care of the area.

sounds like you already have a set plan, but you have a few weeks until surgery, maybe find someone with an excellent reputation for acupuncture and give it a whirl. you would know if its helping in a treatment or two.
i work in "modern medicine" btw, but i go natural pathic most times for my own needs first.

best wishes on whatever works for you and a speedy recovery
d
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Old 05-09-2015, 12:23 AM
dphill dphill is offline
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Jay,
You're about 4 days out of surgery and I'm 8 days out of my cast.
First advice, keep moving your fingers without help from your other hand. Stretch, extend, wiggle and even the Vulcan hand salute.
For the next five or six weeks your muscles and tendons will try their best to shrivel up and blow away. Keep them working!
So here's how it went for me (YMMV).
The cast comes off, the doc walks in, does a feelie on my hand and says it's good, see you in 3 months. Time, start to finish, 15 minutes.
Down the hall to the PT's office. She's suprised that I have the range of motion that I do. 55 yrs of playing a guitar, I suggest. That would explain it, she says.
Here's the nitty gritty.
95% of the pain during the recovery will come from the stretching of the muscles and tendons and also recovering your grip. Oh, the pain will extend from the tip of your fingers to your shoulder depending upon the movement. The other 5% will actually come from the thumb. Mostly because you got clumsy and banged it against something.

Playing the guitar

3 days after the cast was removed I tried to play a guitar.
In anticipation of this moment I had restrung my Squier Classic Vibe Thinline with Ernie Ball Slinkys and adjusted the action appropriately (I normally use .10s or .11s on my electrics) before the surgery.
Even with .09s the pain was immediate. I decided not to push things. Next day, try again. I was improving! I almost fretted the string good enough to get a useable tone!
Long story getting shorter (I promise).
What I have learned so far is that none of the stretches or exercises they give you will help you to play again. Nothing moves your hand/wrist/arm like playing the guitar. So, --YOU-- have to force your fingers into the proper positions! SLOWLY!! Even then you will develop a wonderful collection of yelps, grunts and groans. Especially when you go for that first Barre chord. :-)

8 days out of the cast, I'm getting about 15 to 20 minutes a session on my acoustics. Not bad. But, I think having an electric guitar setup with very light gauge strings is a definite plus at first.

So Jay, words of advice.
Patience, never give up!, never surrender!, press on regardless!
Just like the first time you learned how to play.

Dan

P.S., pm me if you have any questions
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  #13  
Old 05-09-2015, 06:45 AM
chitz chitz is offline
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Timely thread for me! I too am experiencing much pain in the left thumb too. I can only play guitar for 30-40 mins most days.
I have been debating what to do about it. (for many months)

Jay, let's get together at Swannanoa, I'll be all ears to hear about your experience. Wish you speedy recovery! PM sent.

GW.
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  #14  
Old 03-31-2016, 08:51 AM
John F. John F. is offline
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This was a great thread to read through. Thanks. It looks like the thumb surgery is in my future. Trying cortisone for now.
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Old 03-31-2016, 09:31 AM
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NavyChap NavyChap is offline
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Default Best of luck!

Jay, here's hoping the surgery and recovery goes well for you. I did not inherit my mom's good looks or her great memory -- but, I sure as hell got her arthritis! Just follow your surgeon's advice -- and as long as he knows "guitar" is in your blood you should be good to go. The first few days will probably be the most "difficult" --- but stick with it. I had partial knee replacement on both knees -- the first two weeks were slow, but then things picked up. Of course knees are not hands, and every person (patient) is different. As mentioned earlier - PAIN is your guide -- and PAIN is a 4-letter-work in most medical offices!!! Good luck!!
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