Basal thumb arthroplasty with tendon interposition

49 days post surgery

Looking much better than last time! Massaging with oil 4 -5 times a day. Exercises are painful, but giving me more movement slowly. I cannot bend backwards/upwards at the wrist. the thumb is moving a bit. The photo below shows how flat I can have my hand thus far. I cannot lay my hand flat on a surface.

Extreme wrist pain during the night -- I am back to wearing my full length splint for sleeping and the smaller splint during the day. Still pain in the wrist during the day as well. Physio is having me work on not wearing a splint at all during the day - one hour of no splinting added each day.

Since the pin has come out, I am not having those "zapping" pains. The surgeon said it was from the nerve hitting the pin when I moved my thumb a certain way.

Typing is painful with the left hand. I hunt and peck with my dominant hand, which is exhausting. Reading is fine as long as I don't have to hold the book with my left hand. Thus internet with right hand clicking is easy.

Physio has said I need to start using the left hand. It's limited though to very light things [like a sheet of paper, or my eyeglasses]. I cannot hold utensils or grip a glass. There is no way I can pull the bed sheet over me without squealing! Chef is still helping me pull my pants up. I cannot pinch my thumb to all of my fingers. I can only reach [with much shaking] to the middle finger. I am VERY excited about that as I couldn't even do that last week!

I can almost make a fist! Mind you, I don't think I would ever be able to follow through with a punch! My fingers are extremely stiff.

I took a shower BY MYSELF today! Very exciting! Though I still have trouble with shaving my right armpit with my left hand. I'll pretend I did a great job! Who says you have to be totally dry before you get dressed? Chef has not said anything about me being wet when he helps pull my pants up! LOL I think he doesn't want to crush my enthusiasm about any of my independent efforts! Chef still needs to help me with my antiperspirant on the right side and taking off the cap first as I can't grip it. It's these simple things that are so frustrating. I still rely on him to brush my hair into a pony tail. I can't grip anything in my left hand, and that includes my hair! He's become an expert now! I am so grateful to him. He has been a trooper through all of this Like I said...simple...I can cut the nails on my left hand, but Chef has to do my right. Forget tying shoes! Every top I own is slipped over my head, so that's pretty easy.

Going out... anywhere, is limited to an hour and half. After that I have to come home and elevate my hand and ice. Hopefully that will get better in time!

I am back to physio tomorrow. Hopefully Vanessa will be pleased with my progress.

That's it for the update! It has taken me well over an hour to do this, so I am off once again to do my exercises and then ice!

Happy Quilting Everyone! Thanks for all your email well wishes! The Youngest should be posting shortly!

Margo

--------------------------------
update Sept 3/15
Had physio today. extreme swelling and lots of pain.
Switched into short compression type splint with solid molded area to keep thumb in position.
Still to wear long night splint.
Concerns over the persistent wrist pain I have. I cannot rotate my wrist or bend at the wrist upwards. Back to see surgeon next week. Possibly to have an injection to the wrist. I came home and had a cry.
-------------------------------
update Sept 1/15
only using a compression glove - Tommie Copper - comfortable
still have swelling and pain - now upped the T3's to 3 times a day as per surgeon's recommendations
Surgeon is concerned I may have developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - 5 more weeks of physio and then he will be sending me for an MRI if there is no improvement
Working hard on physio - my therapist Vanessa is pleased with my progress
Not one hour without pain, so it's very discouraging!
------------------------------
update Sept 27/15
worst night since surgery. Was up in excruciating pain until 4 a.m. Two T3's didn't touch the pain. Sat sitting up with hand elevated and ice on my thumb - helped a bit.
Swelling to the thumb area only - don't know what is going on.
Still doing my physio, but cut down to 3x a day. Have been working with therapy putty. Did I overdo it?
----------------------------
Oct 22/15
I am at 15 weeks with the anchovy procedure. I am now having wrist pain and had a cortisone shot in the wrist yesterday and am in a wrist brace. I also ended up with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - so I am doing physio exercises for 45 minutes 2-3 times a day. I still have the grip issues and cannot do basic things like opening jars, door knobs, even pulling up my pants on putting on deodorant are painful. I also have had major swelling so ice and elevation have resulted in shoulder issues. So tired of this. Yesterday I told the surgeon to chop my hand off. So discouraging, but yet again, everyone on here sounds happy at the end of it all. There are times where my hand doesn't feel like my hand, if that makes sense.

Day 37 post Thumb surgery recovery

Hi All! I just got home from the hospital! PIN IS OUT! Thank you God!  -- fingers are not moving the way I want. Surgeon was surprised with bruising, but not surprised about the swelling. He said everything else is great. I did hold my breathe when the surgical pliers came out trust me..they look the same as any other pliers! Chef watched as I did my Lamaze breathing that was used 26 years ago! Chef said it was like watching someone pull out nails from a baseboard haha! My physiotherapist kept me focused on breathing! Thank you Vanessa!

 

The titanium  pin is as long as those flowered quilting pins! LOL I told him I wanted to keep it!

My splint has been cut to expose my wrist for more movement but to immobilize the base of the thumb.

I have exercises now 4 times a day and massaging the tissues. I am sure it will help with my skin! Amazing how limited my motion is just 5 weeks out. I'm on the upswing now, or so physio says!

I have cold sensation waves that come and go through the whole hand. Like a flush...for a few seconds. No response to my mentioning it.

Still left-handed typing -- but I am hoping physio will help me get back to my normal! This one handed stuff is for the birds! I feel like I have to hunt and peck! I have been watching my videos on Craftsy and browsing anything quilty! most times it's Pinterest because I can just click on the photo's and get to the websites! My favorites have grown exponentially.

Tigger of course is keeping close tabs on me! He literally follows me everywhere. Chef wakes up in the morning and comes downstairs - Tigger still waits for me to get up before he moves!

Chef is feeding me nutritious meals and helping with literally everything! I'm still having trouble pulling up my pants on my own. He says he doesn't mind! Oh Boy! I'd better get a handle on that before I head back to work!

The Youngest  has some quilting news to share this weekend, so stay tuned!

Thanks to all of you for your encouraging emails! I couldn't have done this without my family and of course my quilting friends! I hope that my journey about my surgery gives you good information in the event you have to go through this. No regrets!

Happy Quilting everyone!

Margo

Surgery Update

Date of photo's for reference: Aug 10 - Four weeks ago was surgery .... this is 28 days later. Lots of swelling despite RICE. Nine more days before the pin comes out. Right hand sore from one finger typing on right hand :-( The scarring is not too bad! Much better than what I anticipated

Lois Creative Gypsy gave me some sound advice: "...mix you up a little Jojoba oil (1oz) with a few drops of lavender and gardenia essential oil multiple times a day and the scars are virtually invisible! " It's great to be able to compare notes as she is through this!

We'll give this a try! I have only been able to tolerate once a day , as I still have the pin in. Pin comes out next week, so I would imagine this will be much easier after that!

Keep quilting on! I'll be visiting your blogs to pass my recovery time!

Margo

11 days post surgery - Basal thumb arthroplasty with tendon interposition

Post with the assistance of The Youngest!

High five just before bandage removal!

                                                                          


Pin is at the top and sutures covered by steri-strips. The pin on top is holding the base of my thumb across to the base of my middle finger. The pin will be removed in another three weeks.

(Really its looking pretty good - not too much blood and gore - The Youngest)

 Hand Comparison

(Left hand with sutures)

                                                                         




Left thumb with pin - no expansion of hand until pin removal -- right hand is expanded. The yellow is bruising.

                   

   Chef took a photo of my new snazzy removable splint!

                                                                                      

I've been given strict instructions to keep this on for six weeks until my next re-check. I can only remove for showering; patting dry the incision area. They want me to move the tip of my fingers and move my thumb tip. My thumb is numb to the touch. 

Surgeon said not to panic.

Pain: No more than before surgery, and better most days. Major pain today - more about that later!

Meds: Last T3 with codeine was the day after surgery. Most days nothing. Once every couple of days I may have taken 2 extra strength Tylenol. I have been able to kept it under control with ice.

Sleep: I only wake up to re-position my hand when it's sore. 

Quilting/typing/using left hand: absolutely NO - The surgeon will review after I attend physio after six more weeks. No using my left hand other than moving fingers. Continue immobilization for 6 more weeks.

But all is not lost, the Youngest is going to come over and we are going to sew ... well the Youngest is going to sew I am going to be the one handed presser ☺

(Almost sounds like a carnival act - step right up ladies and gents ... your eyes will be amazed when you see the one and only ONE HANDED PRESSER!! - The Youngest)

Until Next Time !