wrist replacment

lavenderlady

hello I'm new to the forum but need some help to calm my nerves, I have severe OA in most of my joints ( 20 xrays showed OA in all of them) I'm 49 and both my rhumatology and surgeons think I have joints of a 70 plus lady, anyway a few weeks ago I had a camera in my wrist to see if my surgeon who specialises in wrist hands and arms surgery he hoped to shave some of the damage off to ease the pain or fuse the wrist unfortunatly both of these were impossible as the damage was much too severe and my only option is a total wrist replacment something I'm told is very new and rare, I am going ahead with it and have the scan next week to go ahead for the op as soon as possible, I know I will be needing both hip and knee replacments in the not too distant future ( mums had her knee done) and my nan suffered with both RA and OA , has anyone else had the wrist op who can give me advise as it seems its a lot more intense then both knee or hip replacments given the amount of small bones involved ( yes I've done some investigations) thanks

skezier

Hi Lavender lady,

Welcome to the forums they are a nice lot here.

We do have someone who has had a wrist replacement and I am sure she will help you soon. She had it done on Monday and came out of hospital today so give her a minuet and she will help you I am sure.

Its seems to have gone well and she was nick-named our forum guinea pig as she was the first here to have it at that point. Its Iris (Dorcas) and she will need a bit of time as she won't be able to type too much.

Please try not to worry too much, its a horrible thing to have and be told about but most joint replacements go very well and most people sat its so much better. A ((( ))) an nice to meet you. Cris x

lavenderlady

hi Cris thanks for your advice, will hope she can give me a few tips when shes feeling up to it, I'm going into Southampton general for my op so if anyone else goes there that would be nice to chat about as well, thanks Michelle

skezier

Hi Michelle,

I am sorry you have all this you know. Its a bit like being scat with a pounder. I am in Cornwall but do know the general actually.... long ago they put my head back together when I fractured it They did a very good job as well..... not sure where my brain went though

Iris told me a bit about it and its quite an op BUT you will lose that horrible grinding pain and get more use of your hand so it will help you.

She came home today so give her a min cus she has a fusion on the other wrist and will be a bit challenged with her typing for a min or two.

You take care and hopefully someone will be able to tell you about the general cus I am talking years and years ago but it was ok then. Another ((( ))) and try not to worry. Cris x

lavenderlady

Hi Cris thanks for the info i do hope Iris is feeling better today, poor thing have both wrists done,
so the wrist that was fused will be unable to bend etc but the replacement should be at least 50% good use, thats what I'm being told, but also being told it can need further ops to sort out problems that might arise like the joint popping out and infections etc basically my surgeon gave me about 5 things against the op but has put me on the list :?
anyway as there is no other way of controlling the pain or keeping me able to use my wrist at least in some way, I've got no real choice, apparnelty its vary rare and i will be only one of two living on the Island whos had it done

skezier

Hi Michelle,

It's still fairly new thing isn't it? I think its a case of when there is nothing to lose it can only help really. I now Iris had so much trouble and pain with her wrist and well for her this is better no matter what I think.

You could talk to the helplines here if you think that would help? The number is at the top of the page and they are very good and up to date on all the procedures. It might help to go through the pros and cons but stay on the list for now cus you can always say no if your not ready.

I hope you have a decent day and try not to worry. Cris x

speedalong

Hi Michelle,
from what I have read on the forum and from what I can summise - a replacement has to be a better outcome than a fusion - even though the op is new and the recovery takes longer. It is a complex op - because the wrist and hand are such clever pieces of body-mechanics.

the replacement should be at least 50% good use, thats what I'm being told, but also being told it can need further ops to sort out problems that might arise like the joint popping out and infections etc basically my surgeon gave me about 5 things against the op but has put me on the list :?

Michelle - don't panic - they always tell you the worst case scenerio these days - they have to ... before my hip resurface style replacement they told me I could end up with a dislocation, a fracture, having a different op all together, I could suffer nerve damage, blood clots, get an infection, need revisions, be paralysed from the nerve block etc etc ... The op you are having is not more risky - just rare and new. The advantage of this is that the surgeon will be interested, focussed, determined to get it right, he'll be excited by the challenge and he'll be following your progress with interest ...he might even want to write a paper on your fab new wrist.

Ask yourself - do you want to carry on with the wrist as it is til you are old'n'grey and on your deathbed?!!! No?! Then let this surgeon give it his best shot!

Speedy

PS even 50% function is better than totally fused ....

annajayne

So if my wrists are naturally fused can u still have them replaced or is the only option fusion??? guess would be bloody painful to break them...Id imagine it couldnt happen but still worth investigation!!

anna

speedalong

Sorry, I don't know- but no harm in asking the medics - you have nothing to lose.

Speedy

lindalegs

annajayne wrote:

So if my wrists are naturally fused can u still have them replaced or is the only option fusion??? guess would be bloody painful to break them...Id imagine it couldnt happen but still worth investigation!!

anna

Hi Anna

My wrists, too, have fused by themselves and have been that way for many, many years. Mine have set in a fairly functionable position.

Surgeons used to only replace joints to get rid of pain and once a joint has fused it, usually, doesn't hurt unless it's a really bad day.

If your wrists are in a good position and don't move then the possibility is they won't touch them ....though things could have changed nowadays.

Luv Legs

dreamdaisy

Hello lavenderlady, it's nice to meet you. What a bucketload you're dealing with and you have taken a bold step in going ahead with the surgery. Good for you: how else will surgeons learn? And it should make a huge difference to the quality of your life.

You wondered why it seemed to be such an intense operation on a relatively simple joint - I'm not an anatomist, but think about what's around that 'simple' joint. All the tendons and nerves that work your fingers, that's what. Somehow I can't see them plunging in and sawing out old bone then dropping in a lovely bright, shiny new one as if they're repairing some faulty plumbing! Their main concern would be, I think, to ensure that you still have mobility in your fingers, and that is small, tricky, delicate work. My mum broke her right thumb very badly donkey's years ago. She had surgery to take a tendon from her middle finger and attach it to her thumb to restore some use. It worked but the op took hours! Wishing you well with it all - please keep us up-to-date with your progress etc. Dreamdaisy

marion1952

Dear Lavenderlady

Just to say welcome to the forum and sorry to hear about all your joint problems..

Please let us know how you get on as I am sure your experiences will be a great help to other people with wrist problems .. as Cris has said in her previous message, Iris (Dorcas) has just had a wrist replacement and when she is fit I am sure she will be online again and will be happy to share her experiences with you...

best wishes

Marion

lorriewr

Hiya, im new to this and have been reading this topic with much interest!

After a fall 6yrs ago which crushed seven bones; several operations and joint rebuilding has failed. Now, I have to consider carpectomy, Resurfacing Capitate Pyrocarbon Implant, fusion or a wrist replacement. I would appreciate any advice from anyone who has gone through these procedures. I am 52 yrs old.

many thanks
Lorraine[/img]

dreamdaisy

Hi, check on the various dorcas threads on this forum. She had a wrist replacement last week, her second one. You could also contact the AC helpline staff, they may well have information. I hope things are not too bad for you today. Dreamdaisy

lavenderlady

Thankyou everyone for your welocme and advice, all of my fingers and thumbs are also badly affected I've got old ladies hands my right wrist is starting to play up now as well but is not as lumpy and swollen as the left one which is the one I am having a replacment, I suppose i could look at it that my sugeon is the top of his game and is going to do his best and anything done for me could well be new knowledge to help others, I was told its more awkward as there is so many little bones involved and nerves etc, just having the camera in my wrist a few weeks ago left my little finger hiding behind the ring finger until the nerves settle down,
As you say they need to make you aware of what can go wrong,
I know I'm also going to need a new hip and knee in the not too distant future, so had better get ready for all that as well,
went to see Bon Jovi at 02 last night and had to keep my wrist support on with all the clapping, aches a lot this morning but well worth it , thankyou again and I feel happy to know you all know what your talking about through experience xx

marion1952

hi Lavenderlady

Ooh - be careful with clapping with hand splints on - I went to see Strictly Come Dancing at Christmas and, of course, was clapping after every routine, ie every 2 minutes .... That night and for several days afterwards I had excruciating pains in my hands again - not only from my RA but also because the metal pieces in my splints had been digging into my fingers/hands and l hadn't realised it because I was having such a good time!!!

Best wishes

Marion

woodbon

Hello, Just popped in to say HELLO as you are new to the site. I'm sorry to read of all your problems, you must be in quite a high level of pain. I hope that the surgeons can do some work to help you feel better. I'm 55 and have OA in multiple joints, but fortunatly, so far, the damage is limitted.
Love Sue