Two days on and I'm feeling more back to normal. I decided to have a brachial plexus block, but, unfortunately it didn't work very well for me While one half of my arm was completely numb, the other half, the thumb side, was not. So I had another injection, this time into my neck, but even that didn't make much difference. The anaesthetist asked me to give the op a go and he would provide me with strong painkiller if I needed it. I finished up having the op in some pain - I needed fentanyl, which left me pretty dopy. Well, dopier than usual!
The anaesthetist said that everyone was different when it came to the block and I do wonder if i've got unusual nerve pathways This has been mentioned to me before at the dentist. So, I'm sure that the majority of people would be fine with the block. So please don't let my experience put you off, Johnn, or anyone else. It was very odd not to be able to feel my arm, but all feeling was back by the following morning and I'm just taking paracetamol. Rather itchy/sore this am.
I've got a half-cast on my hand and am due to see the consultant again a week on Tuesday, so I'll let you know what happens then.
Mr MR is busy helping me to dress, cooking my meals, bringing me tea and washing up! I could almost enjoy this

Meg
Comments
I hope you have a smooth and swift recovery - and make the most of Mr. MR 's attentiveness.
I'm glad that is over........probably not as glad as you are
Such a pity to have to be in pain in this day and age. Like you say.......everyone is different
Take care of yourself and anyone else that is taking care of you, make the most of it
Lo ve
Hileena
Barbara
I'm so pleased you're now on the road to recovery but, as mig wisely advises, don't let on too soon
The weekend after the op I had to go to A&E because the plaster cast became unbearably tight. They took it off, with some difficulty, and put on a new one, which was much better. The following day I began to feel unwell and my right knee became very swollen and painful, so much so that I couldn't walk on it. I'd had a similar problem with my left knee in July. When I eventually saw a locum GP, five days later, he suggested either gout or pseudogout and this has still to be resolved. I had a blood test, which came back as normal, but I understand that blood tests aren't accurate unless taken two or three weeks after the attack. I also have kidney stones (10mm and 6mm) and have taken a daily diuretic for 16 years - both of which may be connected. I'm going to see my usual GP next month when he comes back from holiday.
I saw the consultant last week and the plaster cast and stitches were removed. He was very pleased with the movement I had in my hand already. While in the plaster cast my fingers and the top of my thumb were exposed and I kept them moving. My surgeon - who is semi-retired and covered for my consultant while he was on holiday - had asked in my notes that I went into a second plaster cast. As I understand it, this is the old way of dealing with things - six weeks in plaster - and my young consultant doesn't use a plaster cast at all, not even after the op.
So, after a chat, we decided that I would go into a thermoplastic splint, which is where I am now.
I have hand exercises to do every hour, am about to begin massages three times a day and will see the occupational therapist again in two weeks. I'm due to see the consultant again in six weeks. I'm very pleased with the way things have gone so far. I've put my wedding ring back on and am typing this using both hands! Onwards and upwards
Meg
Meg
Felt a bit stupid, but she said it was better to have it done by her, rather than trying to do it myself, as it could have had a knot on the end and this may have have damaged the scar.
The swelling around the wound site is slowly going down and I'm following the exercise and massage regime religiously. So, time for more exercises and massaging with Bio-Oil, which smells lovely!
Meg
So, all good. I see her again in two weeks and, if everything progresses well, I'll be discharged from her care. Then I see the consultant again two weeks later.
The best news is that she said I could do some light activities like embroidery! So, I'm going to have a happy time working out what Christmas cards I'm going to stitch and buying new threads, if necessary! :-)
And Mr MR is still cooking and washing up, bless him, but I'm hoping to take over to some extent in a few days.
Meg
I'm planning on making an appointment to see the GP about having an injection in my other hand. The one the consultant gave me back in May was useless - the liquid all ran out again - so I wasn't surprised when it didn't make any difference. The ones I've had from the GP have always worked quite well.
Meg
I'm pleased that your swelling is going down. Hang on in there!
Meg
I'm pleased that the hospital are on the case and are helping your recovery and, hopefully, things will start to improve for you. I'm keeping everything crossed. Take care.
Meg x
It still hurts a lot now but I am back at work half days, can't be off sick for months and months, but my job uses my hands all the time, shuffling paper and using mouse and typing.
It just takes time, so I am told, bit depressing really.
I saw the consultant last week and I've now been discharged. I'm still with physio, though, as my thumb is still weak and the web space is quite reduced, so I've got more exercises to do. To be honest, I believe the reduced web space is part and parcel of the arthritic damage that has occurred over the past years, so not a new thing. I'll be seeing her again in a fortnight. I had been having pain across my palm, but, with these new exercises, that seems to be getting better.
I hope that things soon improve for you, Caroline.
Meg
I am 65, live in the UK, have a number of conditions.
The posts about a Trapeziumectomy see quite old
I had one 3 weeks ago, so is it a rare thing to have?
I hope everything is going well for you. I had my left thumb joint done in 2016 and am now thinking about having the same operation on my right thumb joint. It takes a while to recover completely and my left thumb isn't as strong as it was, but I don't have any pain, so I feel it was well worth it.
Meg