wrist weakness post trapeziectomy

beaupatrol

i'm worried. had op november 2023 and 4 months later my wrist is weak. am i worrying unnecessarily and is this just about waiting?

Trish9556

Hi @beaupatrol

Do you do any exercises on your wrist? Your wrist has been hammered as much as your thumb joint and needs exdercising in it's own right. Pointless just doing your thumb exercises, you need to rebuild strength in your wrist too.

Trish

helpline_team

Hi @beaupatrol

Thanks for contacting our Online Community.

I'm sorry to hear you're worried about your weak wrist following Trapeziectomy surgery.

Trish is right it's important to exercise the wrist as well as the thumb and fingers as this is where most of your strength will lie. Failing to use joints following surgery especially the hand can make the tendons and ligaments shorten and cause the hands and wrists to stiffen. Using a number of different gentle stretching and strengthening exercise on wrist, thumb and fingers should help you regain strength. It may also be worth asking your GP if they can refer you to a hand specialist or contacting your surgeon to ensure everything is healing well and you are able to continue with exercises.

You can find out more on exercises for the hand on our website:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/exercises-for-the-fingers-hands-and-wrists/

Best wishes,

Tracey - HelplineAdvisor

Wendas1960

Hi

I am also post op for a trapeziectomy. 11 weeks. I'm frustrated that I have no strength in my hand and still have pain and numbness. Is this normal.

Thanks

helpline_team

Hi@Wendas1960

Thanks for your post to the Helpline. This is an enquiry which needs to go to a health care professional - and 1st step would be to contact the surgeon's team.

For peer support, we'd suggest you post on the Living with arthritis forum.

Hand and wrist surgery | Treatment options | Versus Arthritis

I hope that's helpful

Guy - Helpline Team