Trapeziectomy 8 weeks on

maria1976
maria1976 Member Posts: 8
in Chat to our Helpline Team

After a very painful first 4 weeks, I thought I was making slow but steady progress. The surgeon told me to use my hand as much as possible but it becomes very painful and swollen (particularly at the wrist) when I do. Am I expecting too much too soon? My right hand is on the list for the same surgery and I’m having serious doubts about going ahead with that. Life is very tricky, especially being left handed.

Comments

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 740

    Hi @maria1976

    Have you been given any help by a hand therapist? If not you may find this useful

    You should also be using therapy putty and balls for strengthening.

    I had mine in 2020 and was back as a PA using a keyboard all day within 6 weeks. Its hard work but doable. Please message if you need to. By doing a search on trapeziectomy on here you'll find lots if advice from me and others.

    Trish xx

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/62157/post-trapeziectomy-hand-therapy

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,777

    Hello @maria1976

    Thank you for posting on the Online Community. I am sorry to hear you are still experiencing a lot of pain and swelling at this stage in your recovery following hand surgery. It is difficult to get the balance between activity and rest, especially when you have been advised by your surgeon to use your hand as much as possible. This definitely seems to be aggravating your symptoms. It is understandable that you are wondering about whether to go ahead with the same surgery for your other hand.

    @Trish9556 has given a helpful response to your post with a link to more information. Hopefully, you will be having a follow up appointment with your orthopaedic surgeon and a hand therapist, OT (occupational therapist) or physio. In the meantime, you can talk things through with your GP. The hospital may have given you a phone number you can ring if you have any concerns.

    If you would like to have more replies to your post, you are welcome to repost on our Living with Arthritis forum which is a supportive space where you can ask questions and share experiences with others. You are also welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520 weekdays 9am - 6pm if you would like to talk things through informally and in confidence.

    I hope the information given below will be of some help.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/surgery/hand-and-wrist-surgery/
    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/who-will-treat-you/hand-therapists/#

    Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.

    Best wishes,

    Fiona, Helpline Advisor

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