Hand hell..cont'd

righthandman
righthandman Member Posts: 38
edited 5. Aug 2010, 03:02 in Living with Arthritis archive
Well I have been back at work now for around a month after being off a month following an arthroscopy on my right wrist. Eagerly waited to see the NHS hand specialist some 8 weeks after the arthroscopy and finally got to see someone the other day. Apperently I have arthritis around the Hamate bone which is to the right hand sign of the hand but I don't get any pain in that part of the hand. I also have an unstable ligament. I was told to give it another four weeks to see if it stabilizes and then another appointment to discuss possible surgery on this unsable ligament. The real pain is in my thumb knuckle which again I was told is unstable. I was given a steroid injection in this and has become more sore since.
Feel really frustrated yet again. I know that in four weeks it will be exactly the same and I still feel unclear on actually what is causing my pain. Managing to cope doing my manual job which involves a lot of digging by taking a mixture of co-codamol and diclofenac sodium and bracing the wrist.. but the constant aching causes stress and tends to dominate ones mind all the time and I keep forward visualising in how I will be in the future. Will It be sorterd and pain free?Will I end up with a fused wrist and thumb? Will I be in pain for the rest of my life? Wil I end up with a metal hook a bit like that Abu Hamza chap?Its all made worse by remembering only a few years ago how I used to feel, vigourous and without all this monotonous aches and pain.
However I was encouraged to learn of two new things today.
I heared that scientists have grown a complete leg joint in a rabbit using stem cells harvested from the rabbit, details published in the Lancet. The other thing was meeting a fellow manual worker who had a similar problem with his thumb knuckle which caused him loads of pain but he had a successful operation to remove the scaphoid bone, take a piece of thigh muscle and wrap it around the thumb knuckle and sort of let it grow into a mass of gristle which allows him to remain movement in his thumb knuckle.He is now pain free. I was wondering if anyone knows the name of this procedure?
Anyway I have waffled on for too long about my own woes. I am sure many of you are far worse off than myself and I feel for you all.
Keep the faith..

Comments

  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,

    it must be frustrating not feeling any further on in the treatment for your hand. The digging aspect of your job must be a nightmare. Have you always done this particular job? Are there are other aspects of the job that are easier going on the hands?

    The new treatments sound interesting - have you contacted the helpline - they might be able to give you more info/point you in the right direction.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • ironic
    ironic Member Posts: 2,361
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I'm so sorry you are having such a bad time. I know you can get ahead of yourself with the what ifs etc.
    Maybe when you go back in 4 weeks you could ask them to go through everything with you. Until you know yourself what is going on how can you make the choices?
    It is great that reseach is going on a pace. This gives all hope. Interesting meeting with your fellow worker. Did have it done in your area?

    Good luck,

    Lv, Ix
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,336
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi RHM

    I am sorry it's not good for you and that your job means you need your hands so much :(

    Did you try the helpline or the helpline forum about that thun=]md op that chap had? It really sounds amazing....would you give it a go if it was available - did he not even tell you WHERE he had it done??

    I agree with the others science is moving apace in this area so there IS hope.

    You take care

    Love

    toni xx
  • righthandman
    righthandman Member Posts: 38
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    ironic wrote:
    Hi, I'm so sorry you are having such a bad time. I know you can get ahead of yourself with the what ifs etc.
    Maybe when you go back in 4 weeks you could ask them to go through everything with you. Until you know yourself what is going on how can you make the choices?
    It is great that reseach is going on a pace. This gives all hope. Interesting meeting with your fellow worker. Did have it done in your area?

    Good luck,

    Lv, Ix

    Thanks.
    The chap that I talked to did have the operation done locally but privateley through his company scheme. I have scapholunate insability and arthritis in the Hamate joint as far as I can deduce.
  • lavenderlady
    lavenderlady Member Posts: 409
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had a artheroscopy in my left wrsit in may and have just got the date for a TWR in September apparently after my scan which showed up all of my wrist is mangled by athritis including the nobbly bit , I was asked if i wanted a fusion or a TWR so am going for the TWR becasue if it fails i can still get it fused but cannot have TWR after having it fused first if that makes sense,
    anyway I looked at it this way they are always coming up with new ways of dealing with arther including a TWR which is a very rare and new op unlike hip or knee, but someones got to try it and if it helps others, why not!!! plus my surgeon is one of the top sugeons he specialises in hand wrist arm and hand, and like you I see my future as a life of pain and disability as I have OA in practicaly all my joints along with other health problems, :cry: I just think in a few years time they will have a drug or op that will cure most if not all arthritis from blighting our lives, so dont look down look forward, :D
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    well said lavenderlady :D

    I do hope that when you next see the consultant, righthandman, he will explain better what your options are; I'm sure he will tell you what procedures are available to you for the type of arther damage you have in your hand.... which might be quite different to what your friend has.

    Hopefully if surgery is the best option it will reduce or remove the pain and give you back some of your independence.

    all any of us can do is take the advice of our orthos , weigh up the pros and cons of having surgery and once the decision is made..trust in the knowledge and skill of the surgeons.

    good luck! and please let us know how you get on.

    Irisx
  • righthandman
    righthandman Member Posts: 38
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I had a artheroscopy in my left wrsit in may and have just got the date for a TWR in September apparently after my scan which showed up all of my wrist is mangled by athritis including the nobbly bit , I was asked if i wanted a fusion or a TWR so am going for the TWR becasue if it fails i can still get it fused but cannot have TWR after having it fused first if that makes sense,
    anyway I looked at it this way they are always coming up with new ways of dealing with arther including a TWR which is a very rare and new op unlike hip or knee, but someones got to try it and if it helps others, why not!!! plus my surgeon is one of the top sugeons he specialises in hand wrist arm and hand, and like you I see my future as a life of pain and disability as I have OA in practicaly all my joints along with other health problems, :cry: I just think in a few years time they will have a drug or op that will cure most if not all arthritis from blighting our lives, so dont look down look forward, :D

    Thanks Lavenderlady, That is very encouraging to hear.
    Can you please tell me what TWR is please.?
    Thanks, Righthandman.
  • righthandman
    righthandman Member Posts: 38
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    dorcas wrote:
    well said lavenderlady :D

    I do hope that when you next see the consultant, righthandman, he will explain better what your options are; I'm sure he will tell you what procedures are available to you for the type of arther damage you have in your hand.... which might be quite different to what your friend has.

    Hopefully if surgery is the best option it will reduce or remove the pain and give you back some of your independence.

    all any of us can do is take the advice of our orthos , weigh up the pros and cons of having surgery and once the decision is made..trust in the knowledge and skill of the surgeons.

    good luck! and please let us know how you get on.

    Irisx

    Thankyou Iris, I will keep you posted.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I think a TWR is a total wrist replacement. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben