Hand Surgery ?

dotty123
dotty123 Member Posts: 122
Can someone please tell me if it is possible to have hand surgery to correct knobbly knuckles. I am 42 and really am starting to feel very embarrassed and concious about how my hands look.. I feel so depressed that I feel like getting a hammer to them and smashing them... please help me.. I can't bare the thought of them getting worse with age. The lack of support from the g,p leaves me speechless.. I don't want to hear nothing can be done.. I don't to just get on with it.. surely I can do something to slow this oestoarthritis down... :(:(

Comments

  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Dotty

    I am a member on the forum and I read from another of your postings that you have been attending hospital regarding your hands. Why are the medics reluctant to give you injections and telling you to come back in a year? Did they give a reason for this?

    Have you been referred to a hand specialist/consultant by your gp? That is the best person to see I would have thought. When gps are not sympathetic it is very upsetting and I am sorry that he is not being more helpful. Would you be able to see another GP who would be more understanding perhaps?

    Look after yourself,
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • dotty123
    dotty123 Member Posts: 122
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I find that hard to answer myself. I kick my myself for not being pushy for help and answers. I have had blood test done over a year ago.. I had a c.t scan.. they conclude early onset of OA.. But I feel that even in the last year things have got worse. They advised not having injection because they felt it could make things worse or be on no help. He tells me the pain will go away once things have settled. My g.p just said to me " we all got a little arthritis in us " I felt like I am time wastin. I was told to take ibuprofen ( which does nothing for me ) To do hand excerises and am awaiting to hear from a therapist for help on this... still waiting !!

    I've started rubbing chamomile lavendar and ginger into my joints... also just started to take complete EFA and Glucosamine & chondroitin complex with rosehip... Plus i add this to my bath.

    But I want to know if I can get surgery to correct my finger joints...

    x
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi again Dotty:)

    In that case you need a referral from a gp to see a hand specialist to discuss any surgery options. They are the people who will be able to tell you if you can get surgery for your finger joints. I am surprised injections were mentioned but then it was said they may not work etc. I have had steroid injections in my thumbs and it has helped for about 6 months. We are all different and no one knows until they have had the injections if they will work for a time or not.

    It is not very encouraging to be told that the pain will go once things have settled. What does that mean? What about now? You could do with stronger painkillers. I really would try to see a gp that is interested in arthritis if at all possible. We sometimes do have to be quite pushy unfortunately.

    I wish you well,

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • dotty123
    dotty123 Member Posts: 122
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you.. sorry I am depressing, I guess I have not accepted this yet. I can't bare this.. the pain.. the weakness .. the changes.. I am so tearful and going to the doctors makes me more paranoid because they make you feel like you are wasting their time. We have no decent doctors at our surgery.. I can't open up and tell them how I am feeling. Right now I feel like an old lady not a 42 yr old. :cry:
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 31. Oct 2010, 08:13
    Hi dotty :D

    You should not be made to feel you are wasting anyone's time :shock: that is just not on. :!:

    I have PA (psoriatic arthritis) in my hands as well as other joints and I too had to ask to be referred to a hand surgeon.
    Since then I've had a wrist fusion on my left hand and a total wrist replacement on the other with other hand surgery to come.

    Stand your ground and insist on being referred for an opinion to an orthopaedic hand surgeon so that you can be assessed and advised what the options for you might be.

    I am annoyed for you dotty.... being left unsupported and your concerns minimised by your doc in this way is so demoralising. It's not surprising you feel tearful.

    I'd suggest you change doctors surgery, especially if you've found that none of the docs in your practice will refer you.

    I'm glad you've found the forum and hope that you'll soon feel part of this community. You will certainly be supported here by folks who understand what you're going through. :wink:

    You could copy your post and put it on the LWA (Living with Arthritis) Forum where more people will see it... and respond.
    chin up! you are not alone with this.

    Iris xxx
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Dotty

    You are not depressing and I feel so sorry that your gp is not referring you to the right person. Please do not let the gps make you feel you are wasting their time. You are not at all, you know how this is affecting your life, you should be telling your gp and he should be taking it onboard and referring you. Gps know a little about many ailments and are not expected to know everything that is why they refer patients to specialists. If you had an exray a year ago and you say the symptoms are getting worse you should be having another x-ray now. Are you able to perhaps take someone in with you to see your gp to help explain how all this is affecting you?

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • dotty123
    dotty123 Member Posts: 122
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you x I am going to TRY and get an appointment tomorrow and I try to be firmer and tell them it is making me feel very depressed aswell. Its not just about the pain its all of it... I want my fingers back.. I want some strengh back .. :cry:

    Failing that perhaps I should look for another surgery !!! all our good doctors left..
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good for you dotty!!

    write down how you feel and what the pain and difficulties are with your hands and what you want your doc to do...... it helps to focus the mind and if necessary .. you can hand it to your doc!

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

    will be with you in spirit!

    Iris xx
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Dotty

    Good for you! Tell the gp how it is, if you do not, he/she will not know. That is what gps are there for, and it is "joe public" that keep them in a job. Try to keep that at the back of your mind when there. :) As Iris says, write it down and if you go into panic mode, just hand over what you have written for the gp to read.

    Why not post on the Living with Arthritis zone when you have been to see the gp or before if you wish to do so. More people look in to the other zones than this one.

    I expect the helpline will answer your message on Monday.

    I will look out for you on the other zones, :)

    Take care,

    Luv
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • dotty123
    dotty123 Member Posts: 122
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Well it took me over 40 minutes to get through to the surgery to be told that all appointments had gone. . So I asked the receptionist can she book me in for tomorrow as by the time I get through all the appointments could be gone again arrhhhhh She said no... I am to ring tomorrow.

    Today would of been good as I have got lots of pain in my knuckles, it is driving me nuts. You can watch them grow and swell... it friggin hurts. :cry:

    That is a good idea to write down my concerns.. I am gonna do it in list form and pass it to the doctor and he can decide what is most alarming.. I am hoping the comment of getting a hammer to my hands will give it away that I am feeling so low.

    Update tomorrow arhhhhh
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    what an awful appointment system that is :roll:

    You sound more resolved today? which is really good as you can tap into that determination when you do get to speak to your doc.

    ... I hope that when you phone tomorrow you'll be able to get an appointment and have that important discussion with your doc about the pain and discomfort you're in.

    stay positive! and good luck for tomorrow. :wink:

    Iris x
  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,464
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Dear dotty123

    Thank you for your posting.

    I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing with your hands and knuckles and your feeling of depression over it.

    For information on 'hand and wrist surgery' for arthritis go to http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis_information/arthritis_surgeries/hand_and_wrist_surgery.aspx.

    We also have information on 'Osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist' at http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/PublicationsandResources/Listedbytype/Factsheets#cK45

    You can always ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist hand surgeon, who can advise you on the different options.

    Please ring our helplines on 0808 800 4050, if you would like to have a chat about the difficulties you are facing, or if you need further information.

    I hope this helps.

    Regards

    Nick
  • dotty123
    dotty123 Member Posts: 122
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    UPDATE

    Went to see my doctor today ( nice one ) I broke down in floods of tears and we had a good chat.. She is going to refer me to a hand surgeon but not to hold out too much hope .. at least its a start.

    She has prescribed me some anti flam tablets.. and anti depressants. To go back in two weeks.. If all failing that she mentioned getting some councelling to come to terms with the OA.

    Thank you for your help and it really helped to write down what was up with me.. I just passsed her the paper and sobbed.

    xx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This disease in all its vile guises has a huge impact, not only on those it affects but those around them too. We know what this is like, dotty. I am 14 years in with PA and counting, watching it spread little by little. It does get one's goat. Well done on handing over your notes, that is always a good move, it saves having to talk which is sometimes near-impossible. Ringing the helplines is a good option, they know what you are facing and sometimes talking to an empathetic stranger can be a very good thing. I wish you well, let us know how you get on, keep in touch. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • dotty123
    dotty123 Member Posts: 122
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you again.. I am so glad I found this site and it has encouraged me to fight for some help.. I know there is no magic wand ! but I won't give up yet. x

    I wish each and every one of you on here a healthy future xx
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi dotty

    so pleased you saw the doc today :D and had such a positive result. good for you dotty... :mrgreen:

    please let us know how you get on when you see the hand surgeon.. and I hope the meds help with the pain and strain of it all. :wink:

    why not join in the chat on the other forums? you'll be made very welcome!!

    hope to see you posting around soon.

    Iris xxxx