Trapeziectomy

nrae
nrae Member Posts: 1
edited 10. Dec 2024, 07:09 in Chat to our Helpline Team

good evening, I’m 5 weeks after my surgery also had tendon reconstruction, I have very little movement on my wrist.

One week after surgery I fell and overstretched my arm and heard a pop.
I got my cast off 4 days ago and go back in on 3 days for an ultrasound to see how the tendon is looking.

Wondering if these symptoms are normal after this procedure?

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Comments

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,901

    Hi @nrae, thanks for posting. We would advise you to contact your healthcare team at the hospital about your concerns, as we are not medically trained, and they will understand your individual circumstances and what would be normal for you. I have provided information on common types of hand & wrist surgery which includes a trapeziectomy factsheet, with details of what to expect after surgery. Hope it helps.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/surgery/hand-and-wrist-surgery/#hand-and-wrist-surgery_common-types-of-hand-surgery

    Thanks, Natalie, Helpline Advisor.

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 818

    Hi @nrae

    Having had a trapeziectomy myself, but without the tendon reconstruction, in 2020 I sympathise with you. I hope the 'pop' doesn't prove to be anything too drastic.

    Have you been given any hand exercises, seen a hand therapist since you had your cast off?

    I had my cast off after 2 weeks and was referred straight to hand therapy for after care and exercises inbetween seeing my wonderful surgeon.

    I understand a lot of places don't offer, or give any hand therapy these days - I don't know why.

    I do have a set of my exercises from 2020 which are posted in here , if you search on trapeziectomy hand therapy under my name you'll find lots of hopefully helpful information plus those exercises.

    It is important to do your exercise regularly - if you don't recovery will take longer and be harder.

    Please drop me a message or tag me on here if you have any questions or need any help.

    Trish xx

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,901

    Hi @nrae and thankyou @Trish9556

    You might find additional information of help to do with any forms of arthritis you may be affected by which might be :

    Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand and wrist

    or do look up using our Conditions search:

    Conditions | Types of arthritis, causes, treatments

    and if you'd like some further help, come back to us or ring us on 0800 5200 520

    All the best

    Guy - Helpline Team

  • 33neamh22
    33neamh22 Member Posts: 1

    Hi

    New to the group ...I have Bilateral base of thumb arthritis with left side grade 4 changes.. Which has been diagnosed several years ago I have exhausted all treatments such as steroids and pain relief and splints

    Within work I had several access to work assessments leading to adapted software and hardware. however employer unable to fully implement

    In Dec 2023 it was decided that I should have replacement operation to left thumb joint

    I was initially booked for this in mar 2024 delayed to June 2024 and then rescheduled to July 2024

    I have been off work since June 2024 due to both pain and depression

    The operation in July did not happen nor did the rescheduled operations in August September and October … I have commenced a complaint with the health trust responsible

    I have now been advised that a date has been provisionally agreed for Feb 2025

    From June 24 I sought a private second opinion of the operation intended which I shared with my consultant

    Given the delays my GP referred me to another trust only to be told when assessed that I was placing TV demands upon limited resources

    I was also referred by my mental health service to the psychology pain management team within the physio services and was advised that given I was in treatment .i.e. awaiting surgery that this is not appropriate

    I am now faced with the prospect that my statutory sick pay finishes at the end of Feb ....I have already gone from full pay to 110.00 per week

    I therefore am not financially in a position to be off work from Feb for the surgery and proposed recovery time

    I believe that returning to work is important for my mental health well being and financial security

    I am therefore asking if anyone has experience of deferring and operation and importantly if so what was the advise given

    Similarly I am proposing to raise the scenario with physiotherapy services and would welcome any shared experience

    I have since stopping work also developed tennis and golfers elbow ....due to less use of thumbs

    Finally my work involves much computer usage and hardware and software is designed to reduce keystrokes

    Happy new year to all

    Stephen

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,901

    Hi @33neamh22 Stephen, thanks for your post. Happy New Year to you. Sorry to hear that you have been in so much pain and have had the additional stress of repeated postponements to your surgery. We would recommend speaking to your consultant about your situation, as the advice people may be given re: postponing, may vary across different locations and health trusts. I have included information on waiting for surgery, and the Access to Work scheme, which provides grants to help pay for things like assistive software. Hope it helps.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/work-and-arthritis/helping-you-work-well-with-arthritis/in-the-workplace/applying-for-reasonable-adjustments/

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/while-youre-waiting/

    Thanks, Natalie, Helpline Advisor.

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,901

    Hi @33neamh22

    If you would particularly like to hear from other people who have Osteoarthritis (OA) and talk about delays to surgery and impact on work, do try posting on some of the other forums such as Living with arthritis and Work and financial support.

    And you'd be most welcome to ring us at the Helpline on 0800 5200 520 if you'd like to talk things over and have some support. When there's a lot going on it can be really helpful to mull it all over and we can give you plenty of time and calls are in confidence.

    Work and Arthritis

    Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand and wrist

    You may find our exercise and healthy eating information a support - and we have lots of videos showing people with arthritis exercising on our YouTube.

    I hope that's helpful

    Guy - Helpline Team

  • marsha6155
    marsha6155 Member Posts: 1

    I am new to this group. I had right thumb carpometacarpal arthroplasty with a suspensionplasty surgery Jan. 30, 2025.

    I know recovery is slow but would like to hear experiences from other patients who are experiencing stiffness, swelling and pain at this 6 week mark.

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,901

    Hi @marsha6155

    Thank you for your posting on the online community. I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing stiffness, swelling and pain following your surgery and I understand that it would be helpful to hear from others regarding their experiences on recovery. Hopefully others will respond to you following your post. You can also post on the Living with arthritis forum to hear more of others experiences. It may also help to speak to your consultant, healthcare team or hand therapist for advice on your recovery time.

    I hope that this is helpful.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/surgery/hand-and-wrist-surgery/
    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/hand-and-wrist-pain/
    https://community.versusarthritis.org/categories/living-with-arthritis-forum

    Best Wishes

    Dawn

    Helpline Advisor

  • Moira
    Moira Member Posts: 117

    I had a complex trapezectomy done at the beginning of Feb - after first being referred just before Covid; then seeing a hand surgeon, having steroid injections in both hands and hand therapy 2 years later. I heard nothing for well over a year and learned my surgeon had retired and there was a shortage of hand surgeons.

    My new surgeon who moved from England to Wales (yippee) did the op. It should have been under local but because it was more complex it was done in day surgery under general.

    I had the large split and huge bandage and snazzy purple foam sling for 2 weeks. Then appointment with the hand clinic 2 weeks later. Smaller split and every 2 hours massaging the area with cream and exercises. There will be stiffness and some pain but that will ease if the instructions from the hand therapist are folowed. Already the pain is going and with the strict aherance to exercises, I have another appointment next week and she will change the exercises if the correct progress has been made. It isn't a simple proceedure but quite major hand surgery.

    I was advised no flying for 3 months and as I use a walking stick in the other hand, no public transport until given the go ahead - so I don't fall over. No lifting until instructions from the therapist or all teh good work will be undone.

    So anyone out there waiting or just having hand surgery be patient and follow instructions. The hand is very complex. Good luck

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,901

    Hi @Moira

    Thank you for your post to the Helpline.

    I want to thank you for taking the time to post. On the Helpline we are always hearing people who would like to hear from people who've had the surgery which has been recommended to them.

    I am so aware that following medical advice can take time and patience - and you've gone into such helpful detail.

    Wishing you all the best and once again thank you.

    Guy - Helpline Team

  • Anna
    Anna Moderator Posts: 1,156

    Hi @marsha6155 and all the other members who've posted for the first time,

    Welcome to the online community. I see that @helpline_team has given some useful information about hand and wrist problems and surgery. If you want to hear the experiences of other members of the community who have undergone wrist or hand surgery, you could post a question on the Living with Arthritis forum - everyone is very friendly and if they can help by sharing their experiences, I'm sure they will. Meanwhile, I did a quick search for any posts on trapeziectomy and thumb surgery and here are a few threads that might be of interest:

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/search?domain=all_content&query=trapeziectomy&scope=site&source=community

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/search?domain=all_content&query=%20thumb%20surgery&scope=site&source=community

    Best wishes,

    Anna (Moderator)

    Need more help? - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm


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