Wrist Problem

[Woodshaper]

Over the last few years I have experienced increasing levels of wrist and hand pain due to arthritis. Two years ago I went to a hand specialist and he indicated that my only option was wrist fusion surgery to reduce the pain. This type of surgery would limit movement of the wrist. I decided not to have the surgery at that time since I feared it would limit my ability to carve and do many things I enjoy.
The pain has now increased to levels that prevent me from doing these things regularly and I am now considering the surgery. I have an appointment next Monday with a different hand surgeon and will decision about the surgery.
Has anyone on this forum had this type of surgery and to what extent did it restrict your ability to carve?

Thanks
Rufus

[SlowMover]

I have no experience with hand surgery personally, just a general knowledge due to being a surgical physician assistant for 25+ years. As far as I know there are no replacements available for the wrist, there are implants for fingers however if that is an area of extreme pain for you (silicone knuckle joints available). It is impossible for anyone to give you specific advice without having personally examined your hands and wrists, and done appropriate imaging studies based on the physical findings and presenting symptoms. You need to be sure and tell the surgeon( or therapist, or anyone else involved in diagnosing or treating you)..EXACTALLY what are your symptoms and what are your needs and expectations. Start now making a list of specific things that bother you, ie. exactally what movements or ativities cause you pain, and exactally where you feel it, for how long, and any other details that you can write down. Be sure the surgeon knows what is involved in your carving..describe the motions, the tools, etc...don't just say I do woodcarving, because he/she might have no idea at all of what is involved. Ask if physical therapy is indicated, sometimes what we think is arthritis is really chronic tendonitits or other soft tissue problems that can be corrected or lessened by therapy or activity modification.

Hope you get a solution to your problem proposed, let us know how it goes after you see the Dr.

[jbboston]

Wow, while I do make visits to the Aleve bottle to stop the pain in my hands I'm not near to your point, my heart goes out to you Rufus. Praying all goes well.
Robert B.

[Woodshaper]

Went to the new hand surgeon this morning and I am sure glad I got a second opinion. Doctor stated he would recommend a partial fusion of the wrist instead of a more extensive fusion procedure. He stated he was confident that this would relieve the pain and allow improved wrist motion. Plan to schedule the surgery in the next few weeks.
Will let you know how it works out.

Rufus

[Eddy-Smiles]

Rufus...Last year I got myself swarmed by a nest of yellow jackets and took a bad tumble down my mountain landing on my wrists. When I went to my physician complaining of pain after carving she recommended therapy, hot and cold packs and Naproxen. I asked her about surgery and she told me that she would recommend it only as a last resort. I talked to my brother about it who, like Slowmover, was a O.R. Technician for 30-years, and he also recommended against it saying that the anytime you cut the probability of causing even more damage is extremely high. Needless to say I chose the therapy route. It isn't cured but it's gradually getting to the point where I'm not completely miserable after a carving sesssion and I can even prevent some of it by the way I hold the wood or my knife. Just a suggestion but you might consider getting yourself a third opinion and if you haven't down so already make it from a sports physician.

[Dileon]

I have gotten up to five opinions from different surgeons, when a few agree I go for surgery.....but on the norm I am lucky if any of them agree with each other. My wrist are bad as I have lumps and cyst coming up from the damaged bones, sports medicine and physical therapy told me ...the only time to get surgery for bone replacement or fuse is when you can not function anymore. My thought on the whole situation, as surgery can make things worst....when you have to take morphine for pain and your still screaming when you touch something, then it is time to go surgery.

[cut up]

Rufus, that is a decision only you can make.
I have degenerative arthritis and have had hand surgury, but not bone fusion. My situation was that the tendon (?) that pulls the thumb up from a closed position broke due to arthritic fluids in my hands. I could clinch my fists, but my thumb would not move back to the relaxed position. (I hope that makes sense) The surgury involved opening the flesh on the back of the hands and scraping the fluids off, borrowing a tendon from the index finger and splicing into the thumb.
The result was, my thumb no longer will close to the fist position making it hard even to pick up a cup of coffee, and my wrist movement is at about 20% of normal.
I'm not happy with the result, but this is what I have so I'll just make the best of it.
I'm not trying to discourage you from surgury, just letting you know that sometimes the end result could be worse than the original problem.
Just make sure you know all the risks before you commit to it.
I hope and pray it will go well for you.
Michael

[A_Swope]

I've had bad pains in my wrist and arm,
I'm not sure what it was but I now wear a brace when I carve and it doesn't hurt as much.

[Woodshaper]

Just wanted to update the forum on my wrist surgery experience. After soliciting opinions from this forum and others, I decided to have a partial wrist fusion five months ago. The opinions were of little benefit since no one could relate exactly to my situation but I appreciate all replies. I am puzzled by the two people on other forums who suggested colon cleansing but who knows what will work if you believe.
I had a partial fusion which involved the removal of one bone in the wrist and the fusion of three others. This was very painful post surgery and the pain lasted for weeks. Even though I expected this, it was more painful than expected.
As the months passed the surgical pain decreased and I was able to use the hand for simple tasks, I experienced severe pain when I used the hand for turning things such as door knobs or car ignition. This was a very sharp pain that I did not have previously.
Two weeks ago I would have advised anyone to avoid wrist surgery. I returned to the doctor complaining about the pain once again and he said he could remove two of the three screws that were used during the fusion. The following day the screws were removed.
What a difference. The next day most the severe pain was gone. I am now back to carving. There is still some ache but not much more than in the other 67 year old hand. The stitches have not even been removed yet.
The surgery result has changed from a disaster to a blessing. The results may differ for others but I believe I will be able to resume many things I previously enjoyed.

Rufus

[Dileon]

thanks for posting, as I like to ask anyone who has surgery what is your range of motion with your wrist? What are not allowed to do versus can do?