Total wrist fusion?

[Joski]

Hi everyone,

Hope you don't mind my dropping in, but I was just wondering if anyone here has had a total wrist fusion? I'm having my left wrist fused on Tuesday and although I'm sure it's the right decision for me, I would still be interested in hearing other people's experiences too.

Fusion is of course a last resort option and not recommended in hypermobility usually, but sadly I have a very rare sub type connective tissue disorder which causes all manner of freaky things, including very severe joint instability. I have numerous dislocations of various joints every day and currently look like a poster girl for Orthotics!

I'm at the stage of requiring a lot of surgery to try and stabilise some of my joints, even undergoing experimental operations to hold off the inevitable fusion surgeries. My wrist how ever is beyond the point of no return, so we're going ahead with the fusion now. I have been in a rigid plaster cast splint for 2 years now due to the extreme instability. If taken out of splint/cast the whole wrist joint dislocates with my palm ended up flat on my forearm, and I've required several reductions under sedation as a result. I'm even dislocating whilst in plaster now and my surgeon feels soft tissue repair is pointless, so in goes the metal plate!

Even though I've had many surgeries before, including a thumb MCP fusion, I am pretty nervous about this one, especially as it'll be my first nerve block surgery too. I'm both fascinated and anxious about the whole procedure now, so any advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Jo x

[nonyanomemory]

Hi Jo, nice to see you here again of course we don't mind you dropping in - you are most welcome anytime. I just wanted to say good luck with the forthcoming surgery - I can fully understand why you are nervous. I am afraid I have no personal knowledge of this procedure so haven't anything helpful that I can say about it for you however I would like to offer these few words of support and sincerely hope that all goes well and your recovery is good. If you are able let us know how it goes and in the meantime pop in as often as you want prior to Tuesday to talk to people who understand.
nonya

[Joski]

Thank you so much for your kind words and wishes Nonya, that means so much to me! Hope you are keeping well, I'm wishing you a happy and painfree week ahead. I'll let you know how things go as soon as I can master a one-handed reply coherently enough

Love and hugs.....Jo xx

[Sue New]

Dear Jo.

I hope all goes well on Tuesday. You will be in my thoughts.

Take care

Sue.

[nonyanomemory]

Hi Jo - Its Sunday night - just. Thank you for your wishes. nonya

[Joski]

Thanks again Nonya and Sue for your kind thoughts and wishes, have to admit the old nerves are starting to jangle now! I keep wanting to take my arm out of the cast and move my wrist while I still can - bizarre huh?! I have a feeling I may be posting again before tomorrow, but if I don't get chance thank you again for your support and please do take care. My thought and prayers are with you both.

Love and hugs.....Jo xx

P.S. Good luck with your appts too Sue

[vickers]

Hi Jo,

Good luck for the op tomorrow.

I've had a couple of surgeries where a nerve block has been used (both of my open shoulder stabilizations and the tennis elbow one i think).
When i woke up after the op my whole arm felt very heavy and I was unable to move it without picking it up in my other hand and moving it that way. They are very good for pain relief, they're meant to last about 24 hours I think but mine have normally worn off by the morning after surgery (normally operated on inthe afternoon/early eveninng).

I hope that is of some help to you. Again good luck, we'll be thinking of you.

[Sez]

Good luck with the op and WELCOME to the forum

[jayne]

good luck Jo, hope all goes ok.

[Joski]

Many thanks again for your kind thoughts and wishes, you're all so kind! I'm trying hard to distract myself today, I even did some cleaning which I HATE!!

Vickers, thanks for the info on the nerve block. I had one during my recent shoulder recon to help with pain relief afterwards. It wore off around my shoulder after a few hours, but my fingers stayed numb for about 12 hours. s*d's law says the opposite will happen this time huh?!

Thanks again for all the support and good wishes guys, it means a lot to me. I promise to let you know how things go as and when I can.

Love and hugs....Jo xx

[nonyanomemory]

Thinking of you today Jo - Hoping things go well for you. nonya

[nonyanomemory]

Hi Jo - I know I posted last time and I absolutely hate doing it again but am too tired to check on the EDS site to see if you have posted about how you are and wanted to see how you are doing and how it all went. I guess I like closure

Thinking of you nonya

[Guest]

Hi Jo,

Hope everything went as well as it could. As soon as you can please let us know how you are.
Sorry we couldn't be more informative for you aboutthe op, though your the expert now so nexttime the question is asked we'll bring you on

Az

[Joski]

Hi all,

Thank you so much for your concerns and good thoughts, I'm sorry it's taken so long to reply but it's been a bit tougher than I expected. The surgery itself went fine, although my nerve block was pretty tricky. having it done under the block was pretty odd, I spoke with the surgeon throughout the op and even watched part of it in the reflective lights - very bizarre watching your own arm being attacked with hammers! I had a lot of problems after the surgery sadly, as my nerve block wore off as they were stitching the wound. It should have lasted 46 hours, but I was in agony by the time I reached the ward, ending up going into shock from the pain. Needed a lot of pain meds and the cast loosening as the swelling was causing major pressure - not a fun night!

Hoped things world settle once I got home, but the pain, bruising and swelling just continued, causing concerns about compartment syndrome. It's been a pretty rough ride with the pain from the bone trauma and the pressure on the nerves from the swelling etc too, kind of like electric shocks up my arm the whole time. I think it's probably one of the most painful surgeries I've had so far and it's certainly brutal! I don't think I was fully prepared for how stressful, draining and painful it would be. It's really knocked me sideways, as apart form the post op pain, having to keep the arm elevated over night has caused havoc with my dodgy shoulder, the cast has caused sores as I'm so skinny and I also have a slight wound infection too. Oh well, hopefully it will all be worth it in the long run!

I get my stitches out on Wednesday hopefully and will go into a full, light weight cast. My arm feels kind of odd at the moment, rather alien and like it doesn't belong to me. Even though I've had it "externally fused" being casted for 2 years, it's taking me a while to comprehend the internal fix. It's crazy looking at your arm knowing it won't even bend again! Thanks to my hypermobility in have good ROM in my fingers, although it's pretty painful with the tendons rubbing on the plate at the moment and there's little strength in my hand functions. Hopefully with time and physio that will improve, although it's possible I will need the plate removing in the future if it causing too much problems with me being so bony.

Anyway, I'm seriously stretching my typing limits here so I'd best head off. Thank you again for all your support and kind wishes, they mean a lit to me. LoL Az, I'm not sure about being a wrist fusion expert, but I'll certainly be here if anyone facing the same needs advice any time. Have to admit, it's not a surgery I would recommend unless absolutely necessary though as it's painful, brutal and very final - and of course you've spoken many times previously of the domino effect from fusions too. Due to the complex nature of my condition and situation, I've been forced to face such last resorts sadly. This is my second fusion surgery and I'm facing at least one (ankle), possibly three more in the coming years, but they really are final options for my medical team. Speaking from real experience, to anyone considering a fusion at all, I would implore them to look at every other option and if it is the only way, to fully study/understand the implications and consequence of the surgery before going ahead, as they are difficult, painful surgeries, tough things to adapt to and live with and really aren't the best answer for any hypermobility related conditions.

Will let you know how things go as and when I can. Many thanks again for your support. Take care and know my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Love and hugs......Jo xx

[nonyanomemory]

Hi Jo, , thank you for taking the time in such difficult circumstances to let us know how you are. The whole thing sounds completely traumatic and it is no wonder you haven't been able to post. I have been wondering how it went and how you are doing post-op. I sincerely hope that in time this procedure helps you in what I know are very difficult circumstances. My thoughts are with you particularly for a good recovery and hope that in the coming weeks things begin to improve. you were awake very early I hope this wasn't due to pain In the meantime - Jo take care. nonya