The Procedure on my thumb/extensive info on thumbs

[Blunderwoman]

Hi all

Thanks for your good wishes - only a week to go now.

Take care
Pauline

[Blunderwoman]

Hi all

Well, Wednesday was eventful. First of all we were told to be at the hospital by 7.30am so had to leave at 6.45am and to starve Hannah from midnight on Tuesday. When we arrived the ward was so empty that there were more nurses than patients but Hannah was given a side room to herself (I can only think it is due to her having had MRSA - the only good thing to come from that!) We then sat there and waited and waited until about 10.30am when we were told that a mistake had been made and we should have been told to come in the afternoon so the early start and starving was not necessary - great. After more waiting (and having the lunchtime food trolley parked outside Hannah's door!!) she finally went down at 4pm. When she was back on the ward her blood pressure dropped considerably and her temperature went up - mind you being starved for nearly 24 hours probably had something to do with that. The anaethetist decided to only put local anaesthetic into her thumb (which didnt work of course) instead of the nerve block he promised to put into her arm while she was asleep so he had to do the nerve block when she was awake which she said was horrible as it was administered through a huge needle.

Unfortunately the after effects of this op are far worse than the other hand - she has been in so much pain this time around that she wishes that she hadnt had it done. I dont know if everything had stretched because her thumb has been more or less dislocated ever since last October (the other hand was in plaster for 9 months before so maybe thats why it was easier - I dont know) but as the nerve block has worn off it has got more and more painful. She says that she feels like she has been kicked around the theatre and, strangely, half her tongue feels numb.

I didnt know whether to post these details or not but if anyone else goes through this op I think they should be prepared. I will let you know how she gets on and if there are any developments.

Back to the ward being empty I wonder if people are too terrified of superbugs to go into hospital unless it is absolutely necessary?

Take care
Pauline

[Retro]

Hi Pauline,

Thanks for letting us know. I hope it settles down soon and Hannah recovers quickly

Lindsey

[Blaadyblah]

Wishing her a speedy recovery.

[sarahh]

Hi Pauline I am so sorry to hear about Hannah's op poor little lady she didn't deserve that. These aneathetists seem to change their mines all the time don't they. Glad she had a room to herself though. Wishing her a speedy recovery and lots of .

Sarah x

[hannah]

I hope Hannah's thumb settles down soon

[dustybin63]

Hi
Its been interesting to read all the posts on here regarding surgery on thumbs, I am having my right thumb fused to my wrist in 12 days time. I cant wait for it as I am getting so tired of my thumb dislocating a dozen times a day or more!! I am having mine done in Glenfield Hospital in Leicester by a Miss ////......... she took one look at my x-rays and suggested it would be a good idea to have it done. It appears as though the curly bits at the ends of the bones that help hold things together have disappeared so instead of looking like ( it looks like I now.
It will be interesting to see how it turns out and what I will be able to do with it afterward. As long as I can hold a rifle and operate the buttons on the tv remote I will be happy!!

Simon

Mod edit - Consultant's name removed. Please read the board rules.

[Blunderwoman]

Hi Simon

I hope your op goes ok and that it gives you the use of your hand that you want. My daughter's first tendon transfer on her right hand was a great success, cutting down the number of dislocations she suffered.


Update:
Hannah has had 6 weeks in plaster with it finally coming off today. The doctor was really pleased with the way everything has healed and now she has got to build the muscles up in her hand as he said that the muscles around her thumb were practically non-existent when he operated so they are probably far worse by now! She has got a couple of photos which I will add when she lets me have them but the scarring is pretty much the same as the other hand apart from the scar from where the tendon was removed is a little bit bigger.

Take care

[barkingmad]

Good luck with the op Simon.


Glad everything ok with Hannah. Hope it wasnt too sore.

Donna x

[dustybin63]

Had the op now.... surprisingly i have no pain or discomfort in the hand!! I am just taking my normal pill regime. My hip has been hurting a bit though as a bone graft was taken to build up the thumb. I go back in 10 days for a check up and have a lightweight cast put on providing everything is in order. Just got to shave my arm now so i can tape a plastic bag on to have a shower without ripping all the hairs out by the roots after!!

[bendytwistything]

Simon, you'll have to keep us all posted as to the long term effects of your surgery. It was an option considered for me before they decided on the one they did, due to my age they felt it was a better option (in case you haven't read back that far I've had a very similar procedure to Hannah's). Glad its going well for you though.

Katy x

[Blunderwoman]

Hi Simon

Glad to hear that everything is going ok. I dont know why but I thought that when you had your thumb fused that metal wire was used and not bone so that is something I have learned today. I would also really appreciate any further updates in case Hannah has to have a fusion in the future - after all tendons can stretch so who knows what might happen! Hannah has a special waterproof cast cover called a "Limbo" that she uses to cover her cast in the shower and it is really effective. I am not sure how much they are but you can get them online - if thats any help.

Take care

[Rosie]

Hi all

There is a link in the last post of this thread to these cast covers. Look good.



Rosie

[dustybin63]

I have found that a plastic rubble bag and waterproof gaffa tape works for the shower. I had my POP cast off last week and saw what everything looked like. I have had dissolving stitches in both my hip and my hand. The ones in my hip have mostly gone now but it still feels as though some bits are still there. If they still feel like it when I see the consultant next I will get her to have a look at it.
I never saw the consultant last week only the orthopaedic nurse and the plasterer. I have got 3 wires sticking out of my hand still which allegedly come out when see consultant on 15th september.
I was expecting some fine wires like jewellery wire but no it seems like I have the sort of wire used for tethering a cruise liner!! I now have a fibreglass cast on which is nice and light. The good thing about it is you get to choose the colour you want!! I went for black as it wont look dirty over time also black is my favourite colour!! The only irritating thing about it is the cast isnt really tight so it moves about a bit which moves the ends of the wires about which is a bit (ok a lot!!) uncomfortable at times. I have found that when sitting down its most comfortable to keep my arm raised.
I did buy a decent sling before the op as I guessed that the only thing supplied would be a triangular bandage sling which pulls badly on my neck. The one I bought goes over one shoulder and round my back which is so much better.
I took a photo of my hand last week and if I can figure out how to upload it on here I will, thought if I cant then anyone wishing to see it just ask and I will email it to you.
I went back to work on monday and lasted a whole25 minutes before being told to go home!!! I had planned on spending some time in the office doing bits and pieces but was told I was a health risk and was sent home. Oh well I will just have to suffer sitting at home til after the cast comes off, oh the hardships I have to endure!!
My thumb only hurts if I try and do too much with it, I am not the sort to sit around waiting to heal, I try and do as much as I can which leads to me occasionally doing too much or trying to!! Pain is a wonderful way of telling you to stop doing something you shouldnt be doing!!
I am having to moisturise my fingers and tip of my thumb as the skin is getting really dry and rough. I dont get too many unscratchable itches though, if any occur I try and ignore them as best I can as I dont have any knitting needles!!
It appears that the photo is too big a file to upload on here so anyone wishing to see my hand just ask and give me your email address, I will send the pic by return.

Simon

[bendytwistything]

Don't let your doctor or nurse hear you talk about sticking knitting needles etc down your arm they'll do one lol . My surgeon told me to tap the cast over the itch and that would do it (yeah, right). Bearing in mind i had my casts for 6 months before the surgery also.

Take it easy and relax, Take the opportunity to help the rest of your joints recuperate (sp) while your not working, oh and when the cast does come off don't be daft and do too much too soon, it hurts

Are the wires being removed under a local or general? On my left they did it under general and all was fine but all the rest they did it with a local (i can see their reasoning, I had already had 5 GA procedures and it wasn't doing my body too much good) but Local anesthetic doesn't work on me very well (as i think is the case with many HEDSers), so it was v. painful, and they didn't believe me, make sure you warn them if this is the case with you so you can have appropriate pain relief.
Take care!
Katy x