The Hypermobility Syndrome Association

by **Hannah_Banana** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 11:47 am

lol lianne. i had some celebrations last night then regretted it afterwards as i felt sick.maybe its because the anaesthetic isnt out of my system yet,but will have another go tonight

hannah xx

xx

by **Blunderwoman** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:31 pm

Hi all

Since a few other people have mentioned about the possibility that they may have to have this op I thought that I would post about the actual operation and aftercare as Hannah is posting about how she is feeling in herself. I thought it might help to record from a "third-party" point of view.

Hannah has been having problems with her right thumb for a long time now and earlier this year it started dislocating and could only be put back at A&E and with the help of gas and air. She has been in a plaster cast almost permanently since June this year and her consultant decided to operate as she couldnt keep on like this. She was taken into hospital a few months ago and the surgeon dislocated her thumb under general anaesthetic to see how it actually dislocated. Her thumb actually dislocates in the oposite direction to normal (inwards instead of outwards) and he has had to modify the operation slightly to take account of that. The plan was to take a tendon from her wrist and wrap it around the thumb joint to hold it in place. If this doesnt work then the joint will have to be fused, a last resort.

She had the op on Wednesday, 21st December and beforehand we spoke to the surgeon about the possibility that, if he thought the tendon op would not work or he had any problems, he would immediately fuse the joint. The operation took about 90 minutes and involves a cut from the joint in her thumb, down her hand and across her wrist which has been closed with dissolvable stitches. The piece of tendon was taken from one of the ones that run along the forearm into the wrist and was a couple of inches long. She had a nerve block which numbed her arm from the elbow down and which lasted about 24 hours. She came back from the theatre with a half plaster cast which covers the back of her hand and the palm is covered in padding. This is all covered with a bandage. At the moment she is in quite a lot of pain and is on painkillers from the hospital. It is painful for her to move her index and middle finger but she has been advised by her surgeon that she must keep moving her fingers and, if possible, her thumb. She will have this cast removed in two weeks and a lightweight one instead. Her surgeon was very pleased with the way the operation went although he cannot guarantee the outcome. She may in the future have to have the joint fused but he wants to avoid this as long as possible because of the strain this will put on her other joints.

I will post any updates.

Take care

Pauline

by **Sez** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:53 pm

Thanks, Pauline. I agree that it is useful to have details of the procedure from a "third party", so to speak.

Hope Hannah is feeling better soon and that the op is a complete success.

by **Retro** » Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:03 pm

I really hope this works for Hannah, she's been thru so much for someone so young already. :pray:

for you both (as a parent I know we worry ourselves sick when our kids are sick or hurt) :sorry:

by **nonyanomemory** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 1:50 am

Hi Pauline, thank you so much for taking time out to write so informatively of Hannah's recent procedure. It has been a brave step for Hannah and a worrying time for you all. MY thoughts are with you all in the next few weeks whilst Hannah recovers and as you know I will be checking in with you both as often as I am able.

Kindest regards nonyax

by **Kel** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:44 pm

Thanks for all the info Pauline - it's really helpful. I was offered this op a couple of years ago, but chickened out. I know I'm going to have to get my thumb stabilised again eventually, so I shall be following Hannah's recovery and progress with interest.

Good luck!

by **sar** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:26 am

Hi Hannah, my name's Sarah. I'm 15 as well and have also been in a brace/splint on my thumb since March '05. I actually just wrote this and then my internet crashed, so I'm going to be brief because it's late and I don't know how much longer I can type. Anyway, I'm probably going to end up having some surgery (most likely MCP fusion) on in sometime in the next few months (the hand specialist I've been going to in addition to the ped rheumy wants to wait until I've been unable to use it for 18 months...I don't think so). I was diagnosed with HMS by that ped rheumy after having problems with my hips, foot, and knees (in addition to my thumb). Anyway, I think we have a lot in common...I'll try to figure out how to PM (private message) you and maybe we can talk sometime.

by **Hannah_Banana** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:06 pm

Hi Sarah

I wondered why i got an email saying my old account (HMSGirl14) got new pm.This is my new one

.I agree with you,we have alot in common.I have msn which is edited and thats also my email adress too if you want to contact me.If you do have to have surgery you can always contact me with any worries and i will help you out

.Im most likely going to have a fusion later on in life as the tendon wont hold for long.I've been in plaster since about june,in a brace for about a week before my thumb dislocated again.If you have the surgery i have,its absoloutly fine.It does sound scary but when you come round you have a little bit of pain (i had a nerve block to stop the pain).When the pain kicks in,it does hurt quite a bit so its best not use your hand but to rest it.Any questions about it would be welcomed

Take care

Hannah xx :bye:

xx

by **Blunderwoman** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 4:50 pm

Hi all

Just a quick update - on Tuesday Hannah managed to hit her thumb as she was about to take a shower and it moved position in the splint and would not move back. Took her to A&E where she was xrayed (again). Then the fun started as first it was thought by two doctors that she had dislocated the very top joint of her thumb but a third thought it was fractured!! Eventually after waiting for hours they tracked down her doctor who had carried out the surgery and he popped it back into place. She is going to have her stitches out tomorrow and a new cast so I'll report back on what happens then.

Take care

Pauline

by **nonyanomemory** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:45 am

Hi Pauline, a note to say, my thoughts are with you - it seems there is never any let up for you all at the moment.

nonya

by **Hannah_Banana** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:54 pm

Hi all

*The thumb update has arrived* lol

Well went to the hospital earlier than planned as they hadnt realised how long taking stitches out,a check up and a new cast would take.So we got to the hospital and was called into the plaster room and had my cast taken off.I was not prepared for what i saw next.The plaster(er) took all the dressings off and there it was,the cut.15 stitches in total.my face was a total picture when i saw it ( :shock:

to be precise). ///Surgeon// came in the plaster room to have a check up on the progress of it.He said it was looking fine and was healing well.He said would i like the stitches trimmed and because im a total wuss i said 'urrrrrm no' (he is a absoloutly fab guy) and started laughing and called me a chicken.Then i had another plasterer come over to trim the stitches and took 5 of them out and now i recommend to all my guy friend to never get into a big fight that will end up needing stitches as having them out is a weird/painful feeling.I have dissolvable stitches so i still have 10 left in my thumb area but i had the 5 taken out of my wrist.I have to go back in 3/4weeks for a checkup to see how its all healing.I have a diary on my website (on the WWW button) and 2 pictures and will write down everything to do with the operation so it can help anyone who's gonna have the same op(if a mod wants to change this last sentence,i dont mind

)

Take care all

Hannah xxx

by **LianneS** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:53 am

Sounds good though Hannah, sounds like Mr ///Surgeon// is happy with how its healing and that can only be a good thing...

Keep Smiling

Lianne

by **xblackrose831x** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:29 pm

Hey I'm new here but I read the whole thread. I'm glad that things are working out for you!

by **Blunderwoman** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:08 pm

Hi all

Guess what - last night Hannah's left thumb dislocated! Another trip to A&E in the middle of the night, more x-rays and just to top it all, shes now got her other hand in plaster as well!! Got home about 2.30 am, I thought we had seen the last of these A&E visits but since this thumb has gone several times already it looks like it might be heading the same way as the other one and might need surgery. We are not seeing her doctor until 30th January (the earliest date they can fit her in) so life is not going to be much fun for her for the next two weeks. Never mind it could be worse! The other thumb is doing ok but we wont know until the plaster comes off in February if it has worked.

Take care

Pauline

by **LianneS** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:32 pm

Sounds like you should set up home at the hospital Pauline!!

Sorry to hear that abut Hannah and hope she feels a bit better soon, must be so bad for her at the moment

Thinking of you both
Lianne

The Hypermobility Syndrome Association

The Procedure on my thumb/extensive info on thumbs

Hannah's thumb op

Who is online