The Procedure on my thumb/extensive info on thumbs

[nonyanomemory]

You take care too Hannah.

A poem from me to you:-

You Can Be Whatever You Want To Be
There is inside you
all of the potential
to be whatever you want to be,
all of the energy
to do whatever you want to do.


Imagine yourself as you would like to be,
doing what you want to do,
and each day, take one step
towards your dream.


And though at times it may seem too
difficult to continue,
hold on to your dream.


One morning you will awake to find
that you are the person you dreamed of,
doing what you wanted to do,
simply because you had the courage
to believe in your potential
and to hold on to your dream.


~ Donna Levine ~

love nonya

[Hannah_Banana]

awwwwwwwww nonya that was so sweet.thank you so so so much,that really made me smile

I'd like to send u a big thank you hug for always helping me,my mum and others out on the board nonya.You always make people smile when they are down and are just plain Fantastic

Thank You Nonya

Night all

xoxoxo Hannah oxoxox

[Retro]

I'll second that!

[Hannah_Banana]

Hi all

Im not sure if anyone can help me but im worried about my thumb.

This morning i took my splint off and my hand was the size of a football it really worried me.Then when i had a closer look there are these small air bubbly spots around the bottom end of the bigger scar and the whole big scar is more redder than usual.Im really worried about the swelling as its gone down to what it was but its still pretty swollen and the redness of the scar is lightening but not alot,does anyone have any advice on what i should do?

xox Hannah xox

[nonyanomemory]

Hannah, I am not medically trained but get someone who is to look at it. A) it is not going to help your stress levels to worry and B) no one will mind if you get it checked out. It sounds as though you should to be on the safe side. Let us know won't you. Take care Nonyaxx

[Hannah_Banana]

Hi All

An update:

I now have no casts on at all.I dont wear my right split (The operated on thumb)anymore unless i feel like i need to.My left thumb was examined by ///Surgeon// and he said that it is very loose so its highly likely that im going to have the same operation on that thumb.He's not sure is the operation on my right thumb is a success yet so he's going to see me in april.Me and mum are going to see prof.grahamme in a few weeks so ///Surgeon// said to see what he thinks about my thumb and what to do about it .The right thumb is holding up very well,im starting to put bio-oil on the bigger scar as it looks horrible but im not putting anything on the smaller scar as it looks ok.My best friend made me laugh by saying 'if anyone asks what you've done if they see the smaller scar,say you got stabbed,then they'd leave you alone ) so im going to try that out one day when im in a bad mood.

Physio havent been any help,we went on monday but only to be told that they cancelled it! so we went to the hospital for nothing but they reschueled it to tomorrow. nice of them to let us know....but will update either tomorrow or when i next go to the hospital about thumb or thumbs.

Take care all

xox Hannah xox

[nonyanomemory]

Good luck at physio tomorrow Hannah. nonyax

[Hannah_Banana]

Hi all

An Update:

Well went for physio on thursday and my thumbs have been constantly dislocating ever since.They've both been going approx. 10 times a day but mum puts them back in for me.I think it might be the physio thats caused the trouble.Im thinking about getting my thumbs pinned as i cant go on like this. ///Surgeon// doesnt want to do anything till we've seen prof. grahamme so ///Surgeon// can get his opinion.The physio kind of upset me a bit as she ran her fingers along the smaller scar and then said 'urgh..nasty' she said it because when you feel the little scar theres loads of little bumps underneath it from where the tendon was cut.i said to mum a while ago that i wasnt going to cover my scars but after that comment im starting to hide it with long sleeved t-shirts and wrist warmers i got from claires accessories.I've completely given up on my splints,Even with them on my thumbs still dislocate!Mum's going to take me to see our GP in the morning to see what he thinks we should do.

When i've seen the GP i will report back on here with what he's said

Take care all

Xo Hannah oX

[bobo_n]

Hi Hannah,
I've been reading your story and just wanted to let you know how strong and brave i think that you are.
Sorry to hear that it's not all going according to plan at the moment.
Don't be ashamed of any part of your body though cause it's what is inside that counts and you seem to be an amazing person.
Let us know what your GP has said.
Take care,
Jo.

[Hannah_Banana]

Hi all

Jo-Thanks for your reply,it made me smile as i had a bit of bad news this morning.I will post a thread about it in diagnosis & doctors.

My GP said that he's not sure if my thumbs actually dislocate but he did notice that all my muscles in my arms go into spasms when my thumbs 'hang' off my hands so he gave me these tablets for epilepsy that will ease the spasm's,Im sure theres a thread on here about those tablets.He said i should definetly see ///Surgeon// after i've seen prof. grahamme.

Take care all

Xo Hannah oX

[Blunderwoman]

Hi all

Just an update - we went to the hospital yesterday and saw the doctor that did Hannah's thumb surgery. He said that her op was not 100% successful but neither was it a complete failure and the outcome was that we left without another appointment because of being referred to Dr Hakim. Hannah's latest physio also discharged her for the same reason. We dont know yet when Hannah will start to attend the Adolescent Unit so feel a bit "in limbo" at the moment.

Take care

Pauline

[bendytwistything]

I dislocate my thumbs at the bottom bit (the first carpometacarpal joint)a lot particularly the left which is a big problem as my entire right arm has to be immobalised, which makes life really difficult. not only that but its extremely painful. After being in plaster with my thumbs (yet again) i saw my consultant and he said that his only option was to fuse it.

I was wondering if anyone has had this done/heard about it/have had similar joints fused and could offer me advice as i have to make my decision within a couple of weeks. I already have a fair idea of what i want to do but thought it would be wise to look into it a bit.

Katy

[Kel]

My right thumb has gradually dislocated over a number of years. I've had one op, which involved them moving the bones into the correct positions and tightening up the ligaments around the thumb to hold it in place. I'm guessing that this won't do you much good as it sounds like you have the sudden and catastophic dislocations.

My thumb has gone again and I was offered a procedure that might be of interest to you.

[Graphic surgery description follows - do not read on if likely to be upset]

As the Rheumy described it, they move the bones into your thumb back into the right positions. They then cut part of a tendon in your wrist, drill a hole in the lower bone of the thumb and loop the tendon through the hole. They then reattach the tendon into your wrist and once healed, it holds your thumb in place like an elastic band. It's sort of like internal strapping.

I decided not to go for it as it sounded a bit drastic compared to the amount of inconvenience I get at the moment. But it might be helpful for you. I don't know what the technical term for it is, though.

Bad news: the Rheumy warned me that even if I had this done, my thumb joint would inevitably work loose again. He reckoned this op would give my thumb stability for 5-10 years (so probably less in your case?). He told me that I would eventually have to get my thumb pinned rigid in order to retain any meaningful function.

Hope that helps.

[bendytwistything]

Just had the verdict on my thumb op and it looks like i'm having pretty much the same one as you hannah (assuming its the cmc joint)

However the surgeon is worried about moving me while under anasthetic because of the level of instability in my joints. Has anyone had problems with this, if so how was it dealt with?

Input would be greatly apprieciated folks, thanks

[paw]

Just had the verdict on my thumb op and it looks like i'm having pretty much the same one as you hannah (assuming its the cmc joint)

However the surgeon is worried about moving me while under anasthetic because of the level of instability in my joints. Has anyone had problems with this, if so how was it dealt with?

Input would be greatly apprieciated folks, thanks

It seems like the safest method to transfer you while under anesthesia would be a sheet under you that several people on each side take hold of and slide you from a cot to the table they will do the operation on. That is how they do it here anyway. They call that a draw sheet. They don't have to tug on your body at all this way. (I am not a doctor!)

While I was getting my shoulder fixed, the surgeon was amazed at how torn up it was (and how well I managed to deal with it). He touched my elbow and my shoulder dislocated. They did not believe me before that.

Best of luck with your surgery and healing. ((hugs))