... going to be as happy with your hand as I am with mine. I find that I still have to massage and stretch my hand in the mornings to keep from getting tight. The thumb stretching really makes a difference in flexibility. ... (6 replies)
... going to be as happy with your hand as I am with mine. I find that I still have to massage and stretch my hand in the mornings to keep from getting tight. The thumb stretching really makes a difference in flexibility. ... (6 replies)
... Hi Karen,
I hope all went well with your surgery. You will not be loving the first few days, but it does get better! I'm 5 weeks out tomorrow, and I can touch all my fingers, including the pinky, rotate my thumb, and almost adduct to my index finger. Of course, YMMV, but just remember everyone's healing arc is different.
Be really good to yourself the first week...I... (5 replies)
... Finally, if anyone has had LRTI surgery two or more years ago, do let me know if you are glad you had the surgery. Has your tendon "anchovy" compressed causing your thumb to shorten? ... (7 replies)
... I have used the gel patches and they work really well. For my thumb surgery the hand therapist even supplied them. That being said, the incisions from my thumb surgery never were very raised or bumpy. I think that having the glue used leads to a better scar. ... (5 replies)
... Mal220, as the others have said, it's important to not wait too long because if the joint becomes too damaged, the LRTI surgery may not be an option, or at best, won't give you the results you hoped for. ... (5 replies)
... me, even at the youngish age of 36, it was when my surgeon told me that if I waited to long to do it the arthritis would probably progress to a point where even surgery might not help that much. ... (5 replies)
... I'm 5 week post surgery and if I had to do it again, I would have not had the surgery. My mom didn't and her thumb pain went away,but her hands did get deformed. My left had pain has gone away. ... (6 replies)
... Oooh, I love lavender--I will definitely have to look for that California Baby cream! (5 replies)
... Karen, I have two pieces of silicone patches that I use while sleeping for 3 months---this is an EXCELLENT treatment--it flattens and diminishes the scars. My OT gave them to me and assured me when I was skeptical. I wash them off every morning.
The one on my thumb I keep on with a neoprene splint (after the hard splint was removed) and the one on my forearm I tape on with... (5 replies)
... Everyone around here is in the middle of their recoveries, but it will be nice having another surgery buddy for my next hand in July. You will be recovering right before me. ... (35 replies)
... then my right hand. I was very hard for me to cope. I read posts here how other women managed, back in 2011, when I had my first surgery on my left hand, I decided that I was going to get through it all by not being a nag, a helpless wimp or an unhappy bunny! ... (15 replies)
... Cbl, I think your feelings are valid, most of us were freaked out by the extensive nature and recovery time of this surgery (or at least I was.) But each of us came up against the brick wall that this disease will only progress--guaranteed--and when conservative methods such as splints, shots or meds just don't cut it anymore, well ...we did it and got through it and got the... (7 replies)
... Agreed this surgery is frightening, but your thumb will not get any better, in actual fact it will get worse. I am sorry to tell you this. The longer you wait the harder it is, in every way. ... (7 replies)
... I am slated for an LRTI July 2013. My osteoarthritis is only in my right basal thumb joint. ... (1 replies)
... nerals for quite a while and it is really easy to apply with a brush. You might want to try it or try using a sponge if you are using a liquid. By a week after surgery you will be able to hold something light like a small brush between your fingers for a minute or two, so you will be able to manage. ... (35 replies)
... Karen, I bought a hair dryer stand and ended up not using it--I discovered that I could maneuver enough with my available fingers on the operative hand to blow dry my bangs, then I just scrunched the rest of my hair to make it wavy and let it air dry. So the dryer stand sits half assembled and never used. I don't normally wear makeup, so I can't give any advice on that,... (35 replies)
... Hi d j,
Wonderful to read how well you are doing now. Congrats.
The muscles in your arm & upper arm need to be massaged. I suggest you use an oil & massage the muscles yourself, daily, especially after a shower.
It's a great feeling!
Continue to progress & good luck to you.
Haydena. (27 replies)
... weeks post surgery update. ... (27 replies)
... t hand too, and I still can't write yet because I can't grip a pen. So it's slow going for sure, my biggest accomplishment so far has been being able to touch my thumb to my index finger lol. But I am sticking with it. ... (4 replies)
