OK, just a centimeter or so of the ulnar bone, but :eek::eek::eek:
And possibly take some tendon from my index finger to replace the function of the one that allowed me to raise my little finger. I have to think about that one and ask a lot of questions - it’s annoying to not be able to lift that (it impairs typing for one thing) but I’m not a concert pianist, so that’s not essential.
Apparently there’s a bone spur that’s been sawing away at the finger tendons. It’s done with the one to my little finger, now it’s eyeing the next one over, so it’s gotta go. Gonna ask the doctor why they don’t just trim the bone spur… Apparently the tendon that was recently damanged is basically shredded and can’t be repaired. I’d prefer that to NOT happen to my other fingers, which is a possibility.
Also gotta ask under what circumstances he will do the tendon transfer, as I (hopefully) won’t be in any shape to give a yay-or-nay when he makes the decision.
Any ideas on pain level and recovery time?
I know something’s gotta be done, and fairly promptly, but they’ve scheduled me for next Tuesday and my first reaction to anything this outta-the-blue is panic and run like hell.
I’m a firm believer in surgery. I would say have it, but talk to the doc now to find out under what circumstances the tendon transfer will happen. Better to be done with a smaller procedure now than face a B.A. one in a few years.
It’s right there in the place they are cutting so that should be option 1.
The problem is some people don’t have one. There’s a similar tendon in the heel. But again, some people don’t have one. The next best, I think, is one of the tendons that lifts a “ring” toe.
Note that the latter options require a second incision elsewhere. But I’d go with that over messing with my finger tendons any day of the century.
When I was a Shriner for a while, a few guys got surgery for carpal tunnel. Afterward, their friends kidded about “going out for a hand job.” You might hear some of that first-hand after your surgery. Just a heads-up.
One of the last Orthopedic surgeons who treated me for back issues told me “you have a 50% chance that a $50,000 operation will make you 50% better for 5 years.”
I declined, but I totally understood what was involved risk wise from that. Did the doctor give you any prognosis along those lines? Especially 5 years from now?
If it will save the use of your hand, then yes, you should do it. I completely agree, however, that you should understand things like:
-chances of short-term success
-chances of long-term success
-chances of failure (and what failure looks like)
-experience of this surgeon with this procedure
-what other options you have, and what success rates they have
It sounds like the bone spur should go no matter what…
That seems to be a drastic surgery for a bone spur. I had several bone spurs in my heel. Excruciating when you first wake up and put those feet on the floor.
I can’t imagine the pain in your hand《ouch!》.
I elected to not have surgery on my feet.
I did a series of shots that hurt like hell, and rehab. I have no pain now (well no pain in my heels)
Get a second opinion.
I’m going to see if I can get in to see someone tomorrow if at all possible.
The bone spur you describe in your feet is quite different - you presumably have / had plantar fasciitis (something I know well). Bone spurs are associated but they are not sure whether the spurs cause the fasciitis or the other way around! If you are ever bothered again, there are lots of conservative things you can do including icing the area, and wearing a foot split at night to keep the ankle flexed and the fascia stretched. That last made a HUGE difference to me. Not very comfy but much less painful than the steroid shots (done that too).
All in all, I understand the urgency for the surgery. This went from nothing whatsoever to a shredded tendon in 4 weeks. I’d like to preserve the functionality of the remaining fingers!!
But hell, I know nothing about this and my knee-jerk reaction is OH HELLS NO.
Oh, man. Get that second opinion.
I know you can have spurs pretty much anywhere. But yours seem fairly devastating to your ability to use your hands, that is real scary. I hope you do well. I feel ya! ( well not really) but I will send good vibes!
My brother and my friend both had surgeries on their hip, as a result of a “bone spur” sawing through a tendon. Owwwwwch! Actually, my friend had it done on each side of her hip (not at the same time).
Of the 3 surgeries, one seems to be fixed, one seems to be better but not completely, and one seems just as bad.
However, this is their HIP and one can imagine how much worse it is trying to get your hip joint to heal versus a hand. Not to diminish your situation whatsoever but I’d take getting this sort of surgery in my hand any day over trying to get that shit healed in your hip!
I guess I don’t really have anything to add…but I like to talk about my friends’ surgeries, cuz they talk to me about it all the time
Can they splint it or immobilize it somehow to give you a few more days to do research? Otherwise I think you need to spend tomorrow talking to the doctor’s office, and the next few days doing as much research as you can, online or over the phone. You can’t afford any more shredding.
Just a note-make sure you are seeing a board certified hand surgeon and not a general orthopedist. You want somebody with a fellowship purely in hands after their orthopedic training.
Good point, and a quick Google says we’re good: “double board certified by both the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons as well as the American Society for Surgery of the Hand”
Also of interest, he went to the same undergrad college as my oldest brother… though a decade or two later.
Also ask about how long it would take afterwards before you’re able to use your hand normally, and what you’ll need to do to take care of it during the recovery period. If it turns out that you’re going to be essentially without the use of a hand for some weeks, it’s helpful to be able to plan for it.
[spoiler]A woman goes to the doctor, he takes one look at her & says she’s too fat & that he’s scheduling her for lap band surgery for the following week.
She responds, “Gee doc, are you sure? I’d like to get a second opinion.”
To which the doctor replies, “You’re ugly, too.”
One never asks for a second opinion in our family, because you know what’s coming. :o[/spoiler]
OT suggests it’ll be roughly 3 months before I’m feeling back to normal. Hopefully that’s “back to before this all started” normal…
I’ll be in the cast for a few weeks (not sure how long; I’m assuming 4). After that, I may be in a splint, or I may simply need to restrict use of the hand outside of my OT sessions.
I’ve been looking into coping mechanisms.
[ul]
[li]Ordered some plastic cast covers (so I can shower) last night[/li][li]Just ordered a cheap hoodie that I don’t mind chopping the arm off of (it’s what we did when my son had a nasty fracture as a preschooler). [/li][li]Ordered a bra-fastening aid[/li][li]Am trying to get a stretch bra from Decent Exposures (they normally have a multiweek turnaround but am hoping they have one in stock).[/li][li]Already have a mouse I can use left-handed[/li][li]Am trying to force myself to type with just my index finger on the right hand; hopefully that will be available to use! (the others will likely be splinted to restrict movement). [/li][/ul]
Any other suggestions?
I first learned of such devices ages ago from a Civil War re-enactor who was missing an arm in real life. It seems such things have been around since the 1860s or earlier to make some one-handed eating easier. During several bouts in the course of my life with one arm in a sling or cast I have found it a LOVELY thing to have around.
