Total Wrist Fusion

[Phill614]

well today is the big day, it's 10:50am central time and i have to be at the surgery center by 1pm.  Today i'm having a total fusion of my dominate left hand, i have looked at all options and this is in my best option if i want to get on with my life as normal as possible if that makes any sense.  I've had three operations on my left hand apr 30, 2008, feb. 13 2009 and june 6 2009.  the orginal problem for the first surgery was a small tear in the TFCC ligament, that it.  i had extensive physical therapy after each surgery with only temporary relief and sometimes no relief of pain.  I went through the process to change doctors through workers comp. which went ok.  My new doctor reviewed my previous records and more checks and test and we (Doc. and I)  determined the best option due to the type of work i do and the very active life style i have is to have a TOTAL WRIST FUSION.  I plan keep everyone updated as often as possible, i want others to know what i'm going through and hopefully inform them what they will be going through.  Oh by the way the reason for the total wirist fusion is my cartlidge is totally destroyed, i have a legal matter going on so i can't mention the cause of the destroyed cartlidge.  Talk to ya'll later  Phill

[Alacat]

Hi, I have been reading these questions/answers for a while now since I'm going in for my Total Wrist Fusion April 18, 2016. I was in a car accident in 2014 and broke my Radius and have a plate and screws in it.  I also have a non-union of my Ulna. Yep, its my dominant hand too. Long story short I have been wearing a brace since my cast came off. I have a torn tendon by my thumb area and I have a torn ligament in a "rare" odd ,area on the upper part of my wrist.  Did PT for 5 months after my surgery (after the cast came off) and the injections lasted for about 2 weeks.  Sometimes I feel that I can go on with the pain but the last few days have been really bad.  This is all "Auto" related so I feel like I am "under the gun" so to speak to have surgery.  I also have a complete tear of my rotator cuff, which also needs surgery.  I thought I would have the wrist done first than have my shoulder done in the fall.  I'm scared about everyday things like dressing, cooking, cleaning and driving. My husband is here to help me and so are the girls, but I 've been independent my whole life.  Any suggestions or helpful comments would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance, Alacat

[Alacat]

Oh forgot to tell you that they have to remove my plate first before they can even do my fusion. I will have a local and the bone graft will be coming from my radius.  Thanks, Alacat

[Linkar66]

I had a rt TWF 1/13 & it has been the best thing. After recovery (about 6 wks), I was (& have been) pain free for the first time in 3 yrs. My wrist was shattered in a fall & after 3 surgeries, including a 7 hr one to remove all shattered bone & release nerve compression, & still having lots of pain, TWF was proposed. It sounded scary at first but it was really the only thing left to offer me. Recovery was not so easy or as fast as I had hoped (hate casts, removable or not!) but it slowly happened. Of course I'm rt-handed but adapting to using my lt was not so difficult, considering I'd had to do it with the first 3 surgeries. Now it's a 'no brainer'. I'm very happy being pain free & wish this surgery had been done much sooner.  If this surgery is suggested to you, seriously think about doing it. It might be the answer to losing your pain, as it was mine.

[Tbopp24]

I just had my TWF on 1/8/16. Before this surgery I had 3 previous surgeries due to an injury that caused extensive damage.  I wasn't sure about the surgery at first but decided this was the last resort to get rid of the pain.  I'm still in my cast and have been experiencing quite a bit of pain in the thumb area. Hopefully this goes away soon.  I can move my fingers pretty good and I'm able to make a fist.  I also experienced pain in the middle finger knuckle area.  That seems to be the only knuckle still swollen the most.  Thanks for your update, makes me feel more at ease post-op.

Teresa

[aeiou13]

Thank you so much for starting this so many years ago. I have read and referred to it often over the past several years. I am a 44-yr old female with a long and blessed life rich with sports and activities. I started swimming and ballet at 4, piano in first grade, then tennis, golf, basketball, volleyball throughout my childhood and added flag football and rugby in college. For the last 14 years I have taught high school science, which of course involves lots of writing, typing, grading,etc. there is also a family history of arthritis, but it never came to mind until I turned 40!
In September 2011 I tripped and fell, catching myself of course with my hands. Soon after a little pain started in my right (dominant) wrist. The pain continued, so I finally made myself go to the doctor. He said my ulna was longer than normal and had poked a hole in the cartilage in my wrist. He did a cortisone shot (for a couple of appts), and after no relief, recommended an ulnar shortening. I had this done February 1, 2012. [This was about the time I discovered this site!] Surgery and healing were successful; however, I kept hitting the plate (&7 screws) on things, being right-handed (and forgetful) so August 17 I had the plate & screws removed. Again, success.  However, within about 6 months I started getting the pain again, but closer to the radius bone. Another trip to my dr where an X-ray showed narrowing of the joint and less and less cartilage. I tried cortisone shots but the period of relief was shorter and shorter with each one. Finally, January 7, 2015 I had a Proximal Row Carpectomy. After surgery my dr said the cartilage was completely gone and that the 3 bones practically popped out - he didn't even have to break them into smaller pieces to remove them. The hope was that the cartilage that had been above would shift downward and, though my wrist movement would be limited, that the pain would subside and my wrist would be alright. Sadly, after only about 7 months the pain returned and was worse than ever. More X-rays showed bone on bone, in my wrist and in my hand. Now our last resort - which we were trying so hard to avoid - was the only option.  On January 15 this year I had total wrist fusion (plate & 10 screws). I'm home with the post-op wrapping, keeping ice on it almost 24/7 and taking pain meds every 4 hrs. A
I wanted to mention that I'm part of quite an athletic family and over the holidays, even though I had not been using my right hand at all (and wore a  carpal tunnel brace to remind me to not use it for a couple months), I still participated in a bowling trip and a golfing event at a place called Top Golf, not on a golf course. Bowling I used my left (still broke 100!), golfing I just took my right hand off the club before impact and follow through. I still had a blast both occasions. Like you've said before, it's about your mindset and attitude.
Thank you so much, again, for starting this post so that we can have a common resource for our uncommon ailments! Hope you, and others in this community, are doing well!!

[Fud123]

Hi my name is Doug or you can call me Fud.  I am considering a TWF, I am located in Northern Michigan and looking for any input on where or who I should consider performing the procedure.  I have a messed up wrist and it appears after reading many of the post related to wrist fusions that there may be different plates to consider and such.  I don,t know if any ortho will have the options which appear to be out there.  Freaked out!  Any input or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you in advance for any consideration.  Doug

[RRTraveler]

I have rheumatoid arthritis and a couple months ago I ruptured a tendon in my right thumb and was referred by my rheumatologist to a hand surgeon. For more than a year now I have been having a lot of pain in my wrists. The more work I did the more they hurt. Before seeing the hand surgeon I did some research regarding wrist replacement and wrist fusion. Because of the RA my wrists had basically fused on their own and I had little movement, but a lot of pain. When I saw the surgeon we discussed my life style and we decided on the fusion. Because the left wrist was always more painful than the right one, we decided to do the left wrist first, leaving the right wrist and ruptured tendon for a later date. On June 19th I had my left wrist fused. We hit the hospital at 5:30 a.m. and were done and out of there before noon. I have a metal strap in my arm that runs from the top of the wrist down to the hand joint at the middle finger. The doctor used osteoamp to fill in the areas between the bones after he ground off what cartilage was still left. My arm was splinted and 1 1/2 weeks later I got the splint off, the stitches out and started physical therapy. It has now been over 9 weeks since the surgery and I have happy with the results. It has been slow, but steady. My main complaint is the slow pace of the recovery of the rotation of the lower arm. I can lift a lot of weight and have gone back to my weight exercising, but some of it is difficult because I can only rotate my arm about 2/3 of the way around. I cannot move it palm up. My therapist has said that will return because the surgery I had done will not affect the rotation of the arm. He says I just need to keep twisting the wrist with my other hand to stretch the membrane that has shrunk.
Have you or anyone else had this problem? If so can you recommend a solution for me.

[Phill614]

Good morning Millmooo, I'm sorry to hear of the severe pain you're having to endure. I too have an ankle that is on the border of being fused or to go through and ankle replacement, but for now I'm living and dealing with with minor pain at times.  Now to the wrists, If you want to know what it's like to have a fused wrist I'd say get a bowling brace or some kind of brace that's not to bulky which has a slight angle to it which the doctor will fuse like that.  Ware it for a few days and get to know what will be things will really tough to do, for instance wiping your bottom, yes that right it may sound gross or sick but let me tell you with my Total Wrist Fusion (TWF) I cannot do that with my fused wrist/hand, I must use the other hand because it bends.  I'm not suggesting the wrist replacement I just want you to think about what you cannot do with 2 fused wrist. I cannot imagine both of my wrists being fused but I suppose if there really was no other choice that's what I would do, and learn to live life the best I could as you already know by your ankle joint replacement.  Millmooo please keep this Total Wrist Fusion blog updated so others will now what your going through and what suggestions you may for them. Thanks for you post. regards  Phill

[Millmooo]

Hi, I'm 43 & I have RA, I had an ankle replacement a year and a half ago and it's completely changed my life!
Shortly after my recovery from my ankle op, I started to get severe pain in my hands, both of my wrists I understand have started to fuse themselves, I have no wrist movement and have adapted to this. I guess you get used to living with pain, anyway, I was given the option of a referral for wrist replacements, which I understand have a lifespan which I hope to outlive or fusion which I was advised would take away the pain and last for life, my decision was to opt for fusion as I have to go through this twice. I am due my first surgery on the 27/03.
I wanted to say thanks to everyone that has posted on here, for taking the time to write about their experiences, it helps someone like me understand a little about what recovery etc is going to be like.

[Phill614]

Hi everyone, back in Nov. 2014 I posted that it's been 5 years since my TWF, well that was wrong it's been 7 years (going by the first day I started this thread).  I'm grateful so many people has found the thread useful and hope many more do.  If anyone has questions I can answer i'll do my best.  Hope to hear back from others that have their TWF and how they've been able to move on with their life with this in my opinion a very traumatic event.  Also it is important that we hear back from those that are going through the healing from a resent TWF.   Phill

[Phill614]

Good morning Ladywolfe, it's been 2 1/2 months now since your total wrist fusion, how has it been?  Are you able to use your hand yet? If you have the time please let the group know your progress and anything that you felt could be helpful to the next person that may have to have a Total Wrist Fusion.

[Dixfiles]

Sounds like we are married to the same man! I am little over month, plate and 8 screws. I awoke after surgery screaming in pain, nerve block and Demerol helped!  I am off heavy pain pills now , Aleve is my friend at night!
My little finger is swollen and painful! When stitches were removed I was told not to lift anything heavier than a teacup which I thought strange because I couldn't lift a napkin, my socks seem too heavy . first thing I learned was put your bad arm in first. And elastic is your friend I am most grateful this was not in my dominant hand, yes I can turn the key in car, can,t open or close the door though!
Best of luck,
We,ll be zipping before we know it

[B23scott]

Hello, Brian here. I'm going to have a total wrist fusion on1/21/15. Back in June I had a scapholunate ligament tear off my scaphoid and had tfcc debrievment. I am not the best speller so bare with me. I opted for the total fusion because I developed bad arthritis in my wrist in a matter of months and don't want to go threw 4-8 surgeries. So a few days ago I decided that I didn't want to risk a parcel fusion not working and since I can barley move my wrist any way. Phill thanks for starting this thread and I will do my best to post my progress in hopes all goes well and maybe save someone else from going threw a bunch of operations. Brian.  

[ladywolfe]

on Dec 15 2014 I had my fusion done and it not been bad so far I stay on top of my pain pills every 4 hours I also did not do the pain block had the tube in for draining the blood dr took it out the next day been sleeping alot my room mate that I live with ended up in the hosp on tues so have had every lit help and getting things and I am lefted handed at this  

[Phill614]

Hi Sue, thanks for checking out this Total Wrist Fusion (TWF) thread.  Sue I can say without any hesitation if it wasn't for the TWF I would still be in unbearable pain, Nov. 3rd was 5 years since my surgery.  Is everything perfect with my wrist? absolutely not but I'm able to deal with everyday life better that I did before. Do I still have pain? Yes but NOTHING like what I had to bare before the TWF. Sue, If you read all the way through this thread you'll see a lot of people had a lot of question and concerns just like you.  I'm left handed and had my left hand fused, I've been able to continue my career as a aircraft mechanic which requires using my hands, sure there's a few thing I can't do but I do my very best without making excuses. Sure I went through a period of poor me and i had to get over it.  Sue I have several wooded acres that I work nearly everyday when not at my paying job. I operate chainsaws, brush cutters, weed eaters you name it I try to get it done. Do I have any regrets having my wrist fused? NO not one bit. Sue, I can say if you smoke it can hamper the fusion process and cause the fusion not to take (so I was told), I quit smoking before a short time before my fusion.  I did nothing during the days, weeks and months during my recovery that I wasn't suppose to that could cause a problem with the healing.  If the doctor said don't do certain things I didn't until I got the all clear.  If you reply back to this thread with some more specific questions I'll do my best to answer them.  There are plenty of people on this thread that could also answer questions you might have. When you ask your questions on this thread you could get answers back from anyone that has participated in this thread.  Good luck and hope to hear how your doing.   Phill  

[Phill614]

Drew what was the outcome after going back to the doctor? Sorry I didn't reply earlier, for some reason this site isn't sending me email alerts for this thread

[osmossis]

i had my surgery in July soft cast for 2 weeks, Hard cast for 8 Weeks, then a brace from now on for 6 months healing is going well. i have the same pain when i try to turn my wrist palm up started physio last week they said it is normal as you haven't used this motion in quite some time will be tight but will go away. as for the crunching not sure. Did you have a proximal row carpectomy at the same time. also what type of plate did they use I have heard from surgeon some are better then others

[tjdrew]

Hi all - I am 4 weeks post surgery from a total wrist fusion on my right wrist.  I'm right handed.  I injured it about 20 yrs ago and had 3 surgeries ending with a partial fusion at the time.  It had become painful enough all the time that a total fusion seemed to be the best course of action.  Hopefully the last course of action.  So now I am past the surgical pain and working on stretching the ligaments to form a fist.  I'm getting there.  I am back to wearing a brace almost 24 hours a day though because I have now been getting a pain right across the inside of my wrist at the base.  So right across the bottom of my hand.  I have been carefully doing my stretches to try to get my palm facing up with my arm extended and I was almost there and now I can hardly turn it.  When I try even with the brace on I hear and feel an awful cracking sound.  It is really slowing me down.  I saw my Dr at 3 weeks post surgery and I don't see him again for another 2 weeks.  Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this pain and cracking?  I'm worried I have just totally messed up the surgery and gone through all this for nothing.

[Phill614]

The last few weeks I've been experiencing pain in my wrist joint in the area that was fused also in my middle knuckle with pulsating pain on a regular basis. My middle knuckle is nearly twice the size and has been that way since my Fusion. I also have pain just up the forearm close to the area of the plate, i don't know if it's related but it's always there. I'm only bringing this up because I started this thread back in 09 and felt any changes going on with my wrist should be known. I still do everything I wish to do but my wrist always reminds me there's issues that will at some point that needs to be addressed. I haven't gone back to my wrist doctor yet because i'm not sure he's the doctor I want to return to and whether I'm ready to go through more surgeries. Good luck to all and if you have anything to post about your Total Wrist Fusion that will help others please do.  Oh one more thing, I've started bowling again and i'm holding a mid 170's average. The way my wrist was fused is perfect for holding my fingertip bowling ball. Take care Phill

[Lira_MHModerator]

Hi - unfortunately, you're not able to upload pictures from your iOS devices.  You'll have to use a computer to do so.  So sorry for the inconvenience!

[Phill614]

Hi Blondie, for whatever reason I never got an alert to my email for your comment about posting pictures. Did you ever figure out how to download pictures? I hope your doing well and thank you for continuing to update the Total Wrist Fusion thread, This thread has been very helpful so many people because of regular update from people that are in chronic pain and need answers or people that have gone through the TWF and can give helpful answer to those in pain and what to expect.  Phill  

[Blondie302002]

I have tried posting pictures but it will not let me post from iOS device. I will try it again

[Blondie302002]

I went to the doctor for a checkup!  Good news is the screw has settled. There is no shadowing under it. My fusion has healed nicely. I have done limited pt but for some reason the therapists don't seem to understand taking it easy. My doctor thinks they seem push to much. So I have another eight weeks to just try and use it. I can not pick up much weight at this point. Will see how it progresses. My index finger and thumb do not bend so making a fist with a good grip is impossible.  I am assuming the fixator caused some damage there. All in all my wrist pain is much better than before the surgery. My knuckle area is very very tender. Bumping it causes pain!  I have limitations but I just work thru trying to adjust things as I go. I have long hair. It's almost impossible to manage I just do what I can with it. I am assuming that in eight weeks I will get my release so we shall see what happens

[Blondie302002]

No I don't play golf. I tried swinging a club years before the surgery. I was horrible at it. Everyone got a big laugh. My son gave up trying to teach me!  

[JD1963]

Hey Phill!

I finally got a hold of the prospective TWF patient, he is looking forward to your thread!

Thanks for all your great information on this subject!  JD1963