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

[jay1900]

finally my cast is off yay...xrays look great consultant very pleased told me i had been a good girl lol...nice to be able to wash properly...pain is ok just quite stiff, using a stress ball to keep the fingers supple seems to help a lot, scar area still tender but to be expected..have started using the bio oil for the scar but to be honest i would rather be pretty much pain free with a big scar than the pain i was in and no scar its a small price to pay,,,so overall doing weel have last check up in 4 weeks so hopefully all well and the driving can begin again :) good luck to all either just had or due to have surgery..and ty phil for starting this forum 4 years ago x

[gsal]

Great news Phil, Congratulations! Keep up the Great work and the fitness quest. I have posted a few pictures to my page for everyone to see, more to come. My fused wrist is 8 months healed in October. I have resumed playing golf and using the hand as much as possible, after the 8 month checkup, hopefully will resume gym workouts. Other than "tennis Elbow" symptoms,, everything seems to be as expected. Unfortunately, my other wrist is clicking and painful now, mainly from overuse so we will see where that goes.

[Phill614]

Thanks for sharing, keep everyone updated on your progress and anything that you encounter along the way that may help others please post on this thread.  This Nov. 3rd will be 4 years since my Total Wrist Fusion and when I started this thread.  During this time I gained about 40 lbs and became very inactive, i kinda got cought up in the poor me.  Last month I started working with light weights, walking 3-6 miles a day, eating better (no junk food) and basically exercising. I've lost about 20 lbs and feel better, I think i've worked my out of a really long funk.  Still receiving email updates from this thread from people like you telling there story and what they went through will continue to help others.  Good luck  Phill

[jay1900]

Im now at 5.5 weeks post op for my total fusion the severe pain i was experiencing after a couple weeks is now a lot better my hand looks like i have a really bad skin issue all peeling off lol but i know thats from the swelling i had so not worried index finger is the stiffest in the mornings but ok once i get it going. Im counting down the last 5 days to getting my cast removed im itching like a mad woman gotta love the old knitting needle, i have been really careful not to use my hand for anything except the exercises so all good in that respect just hoping the x-rays are positive i know theres a long way to go 1 step at a time, good luck to everyone else just had recent surgery

[Phill614]

Hi Blondie, damn you've been through a lot. My bone graph also came from the hip, it felt like I had a really bad charlie horse that lasted 2 weeks.  Do not attempt to use your hand for ANYTHING, let the fusion take hold.  The bone graph is like setting a broken bone, the graph is placed between spaces of bones and by it be imobilized the bone and graph become one.  Take care and please keep everyone updated. and thanks for sharing.  Phill

[Blondie302002]

I had a total wrist fusion 6 days ago.  November 2012 I fell broke both bones in my arm and shattered several bones in my wrist.  First surgery internal and external fixators. Removed after 3 months. Bones in my wrist began collapsing. 2nd surgery removed external fixator and several screws.  Done a bone graft to keep bones from collapsing.  Kpin attempted to stabilize wrist.  3rd surgery removed plate and screws no hardware left.  Extreme pain in my wrist at any attempt to use. Dr informed me I had no joints left. It was bone on bone

My bone graft for fusion was taken from my hip.  Makes it difficult to walk.  My hand did not swell as bad as it did on the first or second surgeries.  Ice helps tremendously with swelling and throbbing.  Hopefully this works.  Will keep all updated