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

[Charlie67mj]

My problems with my wrists started in 2006 when working on the dust carts collecting garbage I was eventually diagnosed with tfcc in both wrists in 2008 had my first op on my left wrist, Ulnar shortening then a year later to the day had my right wrist done too this helped for a while but the pain returned more across the whole of my wrist also now I have pain in my thumb and fingers on both hands my right thumb clicks and the joints swell it's very painful some of my fingers have pain only apart sorry from one finger which sometimes gets stuck a little in a bent position and also hurts , I haven't got arthritis so they say , my surgeon says he doesn't know what's wrong and to see him at the end of august because it might be worse by then and they might know then what is wrong this has been going on so long now (years ) I'm sick of being in pain and I think they are just mugging me off , has anyone out there had what I had done and went on to feel pain in the rest of wrist but more so fingers and thumbs as we'll later I  read up and they say wrist fusion is the answer but my surgeon won't here of it . Thankyou

[Charlie67mj]

My problems with my wrists started in 2006 when working on the dust carts collecting garbage I was eventually diagnosed with tfcc in both wrists in 2008 had my first op on my left wrist, Ulnar shortening then a year later to the day had my right wrist done too this helped for a while but the pain returned more across the whole of my wrist also now I have pain in my thumb and fingers on both hands my right thumb clicks and the joints swell it's very painful some of my fingers have pain only apart sorry from one finger which sometimes gets stuck a little in a bent position and also hurts , I haven't got arthritis so they say , my surgeon says he doesn't know what's wrong and to see him at the end of august because it might be worse by then and they might know then what is wrong this has been going on so long now (years ) I'm sick of being in pain and I think they are just mugging me off , has anyone out there had what I had done and went on to feel pain in the rest of wrist but more so fingers and thumbs as we'll later I  read up and they say wrist fusion is the answer but my surgeon won't here of it . Thankyou

[Phill614]

Ticoq, your question in the previous post "So now the question is when is my lifestyle  going to be better with a fused wrist with no pain then an moving wrist with pain". My answer is when you learn to adapt to whatever comes your way without making excuses or whining about your wrist. Yes my life is a hell of lot better without the extreme pain, I have learned to adapt to just about everything that has come my way. Sure I whine to myself at times about stuff that's wrist related but it's to me and not other people. Am I totally and completely pain free "NO" but it's not constant and the pain is only minor like having any other ache and pains that maybe weather related.  I played high intensity sports for 35 years so some of my aches and pains is from that. Ticoq, this is a major decision for you and you alone, as it was for me. I don't regret my decision one bit. I'm moving on and trying to help others as they need it.  Phill  

[ticoq]

thanks Phill,  I don't have the X-ray to show you but my doctor showed them to me and yes I'm bone on bone and I have some ligament damage as the results of a wrist fracture that happened playing hockey about 13 years ago.  The doctor said  that I could have other surgeries, for example 4 corner fusion, removing a row of bones etc... , but those surgeries would affect my grip and pulling strength and eventually would end up having total fusion anyway, so that's my only option.  If I can have the surgery in November, I would have a good 4 months to recover. I don't smoke so that will help the healing.  In the last week I started to have some pain again but a lot less than before the cortisone shot, at least I can sleep good without a brace. I tried working with a brace but  it doesn't  stop the pain.  So now the question is when is my lifestyle  going to be better with a fused wrist with no pain then an moving wrist with pain.  During last fishing season I could still function pretty good.  The pain was sometimes bad, depending on the weather and the movements I would do.  It would hurt a lot when I was relaxing in the evening and at night.  During the day I would  have sharp pain that would last about 10 seconds when I would do certain movements.  It is getting worst year after year.
Thanks again for the advice.  
Have a good day, Gaetan

[Phill614]

Hi Ticoq, about 10 years ago I helped out on a Cray boat for a week in Western Australia and I know the work that's required lifting and pulling pots from where their stacked to bring them in removing the crays and piling them up again. it's a lot of work from the time the boat leaves to when it docks. Okay first of all if your getting relief from cortisone shots i'd keep getting them, if your shot only last a week or so then its probably no use keep getting shots because its no relief for pain. Is you wrist bone on bone? do you have x-rays that you can post? If you click on my name Phill614 at the top it'll bring you to my medhelp page with the pictures, there is a couple I think one shows before the wrist was fused. If you have a bowling wrist brace I would ware it around for a few days and try to do everything you can wearing it maybe even try it working without taking it off.  I think the metal in the brace is angled just like the wrist will be fused. It could give you an idea what's it like not to bend your wrist and do your everyday stuff. You should ask your doctor for what might be good in your situation. As far as I'm concerned getting a wrist fusion should be your absolute last resort.  I can't remember what my grip strength was at the end of my physical therapy but is was somewhere in the 125-145 lb pulling a grip strength tester. I actually  carry heavy weight as long as it's hanging down kinda like carrying a 6 gallon can of gas at your side, I have no problems doing that. don't get me wrong I still have issues at times but not the pain I had before. Do you smoke? if you do I'd quit at least during the fusion and healing process because my doctor said it could affect the fusion taking. How much time off you plan to take if you did get your wrist fused? I was out 3 months before returning to work without restrictions. I'm not sure if any of this help but if you have any other questions i'll be glad to answer if I can. good luck  Phill

[ticoq]

Hello
I am 39 and I am considering going for total fusion on my wrist.  I am a lobster, herring & halibut fisherman and I am having a hard time to make a decision on going for the surgery because I am scared of the limitations I will have if I have the surgery.  I read all your comments and I see you can do pretty much everything you want including running a chain saw, which is encouraging me more.  I had a cortisone shot three weeks ago but it's only suppose to last three months.  It helped a lot with the pain.  I am considering going after the fishing seasons are done, do you have any suggestions for me?  In my jobs I do I need a lot of grip and pulling strength, my doctor said that I will have good grip strength, how is your grip and pulling strength since your surgery?
Thank-You