Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...

Subject: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 07:01 PM

I was first diagnosed with thumb base arthritis about 20 years ago, wore a splint for a couple weeks and all was well until...

...the last year has taken a toll on the thumb and over the last month or so I have had to do alot of construction work on my house and so...

...it's now bone on bone in the left hand thumb...

I am back to the splint but the xrays showed "nuthin", as in "zip" in the way of any cartledge left in the left one and the right ain't too far behind...

I will be getting another cortozone shot in a couple weeks but even if I get some relief I'll be heading for surgery...

Any other folks had the surgery??? Other comments...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: bobad
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 07:13 PM

Is the procedure you will undergo similar to the one depicted in this video Thumb Arthroplasty?

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 07:20 PM

Yup...

B:~(

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: bobad
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 07:26 PM

From what I've found on the web the procedure is safe, with a low complication rate. Its success has long-term durability as measured by patient satisfaction, functional outcome measures, range of motion, and strength.

Good luck with it and hopefully you'll be back pickin' and strummin' before long and without pain.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: GUEST,songbob
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 07:27 PM

I have had the surgery described, and am probably a good candidate. Both thumbs are more or less shot, thought I haven't had a doctor look at the right one. He diagnosed the left one, and when the right one got as painful, in just the same way, I didn't have to even go to him.

There are times I can feel the right thumb bones grind against each other. I know I'll want the fix someday, though I do worry about two things:

Cost -- how much will it cost me?

Duration -- how log will the fix last, before the wearing action by the bone ends does away with the artificial pad?

It does make banjo playing a bit tricky, I'll say.

Bob

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 08:49 PM

"I have had the surgery described, and am probably a good candidate."

???

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 09:07 PM

Yeah, I was a tad confused about that as well... But I assumed that songbob kinda didn't write it as he meant it meaning, "he's is a candidate for it"... Not exact quotes...

No matter...

It's a bummer... Had a room full of people last weekend expecting a lot more than what I was able to do... Three songs and I was done...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: GUEST,999
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 09:43 PM

Songbob, I looked around for prices but couldn't find any. Best bet would be to phone around to various places that offer that surgery and get some idea that way.

On the bright side, Bobster, you will likely be able to watch the surgery.

I certainly understand the pains associated with joints that have no buffering left between the bones. Couple things might help:

Ice on the area for 5-15 minutes at a time, and immobilize the joint at night when you sleep.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 10:05 PM

Got splint, brucie...

Got ice... Got hot wax dip thing... I can tolerate and control the pain... Can't fix without better surgeon than me... Plus, didn't like the looks of it...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 04:07 PM

Refresh...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 08:27 AM

Had an arthroplasty done on my lefthand thumb almost 7 years ago and it's been a great sucess. Prior to the procedure I had all but given up playing my instruments after the 3rd cortisone shot stopped working. I was back playing shortly after the operation and within a
about 6 months, with a couple of months of therapy (most of which you can do on your own but I think you need a good physcical therapist to get you started down the right path) things were almost back to normal. Nowadays I can play as long as I like and I'm probably playing (guitar and mandolin) better than ever. I gotta say though I've lost some clamping power in my lefthand and big barre chords are difficult but there are ways around that. Good luck, Bobert.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 09:12 AM

That's encouraging, gil... I'm probably headed for both thumbs as there's not much cartledge in the right one either but I haven't had my 1st cortisone shot yet so maybe I'll get thru this summer and fall before the operation...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Deckman
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 09:27 AM

I'm also a potential candidate. "Bride Judy" had the surgery perhaps 6 or 7 years ago. At that time, I thought it was pretty brutual and she vowed to never do anything like that again. She was/is an artist and didn't pick up her tools for perhaps a year. But now as I look at the amazing drawing she does ... I'm thinking that the surgery WAS a success.

I guess the best suggestion I have is to carefully research the history of the surgeon and the clinic. bob(deckman)nelson

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 09:54 AM

Yeah, bob-d, I ain't lettin' just any bozo cut on me...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bert
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 11:09 AM

Get yourself a Hurdy Gurdy to play for a while until you are all well again.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: GUEST,999
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 11:38 AM

Hell, he ain't gettin' his ear drums pierced, Bert.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 11:46 AM

Bert, he already gets in enough trouble with the P-Vine! I don't know if it's possible to get "blues notes" on a sausage grinder. I'm guessing you'd have to use your feet, too, and then you'd have more problems.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 12:58 PM

I got it figured out, ya'll... When ever I get it fixed I'll just play lap guitar... Ain't no biggie... I've played it that way before and it can be done without the thumb...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 06:36 PM

Well, saw the orthopedic doctor today who took one look at the x-ray and said, "Cortozone ain't gonna cut it here"... Heck, I kinda knew that so...

... March 14th I get the worst thumb operated on...

Gonna have to rig up some kind slide that fits on a cast and paly lap guitar...

Oh well, it will be fixed...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: maeve
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 06:44 PM

Bring along a slide to the surgery and have the doc set it into the cast in the right position.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 06:54 PM

LOL. maeve...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 07:15 PM

I got cartlidge to donate if that's doable. Wish I could. That ain't my problem. I got a ganglion that cuts the blood flow on the wrist. 20 minutes tops and I am done. Can't even practice. Gave it all up. Not that I could play anything well but Rhan in the first place.

I do SO hope that things work out. It's a bitch when you get cut like that. I never was much of a musio so I just feel for people like you who are actually talented and get this kinda mess-up.

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 07:18 PM

excellent suggestion, maeve!

best wishes for the operation, Bobert

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Feb 12 - 07:44 PM

Got the best guy in Charlotte... He's going to do a fine job...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 12:31 AM

Hi Bobert, had the operation 2010, but I went for getting the joint fixed in position with a screw. The surgeon recommended that because of my job, heavy engineering, fitting and machining, incidently, I reckon that was the cause. I worked for years in a machine shop, swinging on chuck keys and spanners on big machines, the chuck key bar passed under that joint on my left hand, and the pressure seemed to distort the CMC joint. The surgeon told me the complaint is not uncommon among surgeons because using forceps puts pressure on that joint.
The surgery is a complete success, I play bagpipes, whistle and a bit of guitar and banjo, and I have complete mobility in that thumb, can even stretch to touch the little finger on the same hand, and is pain free even after a hard day on the tools.
Check out how long the operation using the tendon lasts under heavy use, my surgeon said "fine for knitting, not for fitting"

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 10:41 AM

Well, I donno??? I do a of of pounding... I'll call him and see what he has to say...

B~

Subject: RE: Geetarist's Nightmare: Bone on bone...
From: Stringsinger
Date: 28 Feb 12 - 12:00 PM

I don't know much about this but I have had cramping problems, nerve aches, particularly at the base of the thumb and what seemed to help me was diet and exercise such as walking.

I suspect that misuse of the hand in dealing with machinery, gardening or any effort
requiring the excess labor of the hands might be detrimental.

But the operation sounds like the best way to deal with problem.