Has anyone had an elbow replacement? I think my arm is going out. I can no longer straighten it out. I'm concerned it will be at a bent angle for the rest of my life or even get worse. If anyone out there has had this procedure please let me know how long it took to recover and was there a lot of pain after the surgery and what type of material did they use for the elbow. I'm having numbness in my pinky finger and the one next to it. RA doc said it's the nerves going down the forearm.
Thanks.
I did however, break my left elbow in 2006. I had a rod, wires and screws put in it to fix the break. My elbow actually extends better now, than before I broke it, but it is the most painful of my elbows when I have a lot of inflammation in the elbow.
I hope you do not need replacement.
Do keep us posted.
hi Lady bug
I have a matched set of replaced elbows. Lack of function is the reason for the replacements. Lack of function is the reason to have ebow replacements...and I'm talking basic functions...not being able to get a fork to your mouth, to brush your hair, to take care of personal hygiene. As long as you have about 90 degrees of motion you are ok.
I had my left one done when it locked into a palms down position. I could still bend it to a certain degree but the arm wasn't functional. The right I had lost half the flexion in about 3 months. My joints are very good at auto fusing.
The ulnar nerve is moved during the surgery so the numbnesss woud be fixed ( in the meantime try sleeping with a towel wrapped around your elbow it helps reieve the pressure). Active recovery takes about 3-5 months. I had a cast, then a full arm brace for about 3 months. The pain wasn't too bad. I know have full flexion and contraction as we as functional rotation. The implants are generally made of nickel or cobat and titanium. I do have a lifetime lifting limit of about 5lbs as well as restrictions against repetitive motion. Revision of replaced elbows are very difficult
I feel for ya lady bug. I've had very little elbow problems through this whole thing but I've had some pain here lately due to certain exercises I've been doing lately. I can't imagine having serious elbow problems. Hope you won't have to end up having replacements like Buck has. Hi everyone this is my first time here i only joined today,never new this site was here.My elbow's have been bent for some time now but are still functional thank goodness, although my specialist recons they are like swiss cheese all hole's.Im glad to hear ur elbow's turned out good buck as i will eventually have to have mine done.Im going into hospital on the 14th may to have my first shoulder replacement as they have been playing up so much more than my elbow's at the moment.Have any of you had shoulders done.I wish you all the best of luck with your elbows I hope they turn out great for u.
Hi Ladybug, I have the same numbness in my pinky, ring and middle fingers and sometimes all 5, especially at night when sleeping, it wakes me up, it is also happening in my feet but my GP says it is from all the swelling trapping the nerves so she upped my Endep at night and morning and this has helped, maybe you could try that? Regards Janie. HI Allybird, sorry to hear of your probs, best of luck with the shoulder surgery, I hope you have a quick recovery. All the best, Janie.[QUOTE=Ally Bird.]Hi everyone this is my first time here i only joined today,never new this site was here.My elbow's have been bent for some time now but are still functional thank goodness, although my specialist recons they are like swiss cheese all hole's.Im glad to hear ur elbow's turned out good buck as i will eventually have to have mine done.Im going into hospital on the 14th may to have my first shoulder replacement as they have been playing up so much more than my elbow's at the moment.Have any of you had shoulders done.I wish you all the best of luck with your elbows I hope they turn out great for u.[/QUOTE]
Hi Ally Bird
I've had bot my shoulders done too..I have rotater cuff issues which limit my ROM but other than that I have no problems with them
[QUOTE=buckeye][QUOTE=Ally Bird.]Hi everyone this is my first time here i only joined today,never new this site was here.My elbow's have been bent for some time now but are still functional thank goodness, although my specialist recons they are like swiss cheese all hole's.Im glad to hear ur elbow's turned out good buck as i will eventually have to have mine done.Im going into hospital on the 14th may to have my first shoulder replacement as they have been playing up so much more than my elbow's at the moment.Have any of you had shoulders done.I wish you all the best of luck with your elbows I hope they turn out great for u.[/QUOTE]
Hi Ally Bird
I've had bot my shoulders done too..I have rotater cuff issues which limit my ROM but other than that I have no problems with them
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I dont know wot rotater cuff is I havent heard of it,but im happy to hear ur shoulders are good.Im really very frightened I dont know wot to expect i just hope i have as much function after the op as i have now even tho its excruciating to move them.the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and other soft tissue that surround the shoulder and allow it to move. Mine are irrepairably torn so I can't reach above shoulder height even with the replacements..but that awful awfu pre op surgery is gone and I did gain range of motion[QUOTE=buckeye]the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and other soft tissue that surround the shoulder and allow it to move. Mine are irrepairably torn so I can't reach above shoulder height even with the replacements..but that awful awfu pre op surgery is gone and I did gain range of motion[/QUOTE]
Im glad to hear it buckeye,my surgen showed me 2 differant types of replacements,1 if all ur tendons and muscle area is ok and another if its not.Seem i may be the second option so mabe its simmilar to yours.Its all new to me so please forgive me if im reepeting myself.
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