Wrist replacement, anyone? | Arthritis Information

I have some pretty severe wrist damage and wrist replacement has been recommended to me by two different hand surgeons. I'm petrified of it. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with it or has considered the surgery?

Any feedback is appreciated, thank you.

I haven't had a wrist replacement, but from my reading on the matter, I would question the surgeons whether they are planning the custom wrist replacement or the "one-size fits all" technique. I'd go with the one that offers the custom wrist replacement.No info for you...

But I am sorry that you are looking at surgery. I hope others can give you come guidance...

IslandWoman - I did some googling - yikes, would prefer not to go this path, at least now. Remaining cautious, scared. Thank you for recommendation re: the custom job.

Rebecca - thank you for your thoughts. I hope your own recuperation is coming along and wish you the best for 100% successful outcome.

Hi Tara

I've had a wrist replacement. Its on my left non dominant side. I think its the only replacement I would say that I'm only about 75% satisfied with. The recovey took much longer than anticipated and its not 100% pain free. I don't think it is necessarily the wrist that is causing the pain but the fingers that cause pain. I do have permant liting restrictions of 5lbs but I can do things like turn the light switches on lamps which was something I have issues with on the fused wrist

feel free to ask me anything...I'll be glad to share more information

Buckeye...I was wondering if you have had any finger or knuckle replacements? I have a visit coming up with my hand specialist and definitely have some kind of repair/replacement work that should be done on my right hand. Any info would be helpful. Thanks.

Tara...Good luck! None of these decisions are easy ones!!

Sharon

the knuckles of my hands are still my own :) My surgeon is not fond of knuckle replacements...he feels they break too easily for most people..but in some cases you just have no choice..you have to have some functionality in the fingers. My joints tend to fuse..not dislocate so I dont have that issue to deal with. I will eventually need at least a couple but hope to put them off for several more yearsThank you Buckeye - I wasn't aware of the 5 pounds lifting restriction - that is a very low limitation, a grocery bag weighs more than that. You also have a fused wrist? My right wrist fused itself after my Darrach procedure.

Good luck to you Sharon.
my right wrist fused itself then I had my right elbow replaced...when we realized that the lack of rotation at the wrist was causing issues with the new elbow then we did the Darrach procedure on that wrist...

The weight restriction is basically due to the difficulty of revising a wrist...there just isn't a lot of bone to work with...so the last thing you want to do is to dislocate or break it.

However 7 months after I had the wrist replaced I took a fall (it was all the dog's fault-lol) and landed pretty heavily on the side of that wrist...the wrist handled it like a champ

Whew!!! Thank goodness it didn't crack or anything! So many surgeries for you, oye vei. Is this surgery very common? At what point do you know that you need it?wrist replacement? Its not very comon at all right now...a top wrist surgeon may only do several dozen a year.

It starts being discussed at the same point when a fusion starts to be a possibility. Pain, lack of function and motion are the usual causes. It is vey unusual for anyone to replace both wrists..they will generally fuse a dominant hand for strength and replace the non dominant han for movement. Surgeons should carefully choose patients. You need to have adequate bone stock to support the prothesis..remember they are working with little bones, minimal soft tissue invovlement..the tendons and ligaments need to be intact for best results, and there should be no dislocation. And frankly they prefer older patients who won't abuse the implant but of course special circumstances apply

If a wrist replacement fails the next step is a fusion using donor bone or bone from the hip plus plates as the patient will no longer have enough of their own bone to use

Thanks for the info. I was in the dark about this procedure.This information is so helpful since we are hearing from personal experiences. I guess there are no easy answers as to whether to have an fusion or joint replacement. Plus, everyone's case is so different. I have had one thumb fused and think I will do the other. I'm hoping to improve the looks of my thumb as well as relieve some of the discomfort. As for finger joint replacement.....that would be quite a decision. Will know more after meeting with the hand surgeon in mid-May. I sure wish you good luck, Buckeye!

Sharon

I do know one person with a knuckle replacement and she reports that it was very successful and very helpful thing to have done.How long ago did you have your replacement? All of my literature show about 20 lbs.my replacement was in Nov 2007 and still going strongA neighbor who has had RA for many, many years had wrist surgery (I believe it was fused?). He said he wished he had never had it done since the wrist doesn't move correctly.
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