I would really appreciate your advice on something. As many of you know I had MCP replacement in April this year. Things went wrong and I got a bad infection. I spent a total of thirteen days in hospital on strong antibiotics in an attempt to clear the infection. In one week I went to surgery three times to have the wound washed out and, on the last visit they removed the implants as the infection was so deep seated.
I went to see my surgeon today and, because he was away, I saw another one. She was lovely and suggested that they review me again in three months time with a view to putting a new set of implants back in. Obviously, they can't promise that it will work this time either and that I might go full circle.
I don't know what to do. At the moment I have spacers in the bits where the implants should be, I have much less pain than before, but my hand is very stiff (scar tissue) and I can't bend my index finder to make a fist. I still go to physio for this.
What would you do?
They have also put me on the waiting list to have my left hand middle finger fixed. This is a slightly different procedure which invoves the tendon, synovectomy (I think), Apart from this my hands are OK!! This is scheduled for the 6th October. I am being seen as a day case. I'm not too worried about having this done though, my main worries are my MCP's.
I really value your opinion?
Maybe try talking with your regular doctor before you go back in 3 months and see what your regular doctor thinks. I would also ask how they are going to prevent infection if you decided to have the surgery again. Maybe also going to get a second opinion. If you do go for the surgery they may be also able to clean up the scar tissue also so you have more movement in your hand.
I hope everything works out for you! And the best of luck!
Well, I guess when you go back for the review - I'd have to ask them what the up side would be and the down side. What would happen if nothing is done at all? It's a hard decision and you have to do what is right for you. Explain your fears to the doc and then see if the pros out way the cons....
That's a toughie! Good Luck and take care.
Hi Bookworm, Good to see you over here. Sorry to hear you are having so much troubles - it sounds horrible. I don't know what a MCP is. Please explain. Stay in touch - I would really like to know how you are doing. LOVE - RoxI think Trixie66's answer is a really good one. Maybe they could do something pro-active to fight an infection before there is one. It would be great to have repaired hands wouldn't?what kinda implants are we talking about here?
Susan
Sorry, I should have been clearer I had MCP inplants (knuckles )index and middle fingers right hand.I have spacers where the implants should be so that they can slot the implants back in when they decide. But they won't leave the spacers in indefinitely as they see it as an unfinished procedure. Maybe I should suggest that I come off some of my meds especially the MTX before, so that my immune system not suppressed as much.When I had carpal tunnel surgery, my doctor told me I couldn't be on mtx and I had to go off it.
Susan
Hey Bookworm. I saw your post here and am very interested. I was DXed with JRA at 18 months old and my hands have gotten very bad. I have been very interested in learning all I can about finger joint/knuckle replacement surgery, that was one of my biggest reasons for joining this board in the first place. I am glad that I found someone on here who has had some experience with finger surgery. You see, I am a guitarist, and the very limited movement in my fingers naturally makes it difficult to play, and it seems to get a little worse as the years go by. So I was wondering, other than the infection, have you had any other problems? And, if your next procedures go through, and infection isn't an issue, will there be any type of "restrictions" with what you can do with your hands? I ask this because I had my elbows replaced and I have a restriction now saying I can't lift more than 15 pounds with each arm, or about 30 pounds total. Was just wondering if there was any type of similar restrictions with fingers. Also, was wondering how durable finger replacements are, and if they reduce either strength or finger dexterity? Figured that beings the tendons are involved, that how strong your "grip" is, or how well and quickly you can actually move your fingers might be affected. Some of my finger joints, like the middle joints on the ring fingers of both hands, and the middle finger of my left hand, are actually completely locked up, do you know if they can do anything about those, or is it a lost cause. And, like I said before, I am a musician, mostly guitarist, so I would really like to have some work done if I can. However, if it will greatly reduce my finger strength, or if it will make my fingers so fragile that playing guitar will just mess them up, then it may not be worth it. I definitely don't want to do anything that will cause me to not be able to play guitar anymore AT ALL! I have done a little research, and know that they have been replacing the knuckles for many years now, but the middle joints are more of a recent development, and the last I heard, they couldn't replace those last little joints at the end of your fingers at all. I know I have asked a lot of questions, but this is a subject I really would like to learn more about. Any info or advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I hope to hear more from you and would like any updates you would be willing to give me about your progress.
Thank you and good luck on your upcoming procedures,
Jesse