I'll try to be succinct.

I had a nasty fall on my wrist while snowboarding in January. Pain in snuffbox AND ulnar side of wrist didn't go away after 2 weeks, saw doctor. CT scan revealed a nondisplaced scaphoid fracture. Doc dismissed ulnar pain. X-rays showed rotation of wrist characteristic of instability. Casting for 8 weeks resulted in nonunion.

Referral to hand surgeon. MRI found torn scapholunate ligament. Surgeon #1 wanted to pin the scaphoid and attempt ligament repair. Surgeon #2 suggested pinning the scaphoid and dealing with the ligament later out of fear that doing both would jeopardize the scaphoid's precious blood supply. Decided on Doc #2 on basis of 2 very strong recs - one from a former patient, other from a Doctor. After surgery and 4 months of casting I had a good scaphoid bone (7/3).

I have been doing rehab for past three weeks and an appointment on 8/3 to determine the extent of instability and which (if any) surgery to have next. I have occassional clicking/distinctive pain around the scaphoid/lunate, and rather persistent pain where my unla and wrist meet (Hitting a single golf ball has made things much worse. Turns from soreness to sharp pain...much worse than anything scaphoid area gives me. Area was ocassionally sore during my 6 months casted...never so for scaphoid area).

So now I have all sorts of fun decisions to make. Trust the Doctor's ability to repair ligament (despite quite a bit of evidence that says the result is usually lackluster, especially more than 4 weeks post-trauma. [Yet both suggested it when I saw them 12 weeks post?]), or insist on either proximal row carpectomy or 4 corner fusion (Which?)...all the while ignoring the ulnar side pain they dismiss.

FWIW, I have an appointment with Doc #1 to get his opinion about what to do next.

Any advice?

My first doctor was incompetent, missed the tear, and forfeited my window for optimal surgical results. And I feel like the second is more interested in filling his bank account than fixing my wrist (Scaphoid surgery->ligament surgery (fail)-> 4 corner or capectomy [when either should have been the initial course of action].

This shit has seriously cramped my lifestyle (active rock climber, snowboarder, biker...) and already cost me 19k AFTER insurance (not bad insurance at that). I appreciate any input.

 

damn man, sounds just like when i broke my wrist from boarding. i fractured my scaphoid and had a pin inserted. wrist is feeling fine now - albeit a lil weak at times (especially when it gets cold) but not a lot of pain or weakness anymore. sometimes i can do pushups!

i would almost say continue rehab and it may get better. its really only been 4 months post surgery and your body man need time to repair all the damage (i.e., fracture, surgery, ligament tear, etc).

good luck man, i wish you all the best!!! i know how hard this can be.. especially when its your 'strong' hand.. writing even gets tough.

 

after reading your post i was thinking you were a surgeon

 

sounds to me like you should go consult with some new doctors...

 

19K after insurance? Holy crap man you need knew insurance. Id go to another doc....sounds a bit rediculous to me but i had something similar happen to my back. Third time was a charm for me. (since then the guy has also repaired my shoulder and knee). GL