Hope that this guy has a solution for you

The hand is an amazing and complex feat of engineering. I went to a hand specialist a few weeks ago re: "clicking thumb" and he explained the whole problem; gave it a shot of cortisone; and it's better now. Also good that I understand the basis of my problem.

 

Good luck Patty! I missed the above about the shot Holy cow girl, I can sympathize with that - I am a huge baby about needles.

 

Good luck Patty. Even after surgury I still have problems with my hand! I hope everything goes well for you. :thumbsup:

 

 

I sure got an unexpected diagnosis! Dr. Harness says it's not a ganglion cyst, it's RA and that my thumb tendon has ruptured. He wanted to do surgery this Thursday taking tendon from a finger and kind of doing a cut and paste job for the thumb tendon. I'd be put out for outpatient surgery and have a splint for two weeks, and then rehab. But what about Spring Fling?? What about my Photoshop class?

I just can't go for this so quickly and it doesn't matter if I put it off some. I asked for an MRI even though he and his colleague Dr. agree on what it is. I have the MRI next week, and if it's as they say, I'll get the surgery right after Spring Fling. I've never had surgery before.

 

Sorry to hear, Patty.

That was not expected I'm sure. Sounds like uncomfortable surgery.

PM sent!

 

I was so glad that Jerry went with me to the appointment. He heard it first hand, too.

 

Specific loss of tendon or muscle substance can arise from rheumatologic causes, including gout and pseudogout. The tendons are usually destroyed by pannus formation, chronic inflammatory processes, uric acid, or calcium pyrophosphate depositions. These factors cause enough destruction of tendon substance that tendon transfers are required to replace lost function. Direct suture repair is not usually possible. Rheumatoid arthritis may be responsible for tendon rupture of any of the hand and wrist tendons, but it commonly leads to rupture of extensor tendons of the fingers or thumb.<---Bingo.

 

Patty,
They've been in my head three times doing sinus 'stuff'.
If they go into my knee again I'm going to start charging a visitors fee.
surgery is no big deal.
it is however annoying and a general inconvenience.
yep it will hurt for a while but since you've got RA your already familiar with the level of pain to expect.
In fact it might be less than your RA when it acts up.

The good news is your hand isn't vital to positioning our body so you'll be able to sleep without issue.
but milk it and tell jerry he needs to nurse you back to health, feed and care for you.
and you'll need to keep your hand dry so he'll probably have to bathe you too.

 

Patty, so sorry to read this. I wish you well.