Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Hand surgery

craftyKelly
craftyKelly
Hello
I have to apologize first I am typing this with one hand, so please excuse any errors. I just had surgery on my left index finger and palm. I have to start with I had this surgery two years ago to fix what was thought to be trigger finger. After that surgery I was never able to straighten my finger. It caused Pain daily. I am left handed and I have not been able to hold a pencil correctly since. My handwriting hasn't been the same. Being a teacher I need my hand functioning correctly. I have known for quite some time that I needed to have the surgery redone. LOng story short, I found a new doc and had the surgery this last Thursday. The weird thing is it seems my RA has taken a back seat. I don't know if it's the pain meds for my hand or maybe the humira is actually working. I just hoPe it continues to be nice to me. We had to change the bandage last night and I cried. I was really shocked at how it looks. I was not expecting 30 stitches!! I am almost out of my pain meds and it scares me to think I nOw have to start using this hand! Ouch! I hoPe to find all of you well. Please understand if I am not posting too much.
craftyKelly
craftyKelly
Oh geez! I forgot to put what they found!! The whole point of my post. Ok, it turned out it wasn't trigger finger again. It was actually RA causing my finger not to straighten. He cleaned it out and snipped each side of my knuckle to allow movement. Which is 6 stitches on each Side of my knuckle. Doc doesn't think I will ever get complete movement back but should be better than it was.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Wishes for speedy healing! And if you are hurting, ask for more meds. You will heal faster / have less tress if you aren't hurting.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sorry to hear you have been through this and RA was the culprit. I have a trigger finger, but I can open it most of the time with the other hand. I was a teacher but I am on disability. I can still print ok, but handwriting looks like chicken scritch scratch.

From here on in it should be improving is my hope for you. Prayers and God Bless
deleted_user
deleted_user
I hope you feel better soon. I think the brain tends to focus itself on the most severe pain your body is feeling. If this pain is eminating from your finger, then you RA pain would take a back seat. Plus I am sure your pain meds are helping with the RA pain too? I have some nasty deformities in both hands from RA and I have lost a lot of strength and muscle mass too.

Why not talk to the doc about occupational theraphy? This will help you use the bad hand in the most effective manner possible while making it less painful for you?
deleted_user
deleted_user
You are going to need some physical therapy and if the doc wants you to go, GO. It will hurt but you will move your finger again. With a handle like CraftKelly I can only imagine what is going through your head. If you haven't had much experience with surgury, let me tell you it can take a long time, like 9 months to a year, before you find the nerves have regenerated and you get nice and flexible so don't panic. And stuff like Maderma for scars works. As soon as you are allowed, start using it. And remember, you have nine other digits that still want to play. Good luck and have patience.
Lifeis2short
Lifeis2short
Kelly,
I hope that this surgery will help you be able to use that hand! It must really hurt! Feel better soon!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Kelly
Wishing you a speedy recovery too!
I've just had had surgery as well, left thumb (pins removed) and right wrist (2 bones removed and reshaping of the ulna) index and middle right fingers (swan neck)
I've had several other RA surgeries as well and my RA always settles after the operation because I have awesome pain meds AND you are resting for weeks and not doing your normal day to day stuff.
The usual aches and pains come back I'm afraid but in the mean time it's like a mini holiday with lots of naps - lol
Kate
deleted_user
deleted_user
Heal well my dear!
I had an awesome OT who gave me this "gel pad" to put over my scar on my hand after surgery to help soften it. This was 11 years ago, after a cat bite and I almost lost my finger. My Worker's COmp doc told me I would never have full range of motion (not an option for my line of work).
Ihad 15% when I first started OT and full range 12 weeks later!
I would start out with my arm/hand in this warm "blower" that circulate corn material around my hand, to warm me up. I had putty, things that looked like exercisers for guitarists (my brother is one, that the only reason I know) only not as tough. I only took that gel off to shower.
My OT said she wanted to be a fly on the wall when I went back to the surgeon (an A$$) when I showed him I had full range an 85% strength.
It's only now, with my MC joints' synovitis, that I have the range and strength compromised.
Definitely ask for OT and Make sure you keep up on pain management. You won't be able to recover as quickly without them!
deleted_user
deleted_user
My heart goes out to you Kelly .... do hope that the pain starts to ease and you feel more comfortable soon ... big hug