Experiences with Thumb Surgery for Arthritis

[hammer]

Hey Everyone
Given the advancing age of a good number of those of us who are lovers of all things Alembic, I’m wondering whether anyone here has experienced arthritis of the thumb and had a procedure referred to as Ligament Reconstruction and Tendon Interposition or LRTI. Looks like I’m going to need to have it done and I’m scheduled right now for late February.  It’s a pretty extensive procedure in which the damaged joint surfaces are removed and replaced with a cushion of tissue that keeps the bones separated. It involves removal of all or part of the trapezium bone in the wrist at the base of the thumb. There then going to take a nearby tendon detached at one end and pass it through a hole drilled in the thumb’s metacarpal bone. The remaining tendon is rolled and placed into the space where the bone was removed. Looks like it will be a pretty long recovery in order to get back full function and strength but at this point the pain is such that I’m finding it difficult to play for more than 30 minutes or so without a break. Twisting motions are the worse so I’m now enlisting our guitarist to turn the tuning keys whenever retuning is needed. At least I’m not yet at the point where I need someone to cut my food up for me.
I know I need to get it done, especially since it’s my left/ fretting hand and I’m left handed. I’m Interested in knowing more about what to expect during recovery from someone who has experienced the procedure as the surgeon hasn’t been very specific except for stating that full recovery could be between 6 weeks and 6 months.

[edwardofhuncote]

No, but OWWWW!

I will say, it's amazing what they can do these days. Had a front row seat lately. You'll be glad when it's done.   

[Spoilers!]

No experience here (yet), but best wishes for a quick and comfortable recovery!

[David Houck]

This year I too started experiencing thumb arthritis in my left, fingerboard, hand; so this thread will be of particular interest for me.

[hammer]

Using a splint right now, but while that reduces the "Oh crap that hurts" sharp pain I get when I do something stupid, it really hasnt helped to relieve the pain while playing.  The surgeon indicated that the surgery has a 96% success rate which is dang good as far as I am concerned.  My biggest questions regard the recovery time and the statement the surgeon made that regarding one of the drawbacks to the surgery. "In some people, it shortens the thumb a bit." My response, "Can you operationally define "a bit" for me? To which she replied, "a tad but not much more than that." Needless to say, I replied by scarastically by inquiring as to whether that was the same as "a smidge?"  Kind of got me to thinking about whether I want to get a second opinion from a surgeon who is a little more specific and sceintific about the terms he/she uses.

[dannobasso]

My friend had amazing results with the treatment of his arthritic hands. The first orthopedic experts he went to told him there was nothing they could do for his type of condition. He is a bassist and drummer. He used Ozone therapy. In his case Ozone injections into the affected areas. He no longer has the condition. We both go for Ozone infusion treatments 4x a year. He also had his sciatica treated by injection as well.(out patient) Another amazing result.
It might be something for anyone interested to check out.

[mavnet]

fwiw, there are surgeons who specialize in arm and hand surgery for musicians. The guy i went to for some serious wrist surgery has photos of a who's-who of people he's worked with on his walls. He had me playing again in days, and now i'm able to play for hours at a time after not being able to for more than 10 minutes at a time for a year. Alton Barron at https://www.orthomanhattan.com/. He's also got a practice out of Austin TX, and he's set up the Musician Treatment Foundation https://mtfusa.org/ to provide the same care for musicians who might otherwise not be able to afford the work. He's a really nice guy who I hope never to see professionally again but if I need work, i'll be back in a heartbeat. Might be worth a conversation, even if just to see if he's got recos for specialists who really get the unique medical challenges of musicians and are closer to your home.

[BeenDown139]

gettin a leg up on 68.  playing at least an hour a day, getting ready for another round of auditions.  got arthritus pretty much everwhere these days.  never realized the beating my left thumb takes while i'm playing till it started hurting full time.  she has to slide up and down the neck while opposing the push of all four of her lovely daughters. plus mute the strings.  and make a cameo on the B string just for laffs oncet in a while.  this one's been through the grinder.  literally.  lost the nail and must of the stuffings in a stoopid pedestal grinder accident in 2012.  got spider bit this summer by something vicious while getting the dog's toy out of a brick pile without my gloves on.   the arthritus is what's killing it, though.  it gets extra helpings of CBD at least 3 times a day. i gotta wonder how you guys that have been  slapping like marcus for 50 years are managing yer thumb health.