Hi everyone,

I had my appointment this morning with the surgeon re my hands. My rheummy and OT were also there which was really helpful. Also made me feel a lot more relaxed.

The surgeon had a good look at each of the fingers and thumbs and did a lot of rather painful bending at various joints. The result is that he's wanting to operate on the small finger of my right hand initially as it's very considerably bent into a swan neck position. Apparently this is affecting the main tendon into the hand and once the finger has been straightened, will relieve tension on the tendon allowing the remaining fingers to bend properly and therefore, delay further deformity (hopefully).

He said that there was considerable damage at both thumbs but that he wouldn't operate on those until some time in the future.

I asked about recovery times and he mentioned a week of complete non-use of the right hand and then six weeks with a splint / dressing thing on the finger alone. So I suppose I'd be able to use the rest of the hand in some small way. I'm now on the waiting list so we'll wait and see. I'm also getting splints I'll need to wear daily on all the other fingers on both hands to prevent them bending in the wrong direction. i already wear splints on my thumbs so I should look a right sight with all the bits of plastic!

I'm absolutely rubbish at appointments because I'm not one of those lucky people who can think on their feet. I listen to everything I'm told and then it takes me awhile to absorb it all and think of all the questions I should have asked! I agreed to the surgery this morning but now I'm not 100% sure if I really want it. Before I went in I sort of had it in my head that I'd only go for surgery if it would prevent further deterioration ... not to correct or make better the current situation (primarily because of the recovery time ... just me looking after my two children). Although it's hopeful that the straightened finger will help the function of the other three, the surgeon made it clear it was by no means guaranteed. Also, if I'm under for one finger, why can't we just get the thumbs over and done with at the same time?

Anyway, I suppose we'll just have to wait and see!

Joanna

By the way: Total appointment time: 11 minutes!

Hi Joanna,

Glad your appointment went well, but it's a difficult decision to make isn't it?
I am supposed to have joints replaced in two fingers on my right hand but would be in plaster for 6 weeks and will lose some of the function. We agreed I could wait until I can't cope with the pain any more but really there is no way I can cope without my right hand for all that time!
In an ideal world we would be able to sit back and be waited on but with husbands and children to look after it's not easy!
I hope you manage to come to a decision that's right for you.

Love, Doreen xx