I have to decide between a Total Wrist Joint Replacement or a Fusion for severe Ra erosion

[Hermia]

.Can someone who has had the joint replaced, offer any advice , experience or recommendations please ?.

[Pands]

Hi can't offer any advice about a wrist replacement as such but my right wrist is self-fused and left partially self fused. I did go and see the surgeon about surgery - either fusion or wrist replacement - but he looked at my wrist and said as it was mostly fused already and that it would be better (for me) for it to continue fusing rather than having surgery and a metal bar inserted as a medical fusion. He said that then I could have a wrist replacement if I needed at a later date as they don't last forever. This was about 4 years ago.

I have to say that once the wrist was fused it made a massive difference to the pain I was experiencing and my wrist is a lot stronger if somewhat inflexible!

[Hermia in reply to Pands]

Thankyou very much Pands. To clarify then, are you saying that you have gained the vast improvement in both strength and pain relief from your bodies natural fusion and no surgical intervention? Could you confirm this and give me an approximate time frame for this to take place?

[Pands in reply to Hermia]

Yes the self-fused right wrist is strong and 99% pain free (I still have occasional twinges but nothing requiring painkillers). It is fixed and so - like in a medical fusion - has a very limited range of rotational and backwards/forwards movements but because of the angle it was fusing at, the surgeon recommended that if I could bear it I should let it completely fuse and that it would be much less painful once that happened (and I wouldn't have to go through surgery and recovery to fuse it in the pretty much the same position). He was right.

I think this took about a year altogether after I saw the surgeon. I wore a moulded splint from the hospital to help support my wrist when needed and had the usual painkillers etc

Essentially what had happened is that all the small bones in my wrist grew together. I have seen it on an x-ray and it is a lump of knotted bone in comparison to my other wrist which is not so severely affected (and the RA medications are working for me now).

I don't know how usual this is. I haven't met anyone else who didn't have to have the surgery because of the self-fusing. Interestingly my right foot is trying to do the same thing but that is another (painful) topic! Best wishes.

[Hermia in reply to Pands]

Thankyou for your info and time. I will bring up this scenario when I talk with my Orthopod - hopefully see if it mihjt apply to me. I do know the body can heal itself in many wondrous ways although I am now in my fifth year of this hand continually deteriorating anf making life harder and harder. I will keep in touch later.......

[Mikamarley in reply to Pands]

Hi. I have been informed that I have to have my wrist fused. Had a partial fusion two years ago and has been a total failure. Due the RA, my wrist on the thumb side, the bone has totally collapsed. He is not pro complete replacement. I do a lot of artwork and am now so confused. You also mentioned medication for RA. As I am in South Africa, I have yet to find a doctor who can recommend a good treatment for RA. I only have access to Natural Therapies, which do nothing. Mostly use anti-flammatory medication, as I am now in constant pain. Can you please advise. Would appreciate.

[Tinwoman2]

Hello Hermia, I have had both of my wrists fused. It took away the pain totally for my right arm, but my left one I've had some issues with & the original pain did not go away. I had a lot of damage before I had them done, perhaps I waited too long to do the left one.

I also have osteoporosis so they did what they could. I also have tendonitis in my left arm so that doesn't help.

Be sure after surgery to listen to your doctor & follow their recommendations. I tried using my left arm earlier than they wanted & that caused a screw to try & back out before the bone had fused to it. Then I had to wear a big splint for two extra months to make sure that the bone was totally fused. I am still glad that I did them though, because I don't have to wear my braces anymore, they are stronger, and the pain has lessened or gone away. I can do most everything that I did before-just at a little bit of a different angle.

Good luck in whatever choice you make,

Christine

[Hermia in reply to Tinwoman2]

Greetings Tinwoman2 - thankyou for replying. Maybe I have gone too long as well. I have Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid and osteoporosis which, all combined are slowly eroding my bones to scraps. They call it now Arthritis Mutilans (mutilated).After 3 hip replacements and 8 Weil osteotomies (8 toes) I thought I had had my share but the last 4 years have been the worst and most difficult with continual burning, tingling , pain & lack of function in my positive hand. I have to take the bull by the horns now but I am scared of taking the wrong direction in order to get some relief. I understand what you are saying about following the post-op instructions absolutely to the letter. This goes for all surgeries and my previous ops have been very successful because I have religeously carried them out so I would advise anyone to do so. Whatever a surgeon does can only be enhanced by the patient cooperation.

Thankyou to you for your input and all the best to you.

[brightangel]

Hi, sorry I have no advice.

Amazingly to me, my older sister has had it since 19 and is now 65 and hasn't had any replacements.

No quality of life, but no replacements.

Sorry I have nothing to offer, other than good vibes going your way ......

[PamalaJoy]

I have Keinbocks Disease in both wrists. I thought my only option was complete fusion, because when I was first Dx'd, fusion was the only option. 

I am anxious to discuss the possibility of replacement for one or both of them?

[Annie1020 in reply to PamalaJoy]

I too have been diagnosed with keinsbocks disease and have been given the option of wrist replacement or the top dead bones in the hand removed however, there are cysts all through the wrist as well. I'm curious to know anyone's outcome with wrist replacement.