Knuckle replacement

I have swollen and painful knuckles on both hands. A friend of a friend has had hers replaced by titanium plates, with great success. She is now waiting to have her second hand done. Has anyone had this done or know anything about it?

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I met two women last July who had both struggled with RD for many years and both had their knuckles replaced to very good effect. It means they lack flexibility a bit but they were both very satisfied with their replacements overall. My knuckles were very bad for a while but MTX finally got the better of the inflammation and the physio helped me too. My hands still ache a bit and are a bit weak and I have one permanently hard, raised knuckle but I think this is probably just the legacy of previous flares and some wear and tear. I don't have knuckle pain anymore. Hope this helps.

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Thank you for your reply Twitchtoes,. I have never heard of this before. When my hands were looked at I was told that an operation could make it worse!

[jojo_71]

hi

I had my knuckles replaced years ago.. late 90's into early 2000's . I was quite young at time!! I was quite worried about it, but my hands looked and felt so much better, that after that I had no worries having op's - my right hand knuckles replacement was my first ever - I've just had my 13th late last year.

mine were silicone replacements - I believe, but its so long - and they are still great.

the physio is quite tough, but the more you do and push the better the result will be in long run.

one little bit of advice.. if you need wrist surgery too, I would get that done first, as on right hand I had wrist op after knuckles and they aren't as quite as good as my left hand were they did wrist first. maybe being in plaster meant I didn't move hand as much and they stiffened up.

anyway.. it was best thing that happened to me after being ill and upset over 'look' of hands. I would advise anyone to have it done, if you're knuckles are really bad.

hope this helps. good luck.

jo

[Hidden in reply to jojo_71]

Thank you for your encouraging reply josadler

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Hi there

Sorry I have no experience of this op and I know lots of people with RA. Hope you don't have to have it done. I'm lucky I've had RA 22 years and not had one op.

Take care

K x

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You are lucky not to have any ops. I haven't so far but I know I need knee replacements. I am due to see a consultant this week re my knees. I will ask him about knuckles. Those few I have heard about seem happy with the result and are. Now able to use their hands much more easily.