Advice needed about whether to have my replaced wrist fused.

[muffin]

I had me first replacement wrist 5 years ago. Since then I have had 2 more and a further 4 operations to sort out scar tissue ad ligaments. Now it has come to the point when my orth consultant has suggested fusion as all other options have not relieved the pain in my wrist, fingers and thumb. If I have it fused, he cannot guarantee pain relief in my fingers and thumb.

Could anyone who has had a wrist fusion help me with my decision. What will and what won't I be able to do?

My hand is very out of place and leans to the side at a 70 degree angle so i would have a straight hand, which would be the bonus.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[allanah]

Hi muffin. I've not had the surgery but I think the doctor wouldnt suggest it if he didnt think it was needed though.? Good luck with your decision xx

[muffin in reply to allanah]

Thanks, I have to give this a lot of thought.

[TaffyBando50]

Hello Muffin,

I have had my wrist fused after many operations.

I have had my knuckles replaced and tendons relocated over the knuckles.

My wrist was already badly fused due to calcium growth which caused a lot of pain.

My wrist were to far gone for wrist replacement.

So I had my wrist fused and my large ulnar joint removed.

You lose a bit of movement, twist actions.

I have no pain in my wrist so the operation was a success.

Their is noot much I cannot do.

I love my DIY and gardening.

Things just take longer.

As for screw action, i got a lovely new cordless drill.

Good luck with your decision.

Regards

Neville

[muffin in reply to TaffyBando50]

Thanks for the information on how you fusion has worked for you. I will give it some thought.

[dippyd09]

I was supposed to have a wrist replacement but unfortunately or fortunately my wrist fused before this could happen. There. is very little I can’t do although sometimes it takes a bit of extra thought but I don’t have any pain. I have also had my knuckles replaced in the same hand so my hand is now much straighter than it was. I hope you get some relief very soon. Take care.

[muffin in reply to dippyd09]

Thanks for the info.

[janeywaney63]

Hi. I had a full wrist fusion on 29th November last year. So glad I had it done. Hadn’t realised how much I didn’t use it before due to pain anyway. Now there’s not much I can’t do. (Can’t reach to wipe my bum though!! - thank heaven for my bidet loo seat!) I can now use my fused wrist more than my unfused right wrist which supposedly has nothing wrong with it. But that is going to have more investigations now as keeps giving way when trying to lift things. The hand surgeon had warned that the fusion was a very painful operation but realistically I could have coped without much pain relief. I only took it as I was expecting it to be painful.

[muffin in reply to janeywaney63]

Thank you very very much for your reply. You have given me the answer I think to my problem. I have a replacement right shoulder and pig skin holding the other one together, and I also have difficulty in reaching my backside. If I have my wrist fused I probably wouldn't be able to clean myself at all! Perhaps I hold on to what I have.

Thanks Again.

[janeywaney63]

Oh I’m glad I mentioned that then - not something I often tell people! I’m now terrified that my right wrist will also need doing as the pain is the same. Hand consultant said he would do a replacement if so but they still aren’t very good and clearly you’ve had trouble with yours.

[muffin in reply to janeywaney63]

I certainly have had trouble with my replacement wrist I had my first one in 2015, then a second one, it was then decided my body was rejecting the metal in the replacement, so I had a third one which is coated in plastic. My problem with the replacement is that when I first came out of plaster after the first one my hand was at a 70 degree angle hanging to the left. I have had four other ops trying to sort it out, without success, hence the offer of fusing.

Could I please ask you another question, do you have to do your bra up at the front and turn it round as I have to as I cannot reach behind my back? If you do, can you manage this with a fused wrist? This would be very helpful to know.

Regards