I'm waiting to see surgeon to talk about having it done as the gap between bones is too small for injections, so just want some info on recovery and what happens
Wrist fusion any one gone through it: I'm waiting to... - NRAS
Wrist fusion any one gone through it
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Belle76
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37 Replies
•
Hi Belle
Not had one but have fused wrists!! After years wearing 24/7 wrist splints mine fused naturally..no joints for any pain! Got used to non movement too. Hope this helps. Hopalong
Loret is about to have one over in the States where she lives - perhaps she'll come on soon and advise you or better still let us all know how she gets on when she's had the op - and recovered enough to that is. TTx
maccnc• in reply to
Im almost there myself. I have very little functional movement for same reason as you, but the pain continues. How long did it take for the pain to subside?
Thanks.
Had it done left wrist from motor cycle accident and so much pain and swelling and Dr. Said no painkillers after 10 days and cannot take anti inflammation because of old ouler,help useless and need help when therapy Gary
Still my family doctor gives me a pil and lal half lafter 2 l hours of therapy my evening I am ready so scream, have more movement first finger and last are tingling all the time and the CAT scan I guess turned out good and said where the big brace another month and then decide what to do on your left wrist, hoping for never taken out and not half as bad as the right from the motorcycle accident still maybe never able to bowl, tennis getting on a bike and throttling with right hand and breaking with same hand and now rode since I was 16 had maybe 6 bikel over the years never hit anyone land a year and half ago turned in front of me a woman and taking her to court she was in the wrong but State Farm has paid nothing on medical and sltill have a shoulder cusp issues. Has anyone still experience this much pain after 3 months?
Hi Bella76
If you google wrist fusion, a lot of information is available.
It is usually referred to as 'arthrodesis'.
I believe that there is 2 ways to o the operation.
The first includes adding tissue from the wrist or from the top of the hip.
A strap of metal is added, and screwed in place.
The second way, which is what I have had done on my left wrist, is to shave down the bones and tissue, and added a small round piece of a metal rod from the back of the knuckle, through the small bones and further to the back of the wrist.
After the operation the wrist will be heavenly strapped so that it cannot move.
After a couple of weeks the stitches will be taken out, and you will have an x-ray to check that all is ok. You then will have the wrist plastered to make sure that it does not move, and that the bones fuse with the metal work.
After a couple of months the plaster will be taken off, and you may also have another x-ray.
It does take a bit of a time to get used to not being able to bend the wrist, though you can still twist it ok.
In April I am having my right wrist completely replaced.
Hope that this is helpful for you.
Just reading this site. I am Suppose to hv wrist fusion. After all the years hv you gotten use to non movement? Is it better than before?
Did my wrist in a cycle accident , woman turned in front of me and that was it for my bike, me and her car still fighting it for medical. First he did a nerve nurotpy? Then codizone shots and steriods and wrist braces not think it may take a total fusion after a year and hoping for a partial, can play tennis or bowl but have been playing guitar since i was young and if cannot play will miss it terrible but too much pain right now so getting it done in two weeks pre-op is in two days anything to watch for?
Hi Belle76
Arthritis Research UK (ARUK) have quite a lot of information about hand and wrist surgery on their website that you may find useful: arthritisresearchuk.org/art...
There is a little information about the different surgical options and recovery times on the ARUK site, but if you are concerned about anything the best person to ask about your particular procedure would be your surgeon.
Kind regards
Sarah Kate
NRAS Helpline
maccnc• in reply to
Thanks for this link. Im considering between the two options myself (surgical fusion or let it self fuse if I can continue to endure the pain. I just want the pain GONE.
both mine fuse natural, and it does take some getting use to, as youll find out when you go to hold out your hand to get change of someone, no good side to it sorry you just have to do things alittle diffrently
Hi thanks for all your coments I have very little movement any way so that not bothering me, just recovery really as busy mum as many of us are or busy lives just want to know how long I will be out of action etc
Hi Belle, what a pretty name. I have had both of my wrists fused. I have titanium plates that were screwed on to limit the bones from moving. I did my right wrist in 2005 and my left one in 2009. It took all of the pain away, and I can still do most everything.
Recovery takes time, and Badar is correct in everything she said. I would stress you though, that after the cast comes off, to gradually get back to normal. Don't use that arm too much. I used my left arm too much too soon & the bone hadn't grown around the screws totally yet and a screw started backing out. So my Dr made me wear my brace for another month & a half.
It is worth it to do, as I feel so much better & my wrists don't ache all the time anymore. Also, on my x-ray, you can see a smiley face-from the direction one screw is pointing. I think that's cool.
Christine
Soo a year for what % I have very little after three months still wearing the brace and going through therapy, have had many operations but wow this one fora month the pain was worse than before any operation and still get to maybe 8 at night, hoping for nerve operation on left that takes out about 2 inches if the disks and boones are not like my left and my doctor tried shots, and said it is gong from accident and though I would be able to do more things by now, you sound like what ever you did are coming back great.
Hi Belle I had my left wrist fused Sept 2008 I'm left handed as well To be honest it's the best thing I had done I'd been wearing a splint fir ages so didn't really notice the loss of movement I was in a half calf for 10 data till the stitches were out then a full plaster cast for a couple of months When the cast was removed I had to wear a splint for another month just to make certain the bones had fused I have 2 horses and once the cast was on I pretty much carried on as normal.
Hope this helps
Iv just had total wrist fusion to my left wrist. It's a very big operation and iv been left with an eight inch scar on the back of my hand/wrist. I'm at the pot stage where the stitches have been taken out and a new plaster cast has been applied. So far the only pain I'm experiencing is due to the cast rubbing across the wound underneath. No pain fromthe wrist itself. Had my surgery on 11th March 2016.
Reason for this operation was an accident I was cycling to work an a car hit me from behind. The break to my left hand was a compound fracture. This was a hit & run accident the driver never found it happened in June 2014. So nearly two years of pain looks like it's come to an end.
I had every complication there was I also got crps to top it all. This makes the pain thresholds times by ten. Making pain excruciating.
When they opened me up my consultant told me the joint was really bad and had become very athritic as well as a build up of scar tissue from the previous surgeries.
Hope this helps. The op seems to have worked so far
I just had my complete wrist fusion done on the 5th of April, stitches token out no cast an I almost have full range of motion in my fingers...speedy recovery?
You are not alone. Had my surgery July 15. Stitches came out July 29th and right into a splint. No cast. I am slowly moving fingers more and more each day
Had my right wrist guess on 4/29. I forgot to ask my doc but, did anyone find small incisions near their knuckles? This is what's bothering me. Not the surgical pain. Also, has anyone experienced muscle spasms in their arms? Thanks, Debra
Hi Everyone!!!! My name is Chris. I was born with Cerebral Palsy. It affects the right side of my body. I used to turn my right foot over when I'd walk but I had a foot operation a year ago and I'm walking better than I ever have and I have no pain. Now, I'm thinking about getting my hand fixed. I went to Upstate Orthopedics in Syracuse, NY and saw a doctor who talked about doing surgery and fusing my wrist. I'm having second thoughts. I'm really scared that my hand will be worse than what it is now. Does anyone have any advice? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
• in reply toCHRISALLEN3285
Hi Chris. I signed up to reply to your post because it sounds quite a bit like my situation. I have JRA and am having a left wrist fusion in two days. My wrist doesn't hurt but my fingers are deviated and dislocated and not great at doing things hands are supposed to do. I've almost canceled the fusion twice because I'm afraid it'll make things worse, but I so badly want my hand to be better that I'm going ahead with it so they can replace the finger joints next.
Have you had anything done to your hands yet? If not, I'll let you know how mine turn out.
CHRISALLEN3285• in reply to
No, I never had anything done. The person who was supposed to drive me to the place where I was going to have the surgery called me the day before and said she couldn't take me because she was sick. Also, some woman at the surgery center called me and told me that I had to have someone stay with me for 24 hours after surgery and they told me this at the last minute. I live alone and I couldn't find anyone to stay with me. Had they told me this in the beginning I probably could've found someone to stay with me. Because of all of that I had to call and cancel the surgery. I'm not sure what JRA is. I've never heard of it. My fingers aren't deviated or dislocated. My right wrist is stuck in a bent position and it stays bent. I can move my fingers. I just can't straighten my hand or turn it around with my palm facing up. I've seen a few doctors since then about this to see if there was something someone could do better but it seems like the doctors I have seen have all talked about a wrist fusion. I've decided to go back to Syracuse because the doctor there seems the most confident out of the few doctors I've seen. The other two didn't sound so confident. Hopefully soon I will get the surgery rescheduled and have it done soon. Like you, I'm scared because my hand/wrist has been this way all my life but I can't really do anything with my hand/wrist now so why not go through with the surgery? I can't be worse off than I am now.
smartieclarky• in reply to
Hi,
I just read your reply and it sounds like my wrist. I had an Osteoclastoma about 30 years ago in my Radius. They replaced 6 inches of my radius with 6 inches from my Fibula. Over the years my wrist has drifted sideways along with my fingers. I am about to see the wrist specialist and I’m thinking because of what I have been told in the past that they may fuse my wrist. I’m wondering how you got on with your wrist.
Kathy.
Hi, I came across this thread researching when I found out I needed a full wrist fusion. Left wrist, an old 20 odd years old, un diagnosed scaphoid break had never healed properly, and led to osteoarthritis. Had got to the stage that it hurt every day, interfered with sleep, and meant I couldn't ride a motorcycle for more than a couple of hours and would then suffer for a week or two. Sucked. Motorcycling is all that keeps me sane! This thread and others helped me, hope my experience helps others too. Just an update for anyone that's searching for the same issue I had and stumbles across this.
The op hurt like hell for 2 days after, should have been a day op that turned into an overnight, as the insides were messier than expected, and took twice as long. Crappy dead bone on the damaged scaphoid scraped back to good, dead loose floating bit discarded, remaining cartlidge removed, bone graft from the mounting point from the forearm bone to give a flat base for the plate, and encourage bone fusion for all the wrist bones. Elevated in a sling with a plaster cast on, and told to wiggle fingers as much as possible, so I did. Down to just paracetemol after 3 days and no need for anything after a week and a half. 2 weeks later plaster removed, stitches out, new plaster for another month, keep wriggling! Improved my diet, didn't worry about weight gain, I figured better over nourished than under.
Plaster off, told to use and excercise to 70% of old capability. Phsyio advised on what I'd already found, keep it moving, keep stretching, exercise, build strength back slowly through multiple rep sets, not straining, building the strain up as you go. Suprisingly weak muscles so quickly, played with a squash ball, hand grip strength thing, and got used to using it as much as I could. Day to day strength came back quite quickly. Scar massages daily and tendon stretching 3 or 4 times a day at least. 2.5 months after op rode on the road bike for the first time, with a lot of clutch work, no issues. Mountain bike commute is still painful, swapped bars and still can't get comfy. Seems to be the palm of the thumb that hurts. Can live with that, and it's very slowly improving.
4 months after op, xray and all clear to "do whatever it is you like to do", including full off roading. Woop woop! Xray shows no pin movement (so not over strained it) and some fusion of the bones, expected complete in 12-18 months. A bad fall that resulted in a break would see the forearm bone break or the pins pullout before the wrist gets damaged. All highly unlikely. Recovery to 90% strength now, and a possible 95% max. Continue exercising and tendon gliding daily, becoming a habit, and certainly not a chore.
Had my first two enduro hare and hounds and everything is good. Except my bike fitness. No pain when riding, no pain after. Muscles still improving, and a slight loss of finger movement in the first 2 fingers, when I close my fist fully those 2 fingers don't flex in as far as the rest. The tendons should stretch a bit if I keep using and excercising. They have further to travel now, over the top of the plate. The wrist muscles ache lightly when I wake up. Vanishes within 5 minutes with a little normal use or flexing when making a brew. I figure that as the wrist doesn't move overnight, my muscles don't either and it's just like sitting in one position only for 7 hours. A non issue. Continue to exercise and massage when I remember to. Absolutely zero issues in riding, though my 2 finger clutch use shifts to 4 finger as I get tired. Simply need to improve strength and stamina. No pain, just tiredeness.
No real restrictions in use, and everday life, though I'm glad I have full mobility in elbows and shoulders, as picking dishes out of the sink and silly stuff like that demands a bit more movement there. Tight jeans pockets at the front are slightly harder work, as are button flies. They are the work of the devil in any case, and they are being mastered.
Conclusion: I'm really happy I had this op, and wish I hadn't put up with swelling and pain for so long. Also really glad I found and took advice from others that have had the same, or similar. Rehab, rehab, rehab - you get out what you put in, but don't overdo it until the all clear. Light but often.
Don't stress, it's not so bad, and oh my word the improvement after! Best of luck!
Just had my right wrist partial fused so much pain and my surgeon gave pain pills for 10 days, it was a motor cycle accident the women's fault, turned in front of me totaled my bike and left with both wrists and shoulder, happened year and a half ago, now after steroids therapy had to have it fusedc whatpain. May never ride again, but play guitar and hope in six months will be able to, like my bike been playing guitar for 5o years and same with motor cycle since I was 16, with this much pain hard to dress clean, one hand and that hand may need a wrist fusion, will check out before another operation like this.retired yet and works five days in Denver, 300 miles from me cannot open even a can of soup, all this girl;s fault and she wants to go to court and she has had her license taken away in Arizona
That sucks. I was really scared I would have to give up riding, and so pleased now to be pain free, riding as much as I want and mobile. Completely forget about the wrist most times now, hope yours works out too. It's devastating the suffering a moments stupidity or inattention can cause. Best of luck buddy!
Out of cast and still so much pain have maybe %8 back and the therapist says it could take a year and still after a long day can button my shirts and open a can of soup but preparing a meal and driving more than an hour and I am throoooooooooough and need a rest for the wrist and shoulder. Glad to see your's worked and trying to keep faith it will get better.
It's early days yet, I couldn't hack cycling until my 6 month check up have me the all clear. It's still not comfortable, but the motorbike riding is fine. It does tyre more quickly, and keeping on with exercises and stretching looks like being a permanent thing. You'll get there.
Are you able to ride your mountain bike again? I’m facing a fusion and it is my passion. What angles did they fuse you at?
Yes, it is absolutely fine now. Mountain biking, Enduro, trials - including one finger clutch use. I mostly forget completely it's done, and certainly do on the bikes, where it causes no issues at all. I guess mine is set at whatever angle the plate comes at, if you look at your natural wrist angle on the handlebars, it's set more flat than that. My Enduro motor bike has high handlebars at about nipple height, maybe a bit lower and is comfortable when seated, when standing when the wrists are much more naturally bent it's still perfectly comfortable. No issues with fast off road use, jumps and stuff either. Starting out, the MTB was uncomfortable at first, so don't panic. Excercise those fingers and work and stretch the tendons absolutely as soon as you can. You'll be amazed how quickly they stiffen up in your cast, and it took a good long while to get full finger contraction and extension back. No pain, but restricted movement. I knew I was back to all good when I could click my fingers again, that was nearly 2 years, wish I'd started stretching tendons sooner. My theory is they have to grow, as they have a plate to go over now and need to be physically longer. Not an overnight process when you're in your late 40's I guess, but you get there. Good luck!
thanks for such a great review of wrist fusion! do you think a right wrist fusion would have killed dirtbiking for you?
Hi buddy, I thought about that, I wouldn't want to move my whole arm to work the throttle, though you do see the odd able bodied person ride like that. I've never liked the thumb throttle on quads and jet skis, but I guess you'd get used to it and pretty good with it fairly quickly. The other option would be to convert to left hand throttle and brake, clutch on the right. Just a question of reversing the cables, and for brakes the same levers and/or master cylinders with the lines swapped over. Weird at first, like moving to a race shift, but second nature with some practice. From a wrist solidity and comfort point of view, zero issues. Good luck fella, and remember, grit your teeth and keep flexing those fingers, it'll pay off!
Right on and thank you sincerely. i am looking forward to getting rid of the pain and weakness.
Cheers
Benny
Thank you everyone for sharing all that you did, I have Keinbock disease and have had a row of bones removed 3 years ago, it didn't work for me. I'm still in a lot of pain, and have a lot of swelling. I'm scheduled to have my left wrist fused this July 2018.
Hello. My Fiance' is set to have her wrist fused on May 09, 2019. She also has Keinbocks and her lunate bone is completely dead and beginning to fracture. She has already had one surgery about 2 years ago to shorten her ulna "small main forearm bone" that was a complete failure with no pain relief. Her surgeon wanted to do a Proximal Row Carpectomy which is what it sounds like you had done with no success. I wanted to reach out to you as you are the most recent reply on this post and it looks like your symptoms/issues are very similar. I wanted to ask you if you ended up having your wrist fused? If so, maybe you could give me an idea what to expect not only for the surgery but also maybe what I might be able to do to make things easier/more comfortable for her. I've read everything I can read online which is sadly limited to mostly Dr's saying "what's supposed to happen". I hope this message finds you completely healed from a successful surgery and look forward to hearing from you. Thanks
P.S. If anybody else want to chime in with their own experiences that would be great as well. Thank you all.
Hi I just had a total wrist fusion on my left hand on January 17 2019. I also was diagnosed with Keinbock’s back in 1986 I had a silastic implant and did well with it for about 10 uyears; however I waited 32 years to have surgery. My wrist was a complete mess but the recovery is pretty hard. So grateful for my husband as he has to help me with many things, including drying me after the shower as you are not allowed to do anything with that wrist. No pushing, pulling, lifting but I was in the a cast or hard brace for 12 weeks. Just started therapy so my husband is still doing many things - I do computer work and can not do it at this time but my age is 59 and perhaps if I was 30 years younger I might have had a much easier recovery. Wishing her the best of luck
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