Can anyone give me some information on knuckle replacement please?

[louise-p]

[Judi]

Hi Louise, had 4 knuckles replaced in my right hand back in the early 2000's and I had good results. If you put 'replacement knuckles' (or something like that) in to the search box you will probably pick up some conversations on it.

Please fire away with any more questions you may want to ask me (if you do) but I am usually only on line first thing in the morning so an answer from me is a bit slow in coming back.

I would have liked to talk with someone before I had mine done but that was not possible unfortunately as it was so long ago.

Judi

[Shelley1701 in reply to Judi]

I was told I could have knuckles replaced but was talked out of it by my rheumy consultant and the hand surgeon. They scared the hell out of me. I have dislocated knuckles on one hand and slipped tendons on the other and as a result I can't straighten my hands. Had a joint consultation with the 2 docs about 7 years ago. They told me they break after 5 years, would only help with pain relief (rarely in any pain with them), it wouldn't straighten my hands and there was a very very high risk of infection. Often wondered how much of what was said is true. That particular consultant sees my mum too. She had her hip replaced in 1973 and now one of the wires is broken. He put the fear of god into her about the operation required to fix it and said she was lucky its lasted this long. I was thinking of asking about it again now I have moved and got another consultant and hospital but worried about how much time I would need off work and if its really worth it.

[louise-p in reply to Judi]

Hi Judi ,thankyou very much for replying to my question. I have just been offered knuckle replacement on my right hand. My index and middle finger are really bad , the last 2 ok. Apparently all 4 have to be replaced for rheumatoid. Did the replacement give you full movement back, or just got rid of pain.The thing is, I play clarinet and trumpet (with increasing difficulty and pain!) and only want the replacement if I will still be able to play. How long after the op did it take to get your hands moving and painfree? I don't know how common this operation is. Thankyou I will have a look in the search box. Louise.

[louise-p]

Hi Shelley Thankyou for sharing your experience with me. I am a bit scared about having my knuckles replaced! I don't know anyone who has had it done. My right hand is quite bad and I have been offered knuckle replacement. There were no leaflets at the hospital. I wonder how common it is and the success rate. I guess not everyone would be suitable, but the surgeon I saw said I was. I am thinking about it. maybe you should ask again now you have another consultant. Louise.

[Victoria-NRAS Partner Moderator NRAS]

Hi Louise

We have an article on our website about hand surgery, which may be of interest:

nras.org.uk/about_rheumatoi...

Also, if you wanted to speak to someone that's had this type of surgery, we have a few telephone volunteers that have had this procedure. If this would be of interest to you, please call our helpline on 0800 298 7650 (Mon-Fri, 9.30-4.30) and we can look at matching you with one of these volunteers for a support call.

Kind regards

Victoria

(NRAS helpline)

[louise-p in reply to Victoria-NRAS]

Hi Victoria,

Thankyou very much. I will look at the article. Also it would be very helpful to speak to someone who has had this type of surgery, so have made a note of the number. Louise.

[Tinwoman2]

Hi Louise, I have had 6 MCP knuckle replacements. All 4 of my right hand 2006 & the index & long on my left hand 2007.

I had them replaced with plastic joints. Afterwards, I had Occupational Therapy and exercises to do for a couple of months. I wore a brace that had slings for my fingers for about 6 months too.

I can still bend my hand 90 degrees, they couldn't believe it; it is like I have a normal hand again (except for my fused fingers). But, you can't do too much, like pick up things with your fingers & you have to protect those joints. I did too much somehow & both my left ones have dislocated, and the long finger of my right one has too. I can still use my fingers/hand & most times those joints don't hurt.

Good luck, what ever your decision.

Christine

[louise-p in reply to Tinwoman2]

Hello Christine,

Thankyou very much for replying to my question. I would like to know as much as possible about knuckle replacement before I decide if I will go ahead. Your answer was very helpful. Louise.

[Judi]

Hi Louise,

My joint replacements were called swansson joints (dont know if that's the correct spelling).

I was a secretary, with typing being the best part of my job. Also plenty of picking up files, using a mouse on the computer and etc. Before I went back to work as part of my 'exercise regime' I used the keyboard a little every day (after speaking to the occupational thereapist). I don't know how much this helped but my joints were replaced about 10 years ago and so far I've had no trouble with them (fingers crossed they stay that way).

At the end of my op they gave me a heafty pain killer so that it was numb over night. When I woke up there was next to no pain, and it has continued that way thankfully.

You have to keep the arm raised in a sling while in hospital, went in on the Wednesday morning, had the op in the afternoon, Thursday had a 'sling' made for my fingers and a cast made for sleeping, had physio on Friday morning and was out Friday afternoon. At home sleeping - the bed was pushed against the wall so that my hand could be raised on a pile of pillows during the night, think this helps to reduce the swelling but I didn't really have much. Used the 'sling' only during the day and the resting cast for sleeping. The 'sling' looks a bit peculiar but it makes sure that the fingers go back to a normal position after using them.

All plasters etc. were taken off after about 2 weeks. Stitches remained in for about 6 weeks and the scar is just a tiny line, hardly visible across the knuckles. You can use your hand and move your fingers and would be advised with what you can or can't do. Biggest problem I had was having a shower and washing my hair because I had my hand in a plastic bag but managed myself.

Went to see the physio once a fortnight and could have been back at work after about 6 weeks but as I would need to drive myself which took a good 35-40 minutes I wasn't allowed to go back to work for 10 weeks (stretched it out to 12 weeks) plus of course the nature of my job meant that I would have been using my fingers probably too early.

I did ask before I had the op 'what happens if they don't last very long or don't work'. I was advised that they could be replaced again. Fortunately I have not needed that.

I was suprised when I had to sign my name for the first time - my signature was the same !

Hopefully you have spoken to someone through the support line and they have given you enough confidence to make a decision.

Judi xxx

[louise-p]

Hi Judi

Thankyou very much for the information. How very encouraging! I play the clarinet and trumpet ...with more and more difficulty and all I want to do is to be able to play them again afterwards. I also paint and draw and would hate to have to give all this up.

Louise. X

[Suncitysue]

I had knuckles replaced in 1987 and no problems. Had knuckles replaced in other hand in 2013 and so far two have broken. One broke while the hand was in a cast with a broken thumb. So I did nothing to cause that break. It just broke.

I think there should be a recall on the spacers used??

[Suncitysue]

I have had knuckles replaced in both hands. Right hand 1987 and left hand 2013,

What would you like to know.

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