Brian,

Thanks for that – it is encouraging to have a positive report. Out of interest, how long did the rehab take ? The consultant told me (while administering the steroid injection) that it would take "around 6 months until you regain control of the thumb" & the online descriptions of the procedure all sing from a similar hymn sheet (6-12 months recovery period). From the post-operative timeline quoted, I could see why both hands would not be done at the same time.

Neil,

Yes, it is arthritis at the base of my thumbs that is my problem also, though my right is the worse (right handed).

Just mechanical wear through nearly 60 years of use. In my case, there really isn't much of a joint to talk about. The trapezoid bone is the wrist contact point of the first thumb bone & has a "cup" that the "ball" of thumb bone sits in. Roughly half of both the cup and the ball are worn away & the two bits just rub together rather than act as a bearing. Having seen the X-ray, I can see now why I struggle to get motorcycle gloves to fit – I always though they were made with the thumbs too long, but is apparent that it is my thumbs which are 5-10mm shorter than they should be !

The trapeziectomy procedure is the removal of the trapezoid bone, which is not replaced. The thumb bone end is supported on scar tissue alone & there is no longer a bearing as such. With nothing to rub against, the pain is supposed to be eliminated, but grip is said to be lower (though apparently better than pre-op, due to lack of pain). The quoted recovery period is 6-12 months which, as I am still working, is a long time to take out.

The consultant did mention replacement joint parts, but then said that they would not stand up to serious usage & were suitable mainly for "little old ladies who do nothing more arduous than lift a tea cup". I have seen reports online of sucessful fitting of 3D printed replacement first thumb bones to people who have lost that bone due to cancer, but such items are probably not yet available on the NHS.

The steroid injection has made things a lot worse. It was never guaranteed to have any effect, but I wasn't expecting it to have made matters worse. Due to the lack of any joint gap to inject into, my thumb had to be forcibly pulled apart & the injection made under X-ray so that the consulant could place the steroid correctly. It feels to me that the bones have not gone back to where they were, but it will take another X-ray to see if that is the case.

All part of wearing out, I suppose !

Nigel B.