Thumb joint arthritis issues

[Lou Jacobs]

I’m curious if anyone out there of a certain age (seems like many turners here are of a certain age!) have experienced problems with arthritis of the carpo-metacarpal joint of the thumb. I’ve had a couple of cortisone injections over the years, most recently about six months ago. This one is now wearing off, and I’m again experiencing pain in this joint. I’ve got a brace the orthopedist prescribed, but I’m not crazy about wearing it while turning. She told me that if I need the injection more than once a year, it may be time to consider surgery. Have you had this surgery? Successfully? Rehab time? Alternatives? Thanks for your responses!

 

[John Torchick]

Had a problem as I couldn't close my thumb and forefinger. Stiff as baling wire. Diagnosed and now take Meloxicam twice a day. Wife takes the same dosage but once a day. I get injections twice a year from an orthopedic specialist for my knee.

 

[robo hippy]

No clue about that surgery. Had both hips and a knee replaced, and results were wonderful. One thing that helped deal with hand issues was learning that you need a very relaxed grip on your tools.

robo hippy

 

[Dean Center]

The c-mc joint in your x-ray is at the bottom left corner of the film and not well seen. The IP joint of your thumb is most easily seen and shows significant degenerative change, but the appearance on an xray and the experience with the joint in real life don't correlate very well.

The c-mc joint is the most likely joint in the hand to get arthritis, whether you're a turner or not. You might find you have less pain if you increase the diameter of your tool handles or add a grippier grip material, like EVA or vet wrap or tennis racquet grip material. Or see an Occupational Therapist for advice. ('occupational' is historic--they're physical therapists specially trained for hands and arms)

Getting older sucks, but it beats the alternative.

 

[Bill Boehme]

I have arthritis in the metacarpophalangeal joint of my right index finger. It doesn't always hurt, but when it does everybody within hearing range knows it. I must be of that "certain age".

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Thanks for the responses. Dean, I understand which joint is the one in question, although as you suggest, my troubles are not limited to that joint. Coincidently, I am married to an OT! Her specialty is infant and child feeding issues, but has plenty of experience in hand difficulties and therapies. She’s been helpful, as have your suggestions about increasing the grip on tools, but it is sounding like surgery may be inevitable at some point not far down the road.

 

[Lamar Wright]

I fall into that "certain age" also......... I have arthritis in my neck and right shoulder which doesn't effect my turning that much.........however, I also have arthritis in the joints of my left thumb (glad I'm right handed) never had surgery on my thumb but I wear a half fingered compression glove that supports my left thumb while turning.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Lamar, I was prescribed a similar glove. I occasionally turn with it, but find it gets covered with shavings and dust. Particularly messy in the Velcro! I’ve cut the fingers off a large work glove to sometimes slip over it, but I hate having that much extra “stuff” on near spinning wood and chucks.

 

[Brian Horais]

Lou, I haven't had problems with my thumb as you described but occasionally I do have problems with some of the fingers on my right hand 'locking up' in a claw position. This happens after I have been turning for an extended period or doing some detailed sanding and have lost track of the time I am spending doing something with a tight grip on the tool or sandpaper/sander. It works itself out and really lets me know it is time to stop. What I should probably do is listen to my hands and stop before they lock up. I like Deans suggestion on increasing the diameter of tool handles and/or adding a gripper material. Good luck with the thumb, but my advice is to try all other methods before going with the surgery approach.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

If it does come down to surgery try to reach an understanding with your orthopedic surgeon as to what outcome your trying to achieve and what outcome you can expect. If the surgeon is proposing a joint replacement there may be different prosthetics to consider.

 

[John Logan]

I’m curious if anyone out there of a certain age (seems like many turners here are of a certain age!) have experienced problems with arthritis of the carpo-metacarpal joint of the thumb. I’ve had a couple of cortisone injections over the years, most recently about six months ago. This one is now wearing off, and I’m again experiencing pain in this joint. I’ve got a brace the orthopedist prescribed, but I’m not crazy about wearing it while turning. She told me that if I need the injection more than once a year, it may be time to consider surgery. Have you had this surgery? Successfully? Rehab time? Alternatives? View attachment 37090 Thanks for your responses!

Lou, I am 62 and had what became debilitating arthritis in the MCP joint of my right finger (first knuckle of my right forefinger). I went to Dr. George S. Edwards, Jr. at the Raleigh Hand to Shoulder Center in Raleigh, NC, who told me (to my amazement) that he could replace every joint in my hand except the ones closest to my finger nails on my four fingers. So, the joint bothering you can be replaced. Dr. Edwards replace my MCP joint a little less than two years ago; it was the perfect solution. Got back to full use, after physical therapy, in 6-8 weeks & have 99% as much use as before surgery (with ZERO pain...only can’t make as tights fist as before with that finger by about 5 degrees). I expect others will eventually need to be replaced. (Two neurosurgeons in Raleigh robotically fused and stabilized my L-4, L-5, and S-1 vertebrae a year ago and I’m like new, feeling better and stronger than I have in 35 years). Modern medicine in the hands of a skilled surgeon can accomplish miraculous things. You may call me at 919-649-4492, if you wish. Leave a message and I will call back. Good luck! John

 

[John Logan]

P.S.: See www.raleighhand.com

 

[stu senator]

but occasionally I do have problems with some of the fingers on my right hand 'locking up' in a claw position.

I had this problem, called trigger finger. The tendon from the muscle that controls the finger passes thru a tube and there is a catch. As an engineer I think of a cable passing thru a tube with a burr. The Dr has to clean that up.

My Dr said to try a Pill, over the counter non steroid type for a few months. When that did not work he did an injection in the hand. That worked for a few months. After a few of these he had to operate. No problem since. Recovery was OK but it makes you realize how much of your daily life events depends on your dominate hand.

Good luck to all with these hand problems
Stu

 

[Lawrence Duckworth]

I've got a pretty long list of morbidities.....
i'm gonna have both my hands looked at after i get my last modena covid vaccine shot (2 more weeks). i've been using a hand samich in the evening, its my hands stuck beetwixed 2 big bags of frozen corn, still in the package but also put inside a large ziplock to keep from seepage...(that's a hole nuther story).

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Ahh. Seepage. Yes, another story, but perhaps not for this forum! Ain’t aging grand?!
The hand samich sounds delish!
John, thanks for your offer of contact. I may do that as I consider this alternative, but it won’t be til we’ll after the vaccine, and I, although over 65, haven’t yet made it to the first shot. brian and Mark, I appreciate both of your cautions - be realistic about expected outcome, and try all non-surgical options first.
Stay safe everyone!

 

[John Logan]

Ahh. Seepage. Yes, another story, but perhaps not for this forum! Ain’t aging grand?!
The hand samich sounds delish!
John, thanks for your offer of contact. I may do that as I consider this alternative, but it won’t be til we’ll after the vaccine, and I, although over 65, haven’t yet made it to the first shot. brian and Mark, I appreciate both of your cautions - be realistic about expected outcome, and try all non-surgical options first.
Stay safe everyone!

The shots should help..Helped me for about 2 years, until the pain started waking me up in the middle of the night. Hope that proves to be a long term solution for you. And, yes, gettin’ older ain’t for Sissies.

 

[Mike Johnson]

There are a number of foods that we consume that will amplify the inflammatory response in the body, changing your diet can help with some of these issues.
If you only have pain in one hand, you could hit your other hand with a hammer and you won't be focused on your one hand with arthritis pain anymore.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

No one addressed the initial question of age. Age does add to the risk of arthritis and it does build up spurs and deposits as we age. But there is not a age at which we will definitely have arthritic problems. Yes even children can have arthritic problems.

As to the surgery a very talented turner in our club had problems with his hands and did paraffin bath, gloves, injection and finally had surgery one hand at a time, Now is pain free but he said his grip strength is not 100% and cannot remember what the Dr said it was.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Gerald, you’re not saying the surgery affected his memory, are you? (I tried to insert a winking emoticon here, but for some reason it did it take.)

 

[Bill Boehme]

Gerald, you’re not saying the surgery affected his memory, are you? (I tried to insert a winking emoticon here, but for some reason it did it take.)

Maybe this explains my memory problems.