Old joints…

I've been living with a painful left, first-carpometacarpal joint since the end of September. (A fair quantity of ibuprofen has been consumed since then.) I had a check-up with my primary care physician yesterday and he gave me orders to have it x-rayed. So here I am getting hand and wrist x-rays (5 images, I think)…

Update, February 2022: https://365project.org/rhoing/365/2022-02-08

1 year ago (“Sago palm”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-04-03
2 years ago (“Stand apart from the crowd”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-04-03
3 years ago (“Back in the library: An abstract explained”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-04-03
4 years ago (“Homeowners, start your mowers!”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-04-03

[ DSCN6837S12x9tm :: P&S ]

[Danette Thompson]

Hmmm...hope all is well. I've been consuming too much Aleve of late...

[Thom Mitchell]

@danette From my orthopaedic surgeon-friend: "(Moderately severe) osteoarthritis." And of course to confirm the diagnosis and specific location, he has to press precisely-there. Yep!!!!!! That's the place!!!!!!! At least we're still at the Aleve/ibuprofin stage. An off-the-shelf brace would be next. Then a custom brace. Then shots. Then surgery. So thankfully surgery is some distance away for being necessary.

[Rick Schies]

Been there, done that whole scene Thom. A few years ago if you remember I had my left thumb joint replaced. I went with the total joint replacement rather than the surgery to utilize the existing ligaments to rebuild the joints. For the most part the surgery was quite helpful. Don't get me wrong, nothing like keeping your original but it did relieve all the discomfort, and just to be able to achieve a good grip on things was also a relief. Before the surgery I was losing gripping strength and would drop things, etc. I am starting with similar symptoms on the right thumb now so we will wait to see how long that lasts.

[Thom Mitchell]

@digitalrn Thanks for the info, Rick. I know my orthopaedic surgeon friend has an associate in his large practice who is their "hand guy," but I didn't know that a total joint replacement was a potential alternative in this case. My friend probably didn't mention this because surgery is not on the near horizon yet. I haven't reached the point of dropping things yet. Ahh, getting old…