Guest guest Posted January 29, 2007 Report Share Posted January 29, 2007 , The first time was the worst. I must say that my fingers were way off allignment. My right little finger, almost touched my wrist. I had 4 knuckles on the left hand done. Three monthes later had 4 done on the right hand. Surgery on Wednesday, I went back on monday and had the dressings removed. They put on a splint-palm of hand to past the wrist. Each finger is wrapped seperately, and maintained on traction type from bars attached to the top of the splint ( I called it a jig). Therapy was to remove all this apparatis and make all the knuckles bend at an amount determined by the therapist. This is done for 4 to 6 weeks or what is needed to accomplish good movement and strenghth. At the original implant, they were expected to last a long time - life time. As I had said, mine broke. My new rhuemy, after x-rays, would only say there was a lot of arthritis damage in them. So as things got worse, I went to a surgeon to remove calcium deposits. NO.. Broke - Mislocated. I went back to the hand surgeon and we replaced 7 joints this time. As I study - studies show that at a mean age of 58 and after 10 years (68 years old) over half of them were broken. I was in my early 40's. Now in my mid fifties. That is why I asked who has had there joints replaced many times. This is rather new surgery and I have not found information past ten years. Hope I answered most of your questions. Sally --------------------------------- Never miss an email again! Toolbar alerts you the instant new Mail arrives. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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