hand surgery

hi,

i am planning to have surgery on my hand at HSS in NYC-- knuckle replacement all joints on my right hand.  has anyone had this surgery?  i'm interested in pain management and how long it will take to heal, drive, do email, etc.  they say 6 weeks in a splint and then 3 months until totally healed-- but surgeons tend to be optimistic liars!

thanks,

lee

Lee,

I have not had this surgery done but as for the healing it really depends on the person and the activity of the disease at the time. For instance I had my right elbow done 2  years ago and it took 10 weeks to heal and i was good as gold.  This year i had my left one done and it took me 14 weeks to get back to work and I still have pain and healing issues. THough this time around the disease was/is more active. I do have other underlying issues going on such as a diseased gallbaldder but one never  knows. they will always give you the NORMAL healing time for the average person.   Hence my arguments with my company's nurse as I have to tell her I am not normal.

Good luck with your decision only you can make that decision.  As for pain management that is a topic upon itself... 

Hi Lee,

I don't know about the particular surgery, but I do know that HSS is (one of) the best for these types of surgeries.  I like your description of surgeons as  "optimistic liars", but at least you are getting the best of the optimists : )

Previously TessaD wrote:

Lee,

I have not had this surgery done but as for the healing it really depends on the person and the activity of the disease at the time. For instance I had my right elbow done 2  years ago and it took 10 weeks to heal and i was good as gold.  This year i had my left one done and it took me 14 weeks to get back to work and I still have pain and healing issues. THough this time around the disease was/is more active. I do have other underlying issues going on such as a diseased gallbaldder but one never  knows. they will always give you the NORMAL healing time for the average person.   Hence my arguments with my company's nurse as I have to tell her I am not normal.

 

Good luck with your decision only you can make that decision.  As for pain management that is a topic upon itself... 

Thanks to you both for responding.  I agree that your underlying health always effects the healing process.  and thanks for the vote of confidence in HSS!

Best,

Lee