Thumb arthritis

I've been suffering from [left] thumb arthritis for a year or so - the usual thing, aging - and it's hard to pinch anything and painful to clip carabiners or place gear with that hand.  So I'm wondering about having a surgical fix that removes the small trapezium bone in the wrist and rearranges some tendons to provide stability.  Supposedly this  has a high success rate but I suspect  the recipients - usually women in their sixties - usually don't go rockclimbing afterwards so I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience of this surgery and its outcome....

Thanks in advance

Simon

Another potentially less invasive option, not sure how it works for climbing.   

-not a doctor-

First Carpometacarpal Joint Denervation: A Systematic Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34509313/

Interesting - thx.

Simon

"Thumb arthritis" is a pretty general term which could mean quite a few very different conditions. Do you have a degenerated joint ? A tendon/ligament issue ? or something else ? Any time you get surgery it's "rolling the dice", sometimes you win and get an improvement, sometimes you lose and don't. Boring repetitive advice ...."there is no minor surgery."

Simon Carr wrote:

I've been suffering from [left] thumb arthritis for a year or so - the usual thing, aging - and it's hard to pinch anything and painful to clip carabiners or place gear with that hand.  So I'm wondering about having a surgical fix that removes the small trapezium bone in the wrist and rearranges some tendons to provide stability.  Supposedly this  has a high success rate but I suspect  the recipients - usually women in their sixties - usually don't go rockclimbing afterwards so I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience of this surgery and its outcome....

Thanks in advance

Simon

Have you tried bracing? Like a push meta grip orthosis or something similar? You are right. First cmc arthroplasty is pretty invasive and reserved for older individuals (50-70, usually female). I would chat with the surgeon about your hobbies before jumping into surgery. When we pinch we double the force at the first cmc so loading with rock climbing might be too much force with a soft tissue replacement for a joint. It would be a good question for the surgeon. 

Hi there,

I, too  am a climber and deal with CMC (ragged looking trapezium)arthritis in my dominant thumb. I’ve tried cortisone injections 4 times which worked wonderfully the first couple times but became the diminishing return scenario. 8 weeks ago I tried synvisc injections( 2 injections, one week apart). Did not help.

What  has helped immensely is the meta push orthosis. It places your thumb in the optimal position for function and protects it as well.
 I recently returned from 6 days in Red Rocks climbing and wore it the whole time.. I really had almost zero pain and I can fit it in my chalk bag when I felt it in the way for a narrow crack. IMO it’s worth the 95 dollars to give it a try.

i will tell you that I am older( 71) but besides climbing I do a lot with my hands including mountain biking, heavy gardening, dealing with farm animals and this has been a life saver. I don’t know for how long but have used hard for about 6 months. I am trying very hard to avoid surgery. That might be fine if only doing light activities but not for all we ask from our hands.

Good luck as I know how aggravating this can be.

Annie R

Vermont

I saw a hand therapist who gave me exercise and put me in a brace. I can’t wear the brace for some stuff including climbing but I try to wear it when I can function with it. My goal is to never have surgery. I know a climber who can’t jam her hand anymore after the surgery but she can pinch. I would like to do both. 

I had a CMC arthroplasty done by Steven Shin (in LA) to correct a severe zigzag deformity associated with arthritis. Before the procedure, clipping the rope had become extremely difficult. And the bizarre appearance made people wince. Dr Shin also fused that thumb, which I’m not sure was necessary or desirable, although he knows better than I. Four and a half years out, I’m happy with the overall experience and have put a lot miles on it. I’m in my mid-70s. 

Going through this right now. Have advanced osteoarthritis of the CMC joint in my left (non-dominant) hand. I’m working with Dr Randy Viola at the Steadman clinic in Vail. Because I’m on the young side, he’s opting for a fusion. I should still have full range of motion and be able to climb. He also put me in the Push brace til surgery in October but my hand still aches

https://drrandyviolamd.com/upper-extremity-conditions/finger/base-thumb-arthritis-1st-cmc-basal-joint-arthritis/

Thx everybody for replies.  I opted for surgery last week - removal of the trapezium bone.  Three month recovery but should return to full functionality,

Simon 

Simon Carr wrote:

Thx everybody for replies.  I opted for surgery last week - removal of the trapezium bone.  Three month recovery but should return to full functionality,

Simon 

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. I have the same situation and the surgeon told me at my age and as a climber, that I should not do it. 

Hey Simon, keep us updated on your progress post-surgery! 

I’m currently dealing with painful CMC ostearthritis as well in both thumbs. My ortho surgeon is Dr Thompson at Scripps in SD. He’s mentioned a number of options, keeping my og thumbs as long as possible is his suggestion, but I’m pretty limited already but still climbing. I’m very weak in my handjams and pinches mostly.

Wondering which of the many surgical options you went with.