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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Has anyone else needed a new thumb joint due to aggressive use of their hands in knitting? I tore the ligament at the bottom of my thumb that holds the joints in place. Dr. said it was from over use of the hands. It is important to have 2 hands to use for craft work. It let go (tore )when I went to push off the couch to get up after some knitting. I've pretty much been isolated to one hand since 12/6/2016. Am I the only one that this has happened to? I hope it does not happen to you. I had to have the joint at the base of my thumb replaced. I still buy fabric and yarn when on sale, or if I really like it, hoping that I will soon be able to knit & quilt again. Just wondering and questioning?
 
I had a repetitive stress injury to my right thumb back in Fall 2008. I went to a hand surgeon and he said, well, this probably won't work but I'll give you a cortisone injection, don't use your right hand and come back in a month (because I was leaving for Christmas vacation). I barely moved my right hand on that vacation and, by a miracle, the shot worked so I didn't need surgery. I realized that I had "dodged a bullet" and I learned my lesson.

Ever since then I really limit the amount of continuous time I spend knitting or doing any repetitive tasks. I got rid of my desktop computer with the external mouse which seemed to aggravate my hand by stretching the thumb away from my hand and switched over to a laptop with a flat mouse which doesn't bother my thumb/hand at all. This might sound silly but I also bought all new glasses which are smaller at the base so I don't stretch my thumb/hand as much as before.

Anyway, it's verging on 9 years and I haven't had a recurrence but I am vigilant. I wish you all the best with healing and hope that you can get back to knitting and quilting again even if it's only in small sessions like I've been doing.
 
I don't happen to know anyone who has had that done, so can't relate on a personal level, but having joints replaced, in general, is done so that our lives can continue as they were before the problem, and can think of no reason the thumb wouldn't be the same. Any restrictions I have due to hip replacement are due to general loss of flexibility due to age rather than the replacement. I would suggest that you give the surgeon's office a call, and ask if you will be limited after healing and whatever rehab you need. Good luck.
 
No but I did have to have the ligament in my thumb month and I have a disease called declare veins which they have to work on the ligament that leads to come to the wrist and I know that I was 6 to 8 weeks where I could not use my hand at all that was over 20 some odd years ago and so far it's been good .
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
tmvasquez said:
Yikes, I can still use my hands but I get a pain at the base of my thumb on my left hand if I crochet.
Are you able to hold anything in your left hand? Is is painful to pinch finger and thumb together? It could be arthritic joint . That is what was replaced in my left hand with a spare tendon from my arm. The burning pain is gone now but I have to go through more O.T. to train the new joint to move properly.
 
If it tore, It will take about 4 months before you see any progress. If you splint it It won't hurt as much, and I truly know how you feel.I fell and tore ligament in my right hand and it hurt so bad, If you hold your hand up the pain will lessen. Good Luck to you!
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
hobbyknit said:
If it tore, It will take about 4 months before you see any progress. If you splint it It won't hurt as much, and I truly know how you feel.I fell and tore ligament in my right hand and it hurt so bad, If you hold your hand up the pain will lessen. Good Luck to you!
I was in O.T. for 6 months. . . no improvement. When I saw hand surgeon, he said 6 more months after surgery. Braces for 1st 6 months as they ruled out Carpel Tunnel etc. In a cast for 12 more weeks and then OT. I am finally gaining. Elevation during this whole time to keep pain & swelling down. Lots of Netflix & sleeping through pain.
 
I've actually never heard of it, but there's a lot I've never heard of! Are you left handed? Is it your dominant hand? If it's not, I think you may be able to learn to do your crafts a different way. I mean, I use my left hand for holding mostly - with most things actually being done with my right hand. But I do wish you the best! The most important part is taking care of yourself.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
I pass this on as a warning everyone, please don't over do. Yes I am right handed but could not even use left to hold anything. I hold jars under my arm to open covers with an assist. (that leaves a lot of pinch bruises.) I met a friend a few weeks before surgery. She neither quilts or knits (54) but is active she had same problem & same Dr so I was not fearful once I had the right Dr. She is good now & is considering having the right hand done now. . . I was told it happens to women after menopause etc. (Sexist). My son(33) in Calif. says young people come in to the gym all the time with the same injury. He is hopefully taking more precautions than usual.
I guess I am mostly moaning because I have spent the entire winter, spring and summer in the 'pain' of not being able to do anything; No knitting, No quilting, No gardening, No exercise so to speak, and No anything. I am trying to be very patient; but, am being tired of being a patient. I am hoping that I am still able to do some of the same crafts.
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I wore a brace on the thumb/palm for years, to restrict the movement there. I never could find a time period for recovery from surgery so I wore the brace (made copies out of duck/muslin so they're washable)
Eventually it sort of fused, now is pain-free. It's beginning on the other hand so I made more braces, reversing the shaping.
 
nonak said:
I'm so sorry. I have had issues with my thumbs because of lots of computer use - but any repetitive motion in your hands can cause problems.
It's my feeling that there are going to be an overwhelming number of corrective measures taken in the future, due to the un-wise use off thumbs in texting. Our thumbs just weren't meant to repetitively bend in that direction!
 
I can absolutely relate, I couldn't do anything It was my right hand.I couldn't even bathe myself My husband had to bathe me dress me. We hired a housekeeper, and I cried an awful lot to be so helpless.I still can't twist bottle tops or lift heavy things.You will find out who your friends are for sure. I am positive you will be okay. It is just a test on you're nerves. wishing you lot's of luck and Know you will get through it just fine.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
hobbyknit said:
I can absolutely relate, I couldn't do anything It was my right hand.I couldn't even bathe myself My husband had to bathe me dress me. We hired a housekeeper, and I cried an awful lot to be so helpless.I still can't twist bottle tops or lift heavy things.You will find out who your friends are for sure. I am positive you will be okay. It is just a test on you're nerves. wishing you lot's of luck and Know you will get through it just fine.
Did you have surgery? You were fortunate to have a helpful husband.
My husband has progressive expressive aphasia and he would just stand there with a sad face on. I am his 24/7 caregiver also, I dress him etc. People brought meals for the 1st week which was helpful. It now takes me most of the day to prepare & cook something, so I make it big and we eat it over & over & over again. I can drive with pain, so I drive us about to all the appt. & follow ups as I waited while he had heart trouble most of the spring and finally got a stent. I jumped on it as soon as I thought that he could manage by my talking him through things over and over again.
I have no complaints because God has been so good to us for years. I think most of the pain now is 'nerve pain', as it heals. I haven't cried as I have slept it off, always tired as I have never done nothing in my entire life,no vacations etc.. I don't know if I will ever get back up to speed again.
 
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