Guest guest Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Hi Caroline and thanks for the information in regards to joint fusion. I'm always curious on this type of info since I have a fused left wrist and left thumb and need my right wrist fused. Interesting information. You and I seem to research similar sites as I often get info sent to me from about.com in regard to arthritis as it's quite informative. Actually I received this particular article a while ago and sent it to Tricia since she was having so much pain in her knees. Thanks for all your help in searching the web for more information about the disease, treatments and medications. Marilyn Free yourself from those irritating pop-up ads with MSN Premium: Join now and get the first two months FREE* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 My experience with joint fusion... I don't actually have any direct experience of fusion as none of my joints have been fused, just a cautionary tale. During the early days of my last flare my wrists and elbows were extremely swollen with little to motion in them. I was referred by my rheumy to a surgeon. The surgeon proceeded to tell me that all the drugs were a waste of time and that sooner or later I'd have to have both my wrists fused and a synovectomy performed on both elbows. He said I may as well have them done now and get it over and done with. I wondered how he could possibly come to this conclusion given my history of very severe flairs followed by complete remission. I asked him if he'd read my history. He said no but he'd seen hundreds of cases and they all went the same way and that drugs were a waste of time! Well I dug my heals in and sent him away with a flea in his ear. Here I am 3 years later with full motion restored to my elbows and about 80 in my wrists - and no surgery! I'm certainly not trying to say that this kind of surgery is never necessary, because clearly it is. What I am saying is question everything a white coat tells you. If you don't like it then find another and see if he can tell you a better story....that day I found a new Rheumy! Graham (36) West Sussex, UK At 01:22 16/09/2004, you wrote: >With winter fast approaching, I thought is would be good to talk about > " Stiff Joints " . Things like joint fusion, Stills in the Winter (no gang, >that is not the family business kind. LOL), fibromyalgia. > >Here is information on Joint Fusions. Smiles, Caroline > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 My experience with joint fusion... I don't actually have any direct experience of fusion as none of my joints have been fused, just a cautionary tale. During the early days of my last flare my wrists and elbows were extremely swollen with little to motion in them. I was referred by my rheumy to a surgeon. The surgeon proceeded to tell me that all the drugs were a waste of time and that sooner or later I'd have to have both my wrists fused and a synovectomy performed on both elbows. He said I may as well have them done now and get it over and done with. I wondered how he could possibly come to this conclusion given my history of very severe flairs followed by complete remission. I asked him if he'd read my history. He said no but he'd seen hundreds of cases and they all went the same way and that drugs were a waste of time! Well I dug my heals in and sent him away with a flea in his ear. Here I am 3 years later with full motion restored to my elbows and about 80 in my wrists - and no surgery! I'm certainly not trying to say that this kind of surgery is never necessary, because clearly it is. What I am saying is question everything a white coat tells you. If you don't like it then find another and see if he can tell you a better story....that day I found a new Rheumy! Graham (36) West Sussex, UK At 01:22 16/09/2004, you wrote: >With winter fast approaching, I thought is would be good to talk about > " Stiff Joints " . Things like joint fusion, Stills in the Winter (no gang, >that is not the family business kind. LOL), fibromyalgia. > >Here is information on Joint Fusions. Smiles, Caroline > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2004 Report Share Posted September 18, 2004 Thanks Gail. You're right about finding a good doc. The Rheumy I have now is great. He listens and works with me. The fact that he has arthritis in his knees also helps! Graham (36) West Sussex, UK At 00:38 17/09/2004, you wrote: >Graham, > >I like your attitude! I feel the same way and have many times told a >Doctor that I do not agree with what they are saying. I think it's really >important, especially with Still's, that the doc listen to their >patients. There are so many gray areas to this disease and each person >may respond differently to various treatments. I have had " wishy washy " >docs before that make me roll my eyes as I leave their office. Needless >to say, I don't go back. >A good Doc is worth his/her weight in gold. I want someone to listen to >me and be concerned about what I have to say. I do not want someone like >you had, who was arrogant enough to tell you what he did without even >reading your file. >Sometimes you've got to speak up. Way to go, Graham! > >Hugs, > >Gail in KY > > > >Graham wrote: >>My experience with joint fusion... >> >>I don't actually have any direct experience of fusion as none of my joints >>have been fused, just a cautionary tale. >> >>During the early days of my last flare my wrists and elbows were extremely >>swollen with little to motion in them. I was referred by my rheumy to a >>surgeon. The surgeon proceeded to tell me that all the drugs were a waste >>of time and that sooner or later I'd have to have both my wrists fused and >>a synovectomy performed on both elbows. He said I may as well have them >>done now and get it over and done with. >> >>I wondered how he could possibly come to this conclusion given my history >>of very severe flairs followed by complete remission. I asked him if he'd >>read my history. He said no but he'd seen hundreds of cases and they all >>went the same way and that drugs were a waste of time! >> >>Well I dug my heals in and sent him away with a flea in his ear. Here I am >>3 years later with full motion restored to my elbows and about 80 in my >>wrists - and no surgery! >> >>I'm certainly not trying to say that this kind of surgery is never >>necessary, because clearly it is. What I am saying is question everything >>a white coat tells you. If you don't like it then find another and see if >>he can tell you a better story....that day I found a new Rheumy! >> >> >>Graham (36) >>West Sussex, UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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