Re: had surgery - tendons ruptured in hand

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I can't speak for a ruptured tendon, but I recently had two fingers

with " trigger finger " (lump on tendon) injected and they are getting

better slowly - a little bit each day. I believe the tips of two

different fingers have what you have, but my symptoms are much less

severe - they are painful and I cannot straighten the very tip out.

If your finger was completely floppy, doesn't that mean there were

two tendons with problems - there is one on the back of your hand

which straightens the finger and one in the palm of your hand which

bends the finger. If both tendons were ruptured, I imagine that takes

longer to heal. If the nerves were damaged, then you may need to wait

for more healing before they start to function again.

I was really amazed to find out recently that RA could cause a lot of

tendon problems. My rheum. didn't mention that tidbit to me in the

ten years I was seeing him. I now know that while my joints are doing

pretty well, my tendons are becoming more damaged. This damage

doesn't show up on x-rays, so I keep getting told that my RA is in

remission and my problems are not RA. Just because your joints are

not swollen doesn't mean something isn't being damaged!

Nina in Tucson

> Anyway, I have a question. I've done a lot of research and haven't

found an answer. They say you shld have movement back in the finger

where the tendon ruptured almost immediately after surgery. Mine

still won't move. Does it take this long for therapy to work?

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I can't speak for a ruptured tendon, but I recently had two fingers

with " trigger finger " (lump on tendon) injected and they are getting

better slowly - a little bit each day. I believe the tips of two

different fingers have what you have, but my symptoms are much less

severe - they are painful and I cannot straighten the very tip out.

If your finger was completely floppy, doesn't that mean there were

two tendons with problems - there is one on the back of your hand

which straightens the finger and one in the palm of your hand which

bends the finger. If both tendons were ruptured, I imagine that takes

longer to heal. If the nerves were damaged, then you may need to wait

for more healing before they start to function again.

I was really amazed to find out recently that RA could cause a lot of

tendon problems. My rheum. didn't mention that tidbit to me in the

ten years I was seeing him. I now know that while my joints are doing

pretty well, my tendons are becoming more damaged. This damage

doesn't show up on x-rays, so I keep getting told that my RA is in

remission and my problems are not RA. Just because your joints are

not swollen doesn't mean something isn't being damaged!

Nina in Tucson

> Anyway, I have a question. I've done a lot of research and haven't

found an answer. They say you shld have movement back in the finger

where the tendon ruptured almost immediately after surgery. Mine

still won't move. Does it take this long for therapy to work?

[Guest guest]

I didn't realize it affected the tendons, either. My right pinkie

finger is crooked because the tendon on one side is damaged. RA, the

disease that keeps on giving.

Sue

On Sunday, September 18, 2005, at 12:27 AM, Nina Lehman wrote:

> I was really amazed to find out recently that RA could cause a lot of

> tendon problems. My rheum. didn't mention that tidbit to me in the

> ten years I was seeing him. I now know that while my joints are doing

> pretty well, my tendons are becoming more damaged. This damage

> doesn't show up on x-rays, so I keep getting told that my RA is in

> remission and my problems are not RA. Just because your joints are

> not swollen doesn't mean something isn't being damaged!

[Guest guest]

I didn't realize it affected the tendons, either. My right pinkie

finger is crooked because the tendon on one side is damaged. RA, the

disease that keeps on giving.

Sue

On Sunday, September 18, 2005, at 12:27 AM, Nina Lehman wrote:

> I was really amazed to find out recently that RA could cause a lot of

> tendon problems. My rheum. didn't mention that tidbit to me in the

> ten years I was seeing him. I now know that while my joints are doing

> pretty well, my tendons are becoming more damaged. This damage

> doesn't show up on x-rays, so I keep getting told that my RA is in

> remission and my problems are not RA. Just because your joints are

> not swollen doesn't mean something isn't being damaged!

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I had my right ring finger tendon rupture and then, 2 weeks later,

the little finger next to it. It was about 12 - 15 years ago. My

surgeon connected them to tendons on the other two fingers. I can't

remember how long it took but I know I was in OT for quite awhile

before regaining movement. Do you know where your surgeon

reattached yours? Have you talked with him about when you'll start

seeing progress? I'm sure you will regain motion---it's just a

matter of time & therapy.

Hugs,

Lori

> Sept 2nd, I had surgery to repair a ruptured tendon. It turned out

to be one tendon and part of one burst. My ring finger got the worse

end, it wouldn't move. I discovered this in the shower when my

finger was flopping around trying to shampoo my hair. LOL. Anyway,

I'm out of the cast, stitches out Monday. Last Monday I was fitted

for my day and night splint. My day splint? I call it landing gear.

I want to get one of those kiddy jet planes and super glue it to the

top.

>

> Anyway, I have a question. I've done a lot of research and haven't

found an answer. They say you shld have movement back in the finger

where the tendon ruptured almost immediately after surgery. Mine

still won't move. Does it take this long for therapy to work? I'm

stressed it didn't work or I pulled the stitches out somehow. Help.

I'm freaking out. It's my right hand. Yup, right handed. And some of

you know, I am a writer, so this really is biting me hard! I haven't

been able to really write. I am doing OK with the left hand, but

it's slow. I expect to have this splint for 6 weeks, and it will

take up to 6 months to recovery. I just need reassurance it took and

it's normal for the finger to not move, yet. When I saw my doc last

week and asked, I didn't get an answer, we got sidetracked. Of

course, I'll ask again Monday, but I've been up all night stressing

and mourning the loss of my hand, my only form of communication,

entertainment - computer and writing. This is my worse

> nightmare come true.

>

> Sue aka Rainy

>

>

>

> " The cat is the only animal without visible means of support who

still manages to find a living in the city. " -- Carl Van Vechten

> RainySue19@y...

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> for Good

> Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue,

I had my right ring finger tendon rupture and then, 2 weeks later,

the little finger next to it. It was about 12 - 15 years ago. My

surgeon connected them to tendons on the other two fingers. I can't

remember how long it took but I know I was in OT for quite awhile

before regaining movement. Do you know where your surgeon

reattached yours? Have you talked with him about when you'll start

seeing progress? I'm sure you will regain motion---it's just a

matter of time & therapy.

Hugs,

Lori

> Sept 2nd, I had surgery to repair a ruptured tendon. It turned out

to be one tendon and part of one burst. My ring finger got the worse

end, it wouldn't move. I discovered this in the shower when my

finger was flopping around trying to shampoo my hair. LOL. Anyway,

I'm out of the cast, stitches out Monday. Last Monday I was fitted

for my day and night splint. My day splint? I call it landing gear.

I want to get one of those kiddy jet planes and super glue it to the

top.

>

> Anyway, I have a question. I've done a lot of research and haven't

found an answer. They say you shld have movement back in the finger

where the tendon ruptured almost immediately after surgery. Mine

still won't move. Does it take this long for therapy to work? I'm

stressed it didn't work or I pulled the stitches out somehow. Help.

I'm freaking out. It's my right hand. Yup, right handed. And some of

you know, I am a writer, so this really is biting me hard! I haven't

been able to really write. I am doing OK with the left hand, but

it's slow. I expect to have this splint for 6 weeks, and it will

take up to 6 months to recovery. I just need reassurance it took and

it's normal for the finger to not move, yet. When I saw my doc last

week and asked, I didn't get an answer, we got sidetracked. Of

course, I'll ask again Monday, but I've been up all night stressing

and mourning the loss of my hand, my only form of communication,

entertainment - computer and writing. This is my worse

> nightmare come true.

>

> Sue aka Rainy

>

>

>

> " The cat is the only animal without visible means of support who

still manages to find a living in the city. " -- Carl Van Vechten

> RainySue19@y...

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> for Good

> Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rainy. So sorry you're having such problems with your hand. How

awful. I've read that tendon transplants can be done to restore

movement, so if your surgery has failed, you may still have other

options. Please don't panic, although I surely understand why you

would. Did you go to a hand surgeon? The skill of your surgeon has a

lot to do with the success of your surgery.

I think your recovery will depend on the severity of the tendon

rupture and will also depend on nerve involvement. Sometimes when

the tendons rupture, nerve damage occurs and could affect recovery.

Don't judge your healing with other people. We all heal differently.

http://www.dynomed.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/hand_and_wrist/

Flexor_Tendon_Injuries.html

a

On Sep 17, 2005, at 1:27 PM, Rainy wrote:

> Sept 2nd, I had surgery to repair a ruptured tendon. It turned out

> to be one tendon and part of one burst. My ring finger got the

> worse end, it wouldn't move. I discovered this in the shower when

> my finger was flopping around trying to shampoo my hair. LOL.

> Anyway, I'm out of the cast, stitches out Monday. Last Monday I was

> fitted for my day and night splint. My day splint? I call it

> landing gear. I want to get one of those kiddy jet planes and super

> glue it to the top.

>

> Anyway, I have a question. I've done a lot of research and haven't

> found an answer. They say you shld have movement back in the finger

> where the tendon ruptured almost immediately after surgery. Mine

> still won't move. Does it take this long for therapy to work? I'm

> stressed it didn't work or I pulled the stitches out somehow. Help.

> I'm freaking out. It's my right hand. Yup, right handed. And some

> of you know, I am a writer, so this really is biting me hard! I

> haven't been able to really write. I am doing OK with the left

> hand, but it's slow. I expect to have this splint for 6 weeks, and

> it will take up to 6 months to recovery. I just need reassurance it

> took and it's normal for the finger to not move, yet. When I saw my

> doc last week and asked, I didn't get an answer, we got

> sidetracked. Of course, I'll ask again Monday, but I've been up all

> night stressing and mourning the loss of my hand, my only form of

> communication, entertainment - computer and writing. This is my worse

> nightmare come true.

>

> Sue aka Rainy

>

>

>

> " The cat is the only animal without visible means of support who

> still manages to find a living in the city. " -- Carl Van Vechten

> RainySue19@...

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> for Good

> Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rainy. So sorry you're having such problems with your hand. How

awful. I've read that tendon transplants can be done to restore

movement, so if your surgery has failed, you may still have other

options. Please don't panic, although I surely understand why you

would. Did you go to a hand surgeon? The skill of your surgeon has a

lot to do with the success of your surgery.

I think your recovery will depend on the severity of the tendon

rupture and will also depend on nerve involvement. Sometimes when

the tendons rupture, nerve damage occurs and could affect recovery.

Don't judge your healing with other people. We all heal differently.

http://www.dynomed.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/hand_and_wrist/

Flexor_Tendon_Injuries.html

a

On Sep 17, 2005, at 1:27 PM, Rainy wrote:

> Sept 2nd, I had surgery to repair a ruptured tendon. It turned out

> to be one tendon and part of one burst. My ring finger got the

> worse end, it wouldn't move. I discovered this in the shower when

> my finger was flopping around trying to shampoo my hair. LOL.

> Anyway, I'm out of the cast, stitches out Monday. Last Monday I was

> fitted for my day and night splint. My day splint? I call it

> landing gear. I want to get one of those kiddy jet planes and super

> glue it to the top.

>

> Anyway, I have a question. I've done a lot of research and haven't

> found an answer. They say you shld have movement back in the finger

> where the tendon ruptured almost immediately after surgery. Mine

> still won't move. Does it take this long for therapy to work? I'm

> stressed it didn't work or I pulled the stitches out somehow. Help.

> I'm freaking out. It's my right hand. Yup, right handed. And some

> of you know, I am a writer, so this really is biting me hard! I

> haven't been able to really write. I am doing OK with the left

> hand, but it's slow. I expect to have this splint for 6 weeks, and

> it will take up to 6 months to recovery. I just need reassurance it

> took and it's normal for the finger to not move, yet. When I saw my

> doc last week and asked, I didn't get an answer, we got

> sidetracked. Of course, I'll ask again Monday, but I've been up all

> night stressing and mourning the loss of my hand, my only form of

> communication, entertainment - computer and writing. This is my worse

> nightmare come true.

>

> Sue aka Rainy

>

>

>

> " The cat is the only animal without visible means of support who

> still manages to find a living in the city. " -- Carl Van Vechten

> RainySue19@...

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> for Good

> Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

>

>