Tendon Surgery

[neil argonaut]

After a few years of struggling with hand/wrist/elbow pain, and exploring many options (total rest, gradual increase, anti-inflammatories, Alexander technique, targeted exercises, stretches, etc), it's got to the point where the tendon specialist has recommended surgery. As results from an MRI scan show damage where the tendon meets the elbow, they're gonna detach the tendon and reattach it, hoping it will heal fine, and allow me to play again. As far as I can find out, it seems it'll be two weeks of not being able to do much (type, write, drive, lift), then about 6 months to full (i e playing mandolin professionally) recovery, with 60% chance of recovering fully back to where I was before injury, and otherwise being left the same as I am now. So overall outlook is good.

However, just thought I'd check here whether anyone else had had this kind of thing (as opposed to trigger finger operation), and what your experience of recovery was.

[Jim Hudson]

I haven't had surgery but considering one for my left thumb base arthritis (trapezius bone). Will be interested to see what others say about the length and completeness of recovery. Difficult decision ...

[pops1]

I have been having arthritis problems for some time now and the solution will be to fuse the bone so the wrist can't move. Not liking that idea. I was doing some research a couple of days ago and came upon this:

www.drfuhrman.com/disease/arthritis.aspx

I found it interesting because he is not selling something and if is free to try and makes sense. Just thought I would share. good luck

[Mandolincelli]

just thought I'd check here whether anyone else had had this kind of thing (as opposed to trigger finger operation), and what your experience of recovery was.

I had epicondylitus for 8 years and almost got surgery. I had been through unsuccessful physical therapy, cortazone shots, sports doctors etc. As I was nearing my surgery, I happened upon a different physical therapist who said: "if you're having problems with your elbows, the problem isn't in your elbows. Some other muscle group isn't carrying it's weight." Long story short: I isolated the muscle group (which, for me, was right between the scapulae (shoulder blades)). I have always had lazy posture (round shoulders) but I got a trainer to work on my posture and develop these muscles. After about 6 sessions, I can tell you that, at least for me, it's all about good posture. When I sit up and allow these muscles to do their job, I feel a surge of strength in my arms and my playing is painless. Yes, painless. I don't know if my situation would apply to you but surgery can be a real crap-shoot. I would recommend finding some physical therapist who thinks the way mine did, then get a trainer who has a background in biomechanics. If after that you have to have surgery, then fine; at least you exhausted all other options. I'm just offering my story in hopes that it might work for you because surgery is forever.

[pops1]

A back rib out can cause elbow pain,had it for ten months and found a good chiropractor who when I said I also have elbow pain said "oh you have a back rib out", put it in place and the pain was gone instantly and never came back. Other chiropractors said I had tennis elbow and needed to figure out what I was doing to hurt my elbow.

[John Uhrig]

I had bicep tendon repair a few years ago due to trauma. It was my where it attaches at the elbow on my left arm . I am right handed, so that was good for me. Anyway...I was in a brace and sling for 6 weeks, no lifting anything, no reaching either. My doctor was fine with me playing my mandolin though. Full recovery from the surgery with no problems. Hope it goes well for you.

[neil argonaut]

I had epicondylitus for 8 years and almost got surgery. I had been through unsuccessful physical therapy, cortazone shots, sports doctors etc. As I was nearing my surgery, I happened upon a different physical therapist who said: "if you're having problems with your elbows, the problem isn't in your elbows. Some other muscle group isn't carrying it's weight." Long story short: I isolated the muscle group (which, for me, was right between the scapulae (shoulder blades)). I have always had lazy posture (round shoulders) but I got a trainer to work on my posture and develop these muscles. After about 6 sessions, I can tell you that, at least for me, it's all about good posture. When I sit up and allow these muscles to do their job, I feel a surge of strength in my arms and my playing is painless. Yes, painless. I don't know if my situation would apply to you but surgery can be a real crap-shoot. I would recommend finding some physical therapist who thinks the way mine did, then get a trainer who has a background in biomechanics. If after that you have to have surgery, then fine; at least you exhausted all other options. I'm just offering my story in hopes that it might work for you because surgery is forever.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I tried Alexander technique, which is all about changing posture, biomechanics and getting to the source of the problem, not just the muscle that is hurting, and that didn't make the slightest bit of difference (though it did improve my posture / movement generally), so that combined with the fact that the doctor can see the damage on the MRI scans suggest surgery might now be the only option.

[neil argonaut]

I had bicep tendon repair a few years ago due to trauma. It was my where it attaches at the elbow on my left arm . I am right handed, so that was good for me. Anyway...I was in a brace and sling for 6 weeks, no lifting anything, no reaching either. My doctor was fine with me playing my mandolin though. Full recovery from the surgery with no problems. Hope it goes well for you.

I might have to start practising writing with my right hand, being a left hander who plays mandolin right-handed! Though for this op they're saying 2 weeks until can write / type again.

[Paul Busman]

If you do end up with the surgery, be VERY patient with the healing process. Tendons don't have the greatest blood supply and they take a long time to heal. Frustrating, yes, but worth it in the long run.

[neil argonaut]

If you do end up with the surgery, be VERY patient with the healing process. Tendons don't have the greatest blood supply and they take a long time to heal. Frustrating, yes, but worth it in the long run.

Don't worry - I've not been able to practise much in the last couple of years, but patience is one thing I have had plenty of practice with

[gtani7]

I have been having arthritis problems for some time now and the solution will be to fuse the bone so the wrist can't move. Not liking that idea.

That doesn't sound pleasant but i think you'll be a player that only plays from rotating the wrist. Les Paul had his elbow fused and he adapted pretty well, I think: http://www.frugalguitarist.com/post/...al-Injury.aspx

[pointpergame]

...
www.drfuhrman.com/disease/arthritis.aspx

I found it interesting because he is not selling something and if is free to try and makes sense. Just thought I would share. good luck

[My bold type above] I think a digression into dietary belief systems is completely inappropriate here, but isn't he is selling "his system" and "his book?"

[Jeff Hildreth]

"haven't had surgery but considering one for my left thumb base arthritis (trapezius bone). Will be interested to see what others say about the length and completeness of recovery. Difficult decision ..."

Same condition here.

24 hour pain with unbearable spikes if thumb is in the wrong position.
Makes playing an instrument difficult if not impossible.

Surgery scheduled for Sept at Oregon University Med Center Portland.

[pointpergame]

I'm in the same boat. Ten minutes of picking means a week to a month of thumb pain. In my case, it comes from the forces involved during the escapement of the stick from the string.

I'm very interested in hearing the outcomes of players who've had surgery.

[William Smith]

I'm in the same boat. Ten minutes of picking means a week to a month of thumb pain. In my case, it comes from the forces involved during the escapement of the stick from the string.

I'm very interested in hearing the outcomes of players who've had surgery.

No surgery but I may be in the same boat? My left thumb is constantly aching and it for sure hurts but my pain is off and on. it feels like arthritis. Its real bad pain on the left palm area of thumb closest to wrist. Is this the trapezius bone? Any info would be great.

[soliver]

Not Mando or hand/arm surgery related, but I do have issues with a foot that I broke and had surgery on. Have you considered dietary changes?... I broke my heel (calcaneus) and had to have it surgically repaired. Before the injury, I gave up wheat/gluten. I find that as a natural inflammatory, when I cheat and eat something with wheat or gluten I have a LOT more pain in my foot.

[neil argonaut]

Not Mando or hand/arm surgery related, but I do have issues with a foot that I broke and had surgery on. Have you considered dietary changes?... I broke my heel (calcaneus) and had to have it surgically repaired. Before the injury, I gave up wheat/gluten. I find that as a natural inflammatory, when I cheat and eat something with wheat or gluten I have a LOT more pain in my foot.

Thanks, but I find that doesn't seem to make a noticeable difference to me (and I tend to have a good diet anyway), and the fact that the doctor can actually see the tendon damage on an MRI scan suggests a change in diet won't be able on its own to overcome the problem. I do think for many playing problems diet can be a factor, though, and will be trying to eat especially healthily after the operation to aid with recovery.
The good thing about taking a nutrition based as opposed to pharmaceutical based approach to a playing injury I suppose is that even if it doesn't sort the problem, you're still better off!

[pops1]

No surgery but I may be in the same boat? My left thumb is constantly aching and it for sure hurts but my pain is off and on. it feels like arthritis. Its real bad pain on the left palm area of thumb closest to wrist. Is this the trapezius bone? Any info would be great.

I also have arthritis in my hands, thumb area. It is known that gluten and processed foods will increase arthritis problems. I posted a link I read looking into my own problems earlier. It is interesting reading and makes sense.

[JeffD]

I broke my heel (calcaneus) and had to have it surgically repaired. Before the injury, I gave up wheat/gluten.

Perhaps the diet made you more injury prone?

Sorry, I should have resisted.

[JeffD]

Good luck Neil.

[Jim Hudson]

Bluegrasser, yes that sounds like trapezius bone arthritis. Xray to confirm but it quacks like a duck.

Jeff Hildreth, what surgery are they proposing to do? I have had two different ones described, the less radical one they will burr out the cartilage and insert a collagen sponge between the trapezius and the first thumb bone (phalangeal bone, I'm a veterinarian) which I'm told is temporary relief but quicker recovery. The second they remove the trapezius bone entirely and harvest part of a flexor tendon from the forearm, roll it up and insert it where the trapezius bone was as a sort of padding between the first bone of the thumb and the other wrist bones. The second one sounds pretty scary to me ...
What kind of recovery time did they say to expect?

I've been doing almost daily flexor tendon stretches and thumb base massage trying to put off surgery as long as possible. I was told to ice the base of the thumb after playing but rarely make time for that.

[Bill Clements]

Nearly one year ago I had a ladder accident that blew out 1/2 my left shoulder rotator cuff. I separated the infraspinatus and supraspinatus muscles from my shoulder, leaving me unable to lift my arm above shoulder height. I had surgery June 18 of 2015 (I have 5 pins in my shoulder to re-attach tendons) but was unable to play the mandolin for over four months. I could barely tune the instrument for two months. Playing for more than a few minutes up until six months was out of the question. Now after a year of physical therapy and significant pain, I am back to playing. I've regained most of my range of motion but still working on strength.
So yes, tendons take a long time to heal.

[William Smith]

I'm thankful, Went to a Doc and he did some tests and said it was bad arthritis in my thumb area, I'm a only in my 30's and don't know how I got it but for sure painful! Happy nothing too major going on. Gave me a Cortisone type shot and told me to wear hand brace at night while sleeping. The brace has helped and I'd recommend using one.

[wsugai]

Did the cortisone shot help you at all? After I got up off the floor from the pain of the shot (actually two shots -- one in each thumb joint), I really couldn't tell any difference.

[Carl Robin]

My partner had similar tendon surgery, and recovery did take a long time. All we can do is find a good doctor, and strive to be a good patient. Neither of which is necessarily easy. I would try to find some musical outlet using the good hand, and learn some new music to look forward to eventually playing on the mandolin.