Linda,
I posted a few months ago that I was having reconstruction of the basal joint done, and you replied that you were considering it. I wanted to let you know my outcome: WONDERFUL!!! It is three months post-op and I have full use of my thumb for the first time in ten years. It will take another 4-6 months to heal completely, but I don't think my thumb knows that. I have 80% of the strength back already, with 100% range of motion...and no pain. If you have a good surgeon, I highly recommend having this done. I am having the other thumb done next winter...
Good luck,
Melissa
Wow Melissa, thats a great outcome, I'm so happy for you!
Did you start with the dominant or non-dominant hand? For some reason my non-dom thumb is in worse shape that the other, possibly because the wrist on the dominant side is garbage, so I might not have abused the thumb as much while protecting the wrist!
(http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq268/olatesgranny7x/ThumbsUp22_thumb48.jpg)
I started with the dominant hand, because that was much worse. I was really only incapacitated for the five weeks that the cast was on, but I figured out how to do stuff....