 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi, just wondering what experience anyone in the STW hive have of wrist fusion? I believe @ton may have had it?
With my old health board I've been getting steroid injections once or twice a year for a couple of years before covid (which stopped them), but now I'm in a new health board I'm stuck with naproxen, but finally getting see a new consultant next week. Problem seems to be osteoarthritis and negative ulna variance, possibly ligament damage too, and a life of abuse with martial arts, climbing, physical stuff and a break as a kid.
My old consultant said long term I'm looking at a wrist fusion, and just keep getting steroid injections or naproxen until then. Obviously I'll see what the new consultant says, but wondering if the time has come for the fusion as the last injections didn't do much for long, and long term naproxen isn't a great option, I have to minimise it even with omazprazole for my stomach.
If you've had it what was your experience? Recovery? Mobility afterwards? Can you still ride, and did you have to modify bar type or anything?
Both wrists are pretty much the same so don't want both at once as I'd like to wipe my own arse!
Currently I manage on drop bars (Hoods) much better than flats, though both get painful even on road with shock stop stems. I'll be severely gutted if I can't ride as I can't walk/hike a massive amount either due to a knee replacement :/
Appreciate any help, ta.
No advice to give mate but I'm going to stop reading your posts, it's like looking into my future and I don't like it!
Sorry @davosaurusrex! Don't ask me how my heart is lol! Sadly I seem to be gifted with crap genetics and a desire to more than I'm able.
As far as I'm aware my heart is fine (sticks fingers in ears and screws eyes shut). I identify with the second bit though!
I can't talk about wrists but I did have my ankle fused. The toe joints are now the first flexible joint I have below my knees.
A) Riding was helped by the fact that pedals allow me to keep my feet at the same angle regardless of where they were in relation to the crank movement.
B) Walking was made harder as the lack of movement meant I couldn't lift my toes as I swung through the stride so the front of my foot kept hitting the ground. This meant I had to lift my knee mid stride which is awkward and looks strange. Walking was also difficult on off camber slopes like EVERY BLOODY PAVEMENT ANYWHERE as I got pushed down the camber into the gutter.
C) The ankle joint hurts less because it isn't there but all the damage in that area still hurts, but less than when it was moving.
D) The leg aches more as it has to work around the fact it has a missing joint so the muscles and other joints have to do things they weren't designed to do.
I guess that wrist fusions will face more of B type problems with less A type options. Not sure exactly how these will manifest as I didn't expect the two I mentioned affecting me.
I guess C & D will probably apply too wrists or ankles.
I gave up all pain killers as the blend of Naproxen, Tramadol, Temazepam and one other I can't remember were screwing me up with too much depression, anger and dopiness. Turns out they wrecked my liver too so I can no longer drink.
Injury and old age don't mix well.
Doesn't sound great WCA :'(
Luckily though, if you ignore the fact that one ankle can pop in and out of joint once in a bike moon, they're relatively ok!
Yeh meds are a real PITA. I've had more issues than they've solved over the years with various ones.