How Will I Live With A Fused Wrist?

My hand surgeon appointment was shocking! I never thought I would hear the news she gave me. When I saw a hand surgeon 1 1/2 years ago, he said that he usually takes out three bones and that leaves the patient with a lot of mobility.

Having Avascular Necrosis in my wrists has made me face a lot of pain and accept that my wrists are never going to be normal. The doctor knocked me for a loop when she told me that she has to do a fusion surgery on my right wrist.

She showed me on the x-rays how the surgery called proximal row carpectomy, isn't possible because of no cartilage and misalignment of the remaining bones. The way my bones are, the proximal row carpectomy would just be more bone on bone pain. Then, a fusion would have to be tried anyway.

There is no sure way to know if any of these surgeries work. The other salvage surgery she said I couldn't have is the four-corner fusion that fuses some carpal bones. This allows some wrist movement.

So now, I'm faced with the facts that someday soon, my right wrist will be fused. I will have full use of my fingers. I will be able to rotate my forearm and fingers together. But, the other things we count on every day will be impossible for me.

How will I make it living with fused wrists? I know it will be shocking and sad, but I'm thankful that there are things to do that will make me compensate and be supported in this.

1. After surgery, I'll wear a cast for 3 months and then I'll start therapy. It will probably be Occupational Therapy. I've seen a hand-specialist OT doing great work with many types of hand/wrist problems. They will show me how to use numerous devices that will make it easier to function.

Many things we take for granted every day are done because our wrists move in multiple directions. Thankfully, therapists have invented many devices that can help us stir with a spoon, eat, take a bath, shut a car door, etc....

2. I need to do all I can do to be and feel healthier. I want to lose weight and need to lose weight. I'm at such a disadvantage, because I haven't been able to exercise in many years. My plan is to try and do limited chair exercises. Any little bit will help.

3. Prayer is something I do daily and now I have a new thing to pray for. God may not do a miracle, but I know He will be with me. The way He supports me is mentally and spiritually. When I'm mentally and spiritually at peace it eases my stress, worry, and anxiety. I'm able to accept illness and become more content with the life I live.

4. Another thing that can help me is support. I have total support of my husband and kids. It's also great to have other types of support. I always have great support from my dear readers here. There are also support groups online. If you need to find one, just google and you can find support groups for everything!

   
   

   

My occupational therapist will give me tons of support for specific actions

that will make life better by teaching me ways to function. If I need to, I can

make an appointment with a psychologist. They will know ways that could help me deal with the loss and grief that comes from losing physical functions.

These are some effective ways to deal with new medical conditions, new pain, or physical disabilities. It seems that the longer I live I become more and more disabled. That's a word I'm not comfortable with. I guess it's because sometimes people make light of what I'm dealing with. Sometimes it is weird how people think, if you don't have a terrible disease that is visible, you must be exaggerating your pain.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us". Rom. 5:3-5 NIV

I can't dwell on other people who are misinformed or willfully ignorant. I have plenty of challenges to deal with and they will be tougher once the second wrist is fused. I hope that will be a year or more away. For now, my goal is to be thankful for each day.

@2025, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical expert. This post contains my experiences and opinions and is not meant to be taken as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please consult your personal physician.