Hi. This is my first discussion here. I wanted to share some thoughts about my recent finger surgery.
Two years ago I had my right index finger pip (middle) joint fused. This was done after trying everything else, i.e. injections and pain meds, in addition to my rx regimen with a daily DMARD and Biologic infusion every 4 weeks. The swelling and pain stubbornly continued.
After seeking the advice of the hand surgeon recommended by my rheumatologist, I moved ahead with his recommendation to fuse the joint.
It was/is the best decision for relief of this painful problem for me.
Last week I had the fusion surgery done on my left index pip joint also. I plan and hope for a similar positive outcome. This joint had developed a synovial cyst that was bulging out of the side of the joint. When I returned to consult with the same hand surgeon he agreed that it was time to surgically fuse the finger.
The surgery really wasn't a bad experience, I might even call it 'a piece of cake' if it wasn't for the awfulness of having to go off my medications for 2 weeks before the surgery and stay off for 2 weeks after. This resulted in a PAINFUL flare and prednisone use for 4 days before surgery.
Yesterday was my post-op check up 6 days after surgery. The surgeon thought everything looked great and gave me the green light to get back to my med's almost a week earlier than planned.
I was especially excited about getting relief from the fatigue that had set in with a vengeance a few days after surgery. That is, until I took my DMARD last evening before bed, as I have done for a several years now, and within the next hour began with stomach pain that turned into a night of devastating nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, even though I took 2 doses of Zofran during the night to try and get relief.
This was unexpected. I thought that I would tolerate a little break from the med's without adverse effects. Wrong! Both about the rapid onset of flare, and the readjustment to stomach issues when taking a DMARD (for me, at least).
Anyway, the nausea is subsiding as the day wears on and I am sipping Gatorade carefully. But another daily dose is coming on when evening approaches . . . and I am scared of the resulting side effects.