9 replies to this topic

[quadinva]

Hey yall,
Im having a little surgery tomorrow morning to attach a 'Digit Widget' to my hand in order to stretch the ligaments in my pinky and ring finger. Theyre stuck right now and the doc wants to straighten them out as a precursor to tendon transfer to get some function out of my hands. Has anyone had a digit widget? How long did you have to have it? What im really concerned about (this procedure and te whole tendon transfer procedure) is the amount of time ill be hindered with this thing screwed into my hand.

Thanks hope everybody as a good weekend,
Bags

[ericr]

quadinva, on May 21 2010, 12:02 AM, said:

Hey yall,
Im having a little surgery tomorrow morning to attach a 'Digit Widget' to my hand in order to stretch the ligaments in my pinky and ring finger. Theyre stuck right now and the doc wants to straighten them out as a precursor to tendon transfer to get some function out of my hands. Has anyone had a digit widget? How long did you have to have it? What im really concerned about (this procedure and te whole tendon transfer procedure) is the amount of time ill be hindered with this thing screwed into my hand.

Thanks hope everybody as a good weekend,
Bags

i have not but please keep me posted on how it goes.

[ems]

Wow.. seems a great idea http://www.handbiola...s/digit-widget/

[quadinva]

quick update: surgery went fine except i woke up in the middle of it. Apparently I was ok with that, just chatted it up with the nurses like nothing was going on they said. Anyways, the digit widget was installed and looks just like the pics in ems's link. Ill be damned if im keeping this thing on for six months like that guy though. It is pretty much a hindrance with transfers and pushing a chair but still doable.

-Bags-

[MrBump]

wow. i've just had first stage of tendon transfer, 6 weeks in. theyy've given me extension through a transfer instead of that widget thingo.................
swelling going down and joints starting to soften now. can feel it working but still a little tight.
i was in plaster for 4 weeks and splint for 2.
going in for flexion in another 6 weeks, then 6 weeks therapy and hopefully all done with good result..

[quadinva]

Mr.B, couple questions if you dont mind:
1. Did you have any finger function before you started the tendon transfer process?
2. Did you get both hands done at the same time, or are you just having one done?
3.can you tell a difference yet?

Thanks
Bags

[MrBump]

1. no
2. just 1 hand
3. yes i can, but still stiff

[Twinb]

I also got the diget widget in may. I did fine the first two weeks and now my pinky is really swollen. I would never do it again!

[quadinva]

TwinB: yeah my piky blew up too, i didnt see too much benefit from the d widget

MrBump: Just had the first stage of my transfer and thumb fusion. Two days in and it SUCKS. Did they do a nerve block on you? I think the feeling of not having an arm was more traumatic than not having feeling in my legs when I was first paralyzed. Have you noticed any loss due to disconnecting the tendon? Granted I have a bulky cast/splint, Im trying to figure out where the tendon came from by fexing my forearm, bicep, etc but cant really tell

-Bags-

[MrBump]

yeh look i'm 3 months post 1st stage now and things are kinda back to normal altho still a bit tender in some of big transfers.
Hand is kinda back to the same look, maybe a bit more swollen looking. I can now open up my fingers, pinky is not as strong tho, still kinda flops and index is not quite there. Middle and ring are very strong.

Yep had the block and it was real bad. I had a cast up to my armpit for 4 weeks. They took it off and had a big pressure sore, spent 5 days in hospital !

2nd stage is in october for flexion.