I was suffering from severe pain in both of my hands doing everyday things like turning doorknobs, opening jars, riding my bike, gripping a golf club, or even writing with a pen. My thumbs throbbed just laying in bed in night.
I went to see Dr. Pannunzio who diagnosed it as a fairly common arthritis. We tried a splint, and then cortisone shots, but the pain persisted. X-rays showed bone on bone arthritis, and Dr. Pannunzio basically refused to keep treating me with cortisone shots that were only providing relief from the pain for a month or two. Instead, he suggested a surgery that would remove the trapezium bone in my wrist and use some tendon to fill in the gap, effectively replacing the joint at the base of my thumb. Two weeks later I had the surgery, and it was one of the best things I've ever done! I am now completely pain free, and have total strength and mobility in my thumb and wrist. I am having my other thumb fixed later this year.
Dr. Pannunzio gave a thorough explanation of what the surgery would involve, and how the recovery process and physical therapy would go. His office staff was extremely friendly and helpful throughout the process. He estimated full healing would take 6 months, but I was able to play golf just 3 months post-surgery. I highly recommend Dr. Pannunzio and Reconstructive Hand to Shoulder of Indiana and encourage anyone with thumb arthritis to consider this quality-of-life improving surgery. Two thumbs up! : ) read more