I learned a lesson

This is all good to hear about - I have an appt to see an orthopedist about my thumb on Thursday and right now it's a bit better and why mess with it?  My neck is terrible though...

     I have heard that fusion is safer, but not as convenient - everything is a trade-off!

Ellen

you are right everything is a trade off. My joints were feeling a bit better before I saw my orthopedic doctor also. I still chose to replace them with a swanson joint, because I knew I would have to  sooner or later. I have had surgery on my thumb, my ortho. doc. just choose to clean the joint instead of replacing it, my thumb joint is not as damaged as the other knucle joints. Still go to your appointment talk to your Doc. she what they have to say, you might not need joint replacement yet. My toes are fused, because the joints would not have withstood a replacement and my ortho doc., after looking at my x-rays and showing me the damage, left the decision up to me, I chose fusion in my toes, just like I chose the swanson joints in my knuckle joints and other finger joints. I thank you for your comment and I hope I have been helpful.

I would recommend both.  I have swanson joints in my right hand and They have lasted now for 7 yrs without any problems. The remaining swanson joints in my left hand are doing real good. You need to do research and get other opions from other Doctors. I went on the website where Doctor Swanson (the inventor of the swanson joint.), it stated that the joint least likely to be able to with stand a swanson joint is the smaller joints in the fingers. My orthopedic said to keep the mobility in my mcp joint, a swanson joint would be better than fusion. Do the research and you decide which might be best for you.  I have a swanson joint in myleft middle finger in the center joint. I have had that one for almost 9 yrs now, and I have not had any problems with that one. This one joint, I feel that I did break this due to a fall, a week after surgery. I thank you for your response and I hope I have been helpful.

Thanks, all that terminology is new to me, I will look it up!

Ellen