“Playing again free of pain “
Christian,
a 64-year-old trumpeter from Berlin, talks about his battle with basal joint arthritis
Basal joint arthritis, a form of osteoarthritis that affects the carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb, can make even the simplest of hand movements or tasks a real challenge. Christian, a professional trumpeter from Berlin, found that the condition turned his life upside down for over five years. The pain became unbearable and threatened to ruin not just his musical career but also his day-to-day life. After two operations, his journey has taken him from suffering and doubts to something close to rebirth.
When the pain sets in
« My hand was hurting even at rest. I was getting sharp twinges of pain when I was lying in bed. »
By the time he had reached the age of 64, he was really suffering. Playing the trumpet requires you to hold the instrument in the same position for a long time and push the valves down firmly. “No doubt holding the trumpet in the same position, over the course of decades, has accelerated the wear and tear on my joint” Christian explains.
The pain gradually started to spread into his day-to-day life as well: writing, carrying bags, or just holding onto a piece of paper started to become difficult. He found he was getting exhausted by any heavier duty tasks in the garden (such as pushing a wheelbarrow, digging and shovelling, carrying plants). The same applied to sport: lifting weights or yoga put constant, painful strain on his hands.
Look for other solutions before resorting to surgery
Like many patients, Christian started off by exploring non-surgical solutions:
He even tried targeted radiotherapy (a form of treatment available in Germany), but there was no lasting improvement.
« You always pray that it is going to be enough. But in the end you realise that it’s only temporary relief », Christian recalls.
In his case there was also a family aspect to the condition: « My mum and my sister already suffered from the same form of arthritis. ».
Taking the bull by the horns: opting for an operation
After years of flitting between various types of non-surgical treatment, Christian was beginning to feel that he was lumbered with the pain for good. « It had become a real struggle to play the trumpet or just perform day-to-day tasks and activities that involved using my hands. Every solution I tried just patched over the problem for a while », he recalls.
Eventually, last autumn, after consulting a doctor-friend and some extensive personal research, he booked himself an appointment with a hand surgeon in Berlin. « I read testimonials and I weighed up the pros and cons. I told myself that I had to stop waiting for it to get better. I was at risk of losing my hand mobility permanently. ».
X-rays taken at the consultation confirmed his fears: the joint was so worn that the bones were rubbing directly against one another « like a wheel that’s lost its shock absorber », the surgeon explained.
Confronted with the evidence, Christian decided to go for it. In December he had an operation on his right hand and three months later he had an operation on his left. « I was worried, of course, but I knew that it was the only way of getting my life back, », he remembers.
The operation went well
He had the operation under general anaesthetic. He was only in hospital for a short time and there were no complications.
« I was expecting to be in a lot of pain after the operation. I ended up being pleasantly surprised – it wasn’t that bad and it was definitely worth it, not to have to put up with the pain I had been in », he recounts.
Rehabilitation started straightaway with hand specialists performing gentle mobilisation and gradual strengthening and working on the scar tissue, all aimed at ensuring his full recovery.
Using his hands again and returning to music
Within 6 weeks of the operation Christian had rediscovered an independence that he thought he had lost forever.
« The most surprising thing is how quickly you forget the pain », he says.
He gradually returned to playing the trumpet, got back into sport and gardening again and is now once again living an active life. « What I am most delighted about is that I can use my hands fully again without fear – whether it’s to carry heavy loads in the garden or do yoga. »
Music has re-assumed its rightful place in his life: « My hands are not just tools – they are an integral part of my life. It’s wonderful to be able to play again without pain, a freedom I thought I had lost. ».
A new lease of life and a message of hope
Christian is now living without pain and is keen to encourage anyone who is still hesitant:
« I understand why people may be worried, but the operation gave me my life back. You soon forget all the years of suffering. »
Christian’s account proves that appropriate treatment really can transform day-to-day life, even after years of arthritis.
Conclusion
Christian’s story is similar to that of many people suffering from basal joint arthritis: a long battle with the pain, temporary solutions and then ultimately an operation that changes everything. What he went through proves that it is possible to return to an active life, on a professional and personal level, and to continue doing what you love, even after years of pain.
