PVNS on my Wrist
PVNS is an uncommon disease, and it is even more rare on the wrist. In fact many doctors seem to be clueless about it. I had the visible lump on my wrist for 3 years but not knowing what it was and not doing anything about it, as it didn’t affect my daily activities.
I went to several hospitals and gone through different diagnosis including x-ray, ultrasound, and MRI. Finally a doctor specializing in wrist treatment diagnosed me with PVNS. The doctor had to read a reference book in order to find a treatment for me, and finally advised to remove the tissue by open surgery.
I had the diffuse form of PVNS, and the surgery was slightly complicated because it was impossible to remove every bit of the PVNS tissue in the diffuse form. The surgery took about 3 hours, with general anesthesia I didn’t feel anything during the operation. The pain was minor (bearable) after the surgery. I was released from the hospital after one week of care and observation.
I had to wear a cast on my arm for more than 2 weeks in order to stablize the wound which was over 2 inches long. As my wound healed several weeks later, I began taking physiotherapy to regain the range of movement and strength for my wrist.
Several months have past since the surgery, my wrist is mostly recovered and I have resumed my normal activities inlcuding work and sports. From what I’ve heard and read, diffuse PVNS has a high rate of recurrence. I will take another MRI scan in December to see how it goes.
References:
http://familydoctor.org/469.xml
http://www.kneeandshoulder.md/pvns_01.html
April 1st, 2006 at 5:10 am
Hi-
I was wondering if how your wrist is after surgery. I have PVNS in my knees and am wondering what the best treatment is.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss.
Michelle
April 9th, 2006 at 10:16 am
i had/have PVNS in my left knee and finally had it removed thursday after having it for more than a year.. i still have a ittle though in the side of my knee which i am going to have to go back from treatment
May 14th, 2006 at 3:52 am
Hello all, pvns is a bit of a nasty problem to have. I had my first surgery 2 years ago,(left knee) and have had 3 since(about every 6 months).
The first one was a big deal, they had to remove alot of it, removed the synovium lining (synovectomy) and i had alot of swelling and scar tissue buildup. Last 2 surgeries werent bad, simple scopes, was out for couple days, after 2 weeks went back to work.
Theres a couple things i have found that helps, some people have recommended glucosimine supplements that help produce cartilage and fluid in the joints. I did try that for awhile but i think it actually did more harm then good by speeding up the spreading and reoccurance. I stopped taking that about a year ago.
It is something you have to get removed, the longer you wait the worse it will get and could cause bone damage. I waited to the point that it was real bad the first time, hence why it was such a hard recovery.
Ive been to several specialist, one of the best Drs at Rush hospital in Chicago, and ive gotten the same response. Theres not much that can be done at this point since it is a rare condition, and there hasnt been that many resources spent on finding a cure yet.
Im wearing a mueller knee strap now, you can buy them at walgreens and they help to keep the knee in the same position which helps with the discomfort. I get alot of popping, and discomfort from that knee and I have found that if i walk 3 times a week 2 miles each session, it helps.
July 2nd, 2006 at 4:59 pm
If you don’t mind my leaving this msg, wanted to let you know there’s a good online PVNS support group in Delphi forums. I had to have 3 surgeries for my L knee PVNS, first an arthroscopic synovectomy, then within about 6 months an open syn. due to a fast aggressive recurrence, and another year or so later a total knee replacement. That was about 3 yrs ago now, and so far all is going well. Of course with a TKR it’s easier for them to (hopefully) get all of it out, but I know there’s the possibility of another recurrence someday. Am enjoying my current condition, though! Hope things go well with all of you . . .
February 26th, 2007 at 1:19 am
I just had open synovectomy in the last four wks on my left knee. Have had this problem for a year after a bad fall at work.Just want to know what happens next ?Pain and swelling has not gone away after the op!!Want to know if for the future all this will go back to normal .
feb 07
June 12th, 2007 at 9:50 am
I have PVNS… in my left knee, recently diagnosed after two plus years of pain. I have started blogging about it at http://kimberleesblog.blogspot.com/
I am getting ready for surgery (incisions in the front and back of my knee) in mid July. I am optimistic about the surgery taking care of it…but I have not read many “success” stories about PVNS. Anyone have a success story?
June 21st, 2007 at 10:04 pm
I was misdiagnosed with it and it turned out to just be a bad case of tendinitis. However, I had a friend some time back who had PVNS in her knee, and two surgeries later over the course of a year or two, and she was totally fine. We lost touch a few years back, but I need to look her up. I was told and still hear all kinds of things about PVNS, and have no clue what to make of it. They say it effects taller people (I am tall), but I’ve seen short and average heighted people with it. My friend was only 5′ 7″