UKH

After years of pain, rest, avoidance etc I'm now at the point where my left hand is pretty useless to me for climbing or anything else really.

Specifically any sort of side load on my ring ringer is excruciating, especially when its not expected e.g. I brush my hand on something e.g. a door handle

I was referred to a local orthopaedic surgeon, who did Ultrasound, x-ray and MRI, but offered no real solution or diagnosis, and then leapt on the fact I had a pulley injury 15 years ago "it must be scar tissue on the tendon" despite not mentioning anything about possible scar tissue before this conversation.  Basically said it would just go away (I was 4 year in to the injury by then). 

So I gave up on climbing and I've been concentrating on MTBing as I can still do that, but I'm now getting to the point where an hour or 2 on the bike leaves me in pain for a week.

So I've got myself re-referred.... appointment is in January though, so I'm contemplating spending some money to go private, as I'm at my wits end with this, and its clearly getting worse, and at the age of 40 I don't think this is acceptable.

So please give me your recommendations for physio/surgeon hand specialists with magical skills!

I think the department at Derby hospital is supposed to be good. When my Depuytrens first appeared and I did some research the specialist there came up as the best in the country. Don't know about general hand issues but worth a look

Yes they are I had my hand/arm/wrist fixed by them.  It was a total mess.  People can't believe I'm as active as I am considering the damage I did. 

I'm waiting for a MRI at the moment to check out something with it .

My Dad had surgery for Depuytrens in Windsor and I think he was pretty good - can find out the details for you.

Berkshire Independent hospital in Reading has some good hand people - https://www.berkshireindependenthospital.co.uk/specialists?query=hand

I believe John Dickenson is a specialist in hand reconstructions, for a start.

Yes, I know one of the specialists there is (or was) a very good paddler.  I will see if I can find his details, his name escapes me but it may come back. 

Thanks all for the replies so far

I remember his name now, Chris Bainbridge.  Derby hospital and private.  

https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42330

may be interesting 

A few suggestions in this old thread:

https://www.ukhillwalking.com/forums/rock_talk/a1_pulley_operation_anyone_had_...

Where are you based?  Anywhere near Derby?

http://www.hand-surgery.co.uk/

This may/may not be worth a read:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome/symptoms/

I've worked with this surgeon.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://ww...

Should have mentioned... I'm based in Surrey, but willing to travel within reason (Derby/Sheffield easy due to friend-hotels)

It's nothing like that but interesting and thanks for the link... it feels numbing with a deep dull pain and I lose grip strength suddenly, but not pain on the surface or to touch I think it's in the joint/tendons somewhere. I can poke and prod it quite happily. It's quite strange. Doing some yoga the other day, repeating the same poses, 4 times absolutely fine supporting some weight on my hands, 5th time painful collapse onto the floor. next 3 times no pain at all. But always the same is when I've done a few hours of climbing/mtbing/diy/cleaning/yoga I will have a dull ache and it be particularly sensitive to side knocks for a long period after 1-7 days worth depending on what I do.

I see a physio who specialises in hands. She's been great for all the injuries I've had in the past. 

Michelle at PhysioXRehab in Leeds (£65 for initial consultation and the c.£45 after that I believe)

Ok.  Well, as you can tell, Chris Bainbridge has a bit of a UKC fan club!

To be clear, he hasn't done anything to my hands, I just used to paddle at the same club.  I thought a paddler might have a good understanding of wanting to get back to climbing compared to a less active doctor. 

He did fix my finger (which was getting increasingly bent and had been significantly inhibiting my climbing for two years) painlessly and about 10 minutes.  He was highly recommended by my medical friends too.                        

CB might have retired by now - he said he might not be around to fix my finger (NA) when next I need it attended to (this was 2 years ago) But he did say that the younger  docs were better than him already! The OP should certainly consider Derby