Yvette Pruitt
Regaining Independence After Hand Surgery
Yvette Pruitt
Combing your hair, washing your hands, or getting dressed are everyday activities most people perform without thinking twice. For Yvette Pruitt, however, severe pain in her right thumb and wrist turned these simple tasks into daily challenges.
Yvette endured the pain for 10 years before seeking treatment. Unable to rely on pain medication because of her chronic kidney disease, the worsening pain began restricting her ability to perform essential daily functions.
“I just couldn’t take it anymore because my thumb had started locking up, and I was dropping everything; that was scary,” she shared. “I used to take pain meds, which I try to stay away from because I have stage 3a [Chronic Kidney Disease].”
As the severity of the pain became unbearable, Yvette knew she could no longer put off treatment.
“I couldn’t even wash my hands without it locking into place,” she explained. “When I say lock, I mean your joints lock up and you can’t even pry them with your hands to unlock them. That’s when I said, ‘that’s it.’”
Seeking Care
Choosing where to seek treatment was an easy decision for Yvette. Having experienced a successful hip replacement at OrthoIllinois a year earlier, she was confident in the quality of care she would receive.
“I ran there,” she remembered. “And they got me in so fast. They got the ball rolling so fast.”
During her first appointment, X-rays confirmed what Yvette had suspected: surgery would be necessary to relieve her pain. Years of wear and tear had caused significant CMC (carpometacarpal) osteoarthritis at the base of her thumb. A common degenerative condition, CMC osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage at the thumb joint wears away, leading to pain, weakness, and difficulty gripping everyday objects.
Within a few weeks after her first appointment, Yvette was scheduled for surgery with Dr. Brian Bear.
“They got right on it; I was just so impressed on how soon,” she remarked. “The thought in my mind, knowing that I wasn’t going to be in constant pain, and hearing how soon they could do it—that was a yes from me.”
In Good Hands
Leading up to surgery, Yvette felt confident and well prepared. From the beginning, Dr. Bear and his team took time to listen to and address any concerns she had.
“That meant more to me than anything—that I was being heard,” she shared. “They let me explain everything. I can tell they care. They’re very attentive and made me very knowledgeable about what I was getting into—the entire process. I am so grateful.”
In addition, Yvette received comprehensive pre-operative and post-operative care instructions. Her OrthoIllinois care team not only provided handouts she could reference back to as needed but also discussed these instructions with her in depth to ensure she felt ready for surgery and subsequently recovery.
“They educated me well on what to do,” she recalled. “That’s why I didn’t have a lot of swelling because I knew [what to do]. I paid attention.”
Dr. Bear performed a specialized reconstructive procedure to relieve the source of Yvette’s pain, stabilize her thumb joint, and improve hand function. The surgery also addressed the nerves contributing to her chronic pain, helping restore comfort and movement.
Resuming Essential Daily Activities
Even before the surgical bandages came off, Yvette realized the constant pain she’d lived with for a decade was gone.
“The pain that I was suffering with for all those years of that thumb, that was gone,” she noted. “And I knew that right after surgery, even with the bandage on.”
A few months after surgery, Yvette was once again able to dress herself, comb her hair, shower, prepare meals, and drive—everyday tasks that had become difficult or impossible before treatment. Most importantly, she regained her independence.
“I can live without pain 24 hours a day,” she revealed. “I have no more locking. My joints don’t lock. There’s little to no swelling. I don’t take any pain meds, not even Tylenol.”
Compassionate Patient Care
As Yvette reflects on her experience with OrthoIllinois, she remembers being treated with compassion by every team member during each visit. From the clinical staff to the rehabilitation team, Yvette felt supported throughout every stage of her recovery.
“They were all wonderful—the PA, nurse assistant, even the gentleman who took my cast off,” she remarked. “I was in good hands. I was in great hands, the best hands.”
She especially appreciated Dr. Bear and his team’s empathetic approach to care, which made her feel valued as a person, not just as a patient.
“He treated me like I was a family member,” she recalled. “That’s how I felt, like my family member is representing me in here. That’s a lot. I’m so human; I’m so precious to them.”
Rebuilding Strength and Looking Ahead
Routine physical therapy aided in increasing mobility during the recovery process. With her sessions scheduled twice a week, Yvette appreciated the convenience of having OrthoIllinois nearby.
“It’s very accessible, the locations,” she noted. “Who knew? That matters to me. That matters to me a lot.”
Today, Yvette is enjoying life with less pain, greater independence, and a trusted team to help keep her moving. Having experienced such a positive outcome, Yvette feels confident pursuing treatment for similar pain in her other hand.
“I will be back so [Dr. Bear] can do the other thumb,” she concluded. “And that’s for certain.”
