@lennie, I had a left total wrist fusion in February 2016 having had problems with that hand for a long time. I had cortisone injections and eventually my GP referred me to a wrist surgeon who shocked me at the first appointment by mentioning fusion.
He sent me for an MRI scan which showed the extent of the damage: 's
evere degenerative change in the proximal and distal row of the carpus'. The surgeon tried a fluoroscopic guided cortisone injection which gave me short-lived pain relief. At the next appointment we agreed that fusion was the only way forward because I was finding it difficult to cope with the pain.
I had the surgery as an in-patient where a 10cm titanium plate was put across the damaged joints which causes them to fuse. The immediate pain after surgery took a while to control but when I left hospital the next day I was on paracetamol - 1000mg 4 times a day which worked surprisingly well.
I had a plaster slab, bandage and thick foam sling for 2 weeks and returned for an x-ray. I then had a lightweight fibreglass cast for 3 weeks. I am right-handed so I could do most things whilst in a cast. I bought a plastic waterproof sleeve for showering and a cast sleeve (stretchy fabric) because the fibreglass cast had edges that were a little rough.
When the cast came off I had a wrist brace but was told to take it off frequently to exercise my fingers. Within a week I could move all of my fingers which impressed the physio. It was 8 weeks post surgery before I felt confident and strong enough to drive.
Life with a fused wrist is different because although it rotates my hand does not flex at all. As it is my left wrist I can compensate using my right hand. I manage to work using a computer, drive, garden, cook and do crafts. Things that are more difficult to do - hold and peel vegetables; eat food that that requires cutting and is served in bowl (might be a UK trend), I tend to choose food when eating out that doesn't require a lot of cutting because I feel self-conscious but family and friends have told me that I am more aware of my hand than anyone around me.
I also have trouble pulling on a handbrake in the car (in the UK we drive on the left so the handbrake is on my left) and prefer cars with a thicker steering wheel.
My hand is not totally pain free because not all of the arthritic damage could be removed so that I could retain the ability to rotate my wrist. However I have a stronger usable hand than pre-surgery. I do not regret having it done!
I wish you well if you choose to have the surgery. I went on to need a hip replacement too and think that my hand was actually more painful than my hip.