For Mineral Point artist Jane Wilcoxson, art has always been more than just a hobby, it’s an essential part of who she is. But when osteoarthritis and an unsuccessful surgery made her hand unusable, Jane faced the heartbreaking reality of putting her life’s passion on hold.

In 2023, Jane, left-handed, underwent surgery on her dominant hand at another healthcare organization. The results were discouraging, leaving her with only about 25% function and still feeling pain. She hadn’t been able to draw for a while, and now, a surgery that was supposed to help, ended up making things worse.

Her story took a turn in November 2024, when she came to Southwest Health for an unrelated treatment. A provider noticed her hands and referred her to Dr. Dayton Opel, orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon. From their first meeting, Jane felt calmed and reassured. Dr. Opel spent over an hour walking her through treatment options, being upfront about the challenges but optimistic that her hand function could be restored.

In May, she underwent corrective surgery with Dr. Opel. Almost immediately, Jane sensed a change. Within days, her hand felt stable again, her recovery was smoother, and even the cast was more comfortable than what she had ever experienced before.

Since her corrective surgery, Jane has regained about 90% of her left-hand function. Most importantly, she has returned to creating the art she thought she had to give up forever. Today, Jane encourages other artists who have similar struggles to explore their treatment options and not settle for living in pain.