Are you getting wrist surgery because of flute?..if that's the case...ohBOY! I know that holding the flute all the time helped me develop a REALLY strong wrist. I play badminton..and the coach says i have a SUPER strong wrist..yup.
HEEHEE! that's funny..i thought i'll be the only one who has a stubby short pinky. WEiRd!! it's very weird becusae only my left pinky is REALLY short and the other one is normal and bigger than my left pinky. :D haha!

I am too curious not to try the infamous test. So I did and felt no pain at all. I'm lucky in that, at least.

Kippsix, I'm very sorry you have this problem. But before undergoing surgery and a tendon cut, I suggest you try (or insist in trying if you already had) with this simple procedure, taken from the same link you provided:

"Applying ice at the radial styloid (the bony eminence on the thumb side of the wrist where the tendons pass) may also decrease inflammation and symptoms."

I say this because may wife suffered (several years ago) of terrible pain in the bottom of her left foot. She consulted with all kind of doctors and physiotherapists. Nobody could give her a solution. Not even a reasonable explanation. It was supposed to be something "natural" "irreversible" and/or related with aging.

Then she tried her own treatment. She had noted that the pain showed up or increased when her foot was "hot", (in summer more than in winter, or when using sport shoes, or after long walks in hot weather). So she started to apply ice under her foot for several hours a day (she could do this thanks to her sedentary profession). She isolated the ice cubes in a cloth so as not to "freeze" the foot.

And it worked! After several weeks (or were they months?) of "treatment", the pain disappeared completely and now she can walk, exercise and enjoy a normal life. We have even started our PADI open water diving certificate. Just with ice and patience!

I really think this is worth trying. It will do no harm and you can always have surgery if it does not work.

I am not against surgery and I have had it my self thrice (though not in the hands).

But surgery of the hand is not one of the simplest and is preferably to avoid it always and more in the case of a flutist, were it possible.

Good luck!!

Thanks jose luis; I agree, icing really works. I have been icing for over a year, (but not on as strict of a schedule as your wife).

I do not think playing the flute is what caused my wrist problem. It actually doesn't hurt the most when playing, in other words, it hurts much worse doing other activities.

The doctor's concern is that if I do not address the issue, the tendon could rupture, then I would have a major problem ever being able to play again (because thumb use would be drastically inhibited). I will seek the opinion of the hand specialist, then I will have to come to a decision.

I am so sorry about the problem! I had carpel tunnel (sp?) a while back and that was very painful! I don't have anything to suggest to you besides short practice sessions and rest! I hope everything gets better; get well!