I had surgery done many years ago...like 10 or more...it was called a CMC joint resection for osteoarthritis of the thumb joint. Here is a link that explains about it:
http://www.eorthopod.com/content/res...roplasty-thumb
It was a tough recovery...and a long time before I had full use of it again. But I did eventually recover full use and really nothing I can't do with it, as long as I am careful and not overuse it. I never have had to have the other hand done so that is good. The one I had done was my dominant right hand. I had an excellent hand surgeon to do my surgery-we are very fortunate to have a hand and upper extremity surgery clinic in our town.
Mine was done out-patient, I did not have to stay over in the hospital. And I had it done in summer, so was a good time to not have to worry about too much clothes/dressing which was really difficult. My husband was a big help. And so were my boys. You will have to have someone available to help for quite awhile.