| Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain |
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10/17/2013 01:00
Antonia 
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10/17/2013 01:00
Antonia
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
pia2some:
lorraine:
Hi Antonia
I would agree with Dawn. I am surprised you have not yet seen the OT. I have seen the OT every week since day 4 of my surgery.
If you have a GP I would make an appt to see them about the nerve pain and what relief you can get. Pregabelin does give some relief but still I struggle during the night with my splint, taking it off when the pain is high, putting it back on if I wake up again and the pain is gone.
Interesting ... I take my splint off and on during the night, too. Leaving mine on for hours causes my fingers to swell more and more and hurt terribly. I take it off when I'm half asleep and have woken up from the pain. Then a few hours later, I wake up, dig the splint out from the covers and put it back on. My OT is supposed to have an Isotoner compression glove for me tomorrow. She thinks it may really help with the swelling. According to her (she's a certified hand therapist), my swelling is excessive and more than is normally seen at this point.
~ dawn
Hah! So do I. I rip it off in disgust, shove it under the pillow, drift off and then wake up and stick it on again.
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10/17/2013 01:03
pia2some 
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10/17/2013 01:03
pia2some
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
Antonia:
I would say that you really, really need to be working with the OT. My surgery was September 25. I have zigzag incisions in my palm and up my pinky and middle finger of my right hand. I had stitches in for 18 days and started OT before they were even out. My hand is still incredibly swollen. My fingers do not straighten so they appear to be bent and curved. However, that is just because the swelling inside of the palm is so severe. Working with the OT twice a week will help my hand begin to get straight. There are days when the nerve pain is very bad. The OT and surgeon said it is due to the nerves healing and 'waking up'.
If you're having that much pain, you really need to see what's going on. One reason that it is critical to begin OT work right away is that it helps prevent scar tissue from adhering to the tendons and underlying structures of the hand. My hand is incredibly tender. It hurts to even touch my palm or my fingers. When I leave the house, I wrap my hand just to avoid having it bumped or accidentally touched. It's like fire! Since our surgeries were close to the same time, it sounds like we're having the same type of recovery issues like swelling, bent fingers and pain. What exactly did you have done? I'd make every effort to meet with the OT as soon as possible.
~ dawn
Thanks Dawn, for your response. I did have one session with the OT - with stitches in. I had DC in the pinky of my L hand. Had it badly for a couple of years, then had surgery. I sympathize with "It's like fire." I can't meet with the OT until after our vacation, so I will take a hot water bottle and electric kettle with me. I literally can't touch the side of my hand or the palm without setting off the nerves as it is so incredibly sensitive. I am taking bromelain and another enzyme mix to try to stop adhesions as I have had frozen shoulder in both shoulders (but very badly in the left one). Aside from this, I'm a health addict with no issues. I thought it would be a breeze. I'll keep you briefed on progress or lack thereof. Someone has recommended colloidal silver gel. I'm getting some tomorrow. A.
It's really too bad you can't see the OT before vacation. I have a list of exercises and things to do with my hand to get the nerves and muscles working properly. Even small things like rubbing my fingers and palm on a terry cloth towel. It helps to desensitize the skin. The OT does deep tissue massages to keep the scar tissue loose under the skin.
~ dawn
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10/17/2013 01:07
pia2some
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10/17/2013 01:07
pia2some
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
I did understand that you saw the OT the one time. But in comparison, my surgery was a week after you and I've already had six sessions with the OT. Each one lasts about 90 minutes. I can't imagine what my hand would be like today without all the work that's been done in OT.
~ dawn
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10/17/2013 01:13
Antonia
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10/17/2013 01:13
Antonia
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
pia2some:
I did understand that you saw the OT the one time. But in comparison, my surgery was a week after you and I've already had six sessions with the OT. Each one lasts about 90 minutes. I can't imagine what my hand would be like today without all the work that's been done in OT.
~ dawn
Exactly. It's pretty ridiculous where I live. The hospital OT was away, so I couldn't get my stitches out. That's just insane. The surgeon made like it was beneath him to have to do this instead of her. Then she was away (and only works two days a week anyway) and so my session was cancelled. The following week was my fault as I had to attend a meeting that involved travelling on the two days that she was actually scheduled. This week, she was "fully booked." I have booked a session for when I get back from vacation.
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10/17/2013 01:58
pia2some
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10/17/2013 01:58
pia2some
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
Antonia:
pia2some:
I did understand that you saw the OT the one time. But in comparison, my surgery was a week after you and I've already had six sessions with the OT. Each one lasts about 90 minutes. I can't imagine what my hand would be like today without all the work that's been done in OT.
~ dawn
Exactly. It's pretty ridiculous where I live. The hospital OT was away, so I couldn't get my stitches out. That's just insane. The surgeon made like it was beneath him to have to do this instead of her. Then she was away (and only works two days a week anyway) and so my session was cancelled. The following week was my fault as I had to attend a meeting that involved travelling on the two days that she was actually scheduled. This week, she was "fully booked." I have booked a session for when I get back from vacation.
Wow. That sounds so very frustrating. Where do you live? I hope it doesn't get worse while you are on vacation. Keep using the heat and just stretching and moving those fingers as much as possible. You don't want things to get too stiff.
Try to enjoy your vacation, too! 
~ dawn
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10/17/2013 01:59
callie
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10/17/2013 01:59
callie
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
I only had one OT session after my surgery (90 degrees, little finger) to get a splint made and get a list of exercises. My surgeon thought that was no problem if I did the flexing and massage on my own. I did and have had excellent results.
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10/17/2013 02:08
pia2some
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10/17/2013 02:08
pia2some
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
callie:
I only had one OT session after my surgery (90 degrees, little finger) to get a splint made and get a list of exercises. My surgeon thought that was no problem if I did the flexing and massage on my own. I did and have had excellent results.
Callie,
I think about you often. lol. I just remind myself of how successful your surgery was. How uncomplicated it was for you. So I'm striving to be like you. Of course, I did have an additional finger done. I have a terrible time with scarring. I form keloid scars. While the incisions are looking nice so far, the one going up my middle finger is already a problem. It is very lumpy - almost looks like it has nodules in it.
Something is also not working on my ring finger. It wasn't even worked on. Although, it is the one that I had Xiaflex in last year. It won't bend on it's own. None of the joints will. Now I can passively bend it. The surgeon checked it and the tendon is fine. He's thinking the area right below my ring finger is just very inflamed and causing the finger to not work properly. I also have no feeling in my middle finger and we hope that will return.
Tomorrow the OT is going to put Otoform inside my splint. The surgeon is hoping that will help the scarring. Diane is the one who has talked about Otoform on here. She must be busy taking care of her husband. I believe he was having ankle surgery. But I'm interested in asking her more about it.
~ dawn
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10/17/2013 02:23
callie
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10/17/2013 02:23
callie
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
I realize your surgery was more extensive than mine. We know that everyone heals differently. I guess I got lucky. It will be interesting to see how my next surgery goes if I need it on the other hand.
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10/17/2013 02:29
pia2some
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10/17/2013 02:29
pia2some
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
callie:
I realize your surgery was more extensive than mine. We know that everyone heals differently. I guess I got lucky. It will be interesting to see how my next surgery goes if I need it on the other hand.
I hope you won't need surgery any time soon. But this disease is just so unpredictable. I saw your post in another thread and do hope things don't get worse for you. The OT was pointing out that my right index finger was already limited in motion. That's because I have nodules and three cords in the webbing between those fingers. The surgeon is aware of that area and watching it. It is active and that is why he couldn't work on it when he did the rest of my hand. So I'm trying not to think about the fact that I will need more work (of some type) on this right hand. Ugh.
My left hand needs work but the surgeon feels sure he can do it with just NA. That would be wonderful. He says I have to wait until the right hand is fully functional. Of course, in all of this I'm just paranoid about flaring the DC and causing even more problems. But that is always a risk and it can't keep me from just doing nothing.
~ dawn
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10/17/2013 03:05
Antonia
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10/17/2013 03:05
Antonia
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Re: Dupuytrens surgery and nerve pain
Wow. That sounds so very frustrating. Where do you live? I hope it doesn't get worse while you are on vacation. Keep using the heat and just stretching and moving those fingers as much as possible. You don't want things to get too stiff.
Try to enjoy your vacation, too!
~ dawn
I Live in Vancouver, BC Dawn...
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