I have posted this in 2 locations because of interest in a So Cal location.

By the way the fee paid by my insurance after all of the discounts was approx. $615.


I, too, was doing research on surgery and NA when I found this forum. I wish I had found it in 2006 before I had surgery on my pinkie finger left hand - 90 degrees contracture. That's when I was told I had DD. I had never heard of it. I was just told by my hand surgeon that I should not wait too long because it was aleady 90 degrees. I only had diseased tissue in my finger and my palm was clear and beautiful. I did not even have a cord or nodule.

I had the surgery and within 6 months I had a sizable nodule in my palm and over 4 years everything developed. 3 large nodules, a cord, dimpling, etc. I developed a 30 degree contracture of the ring finger at the MCP joint. Pinkie is fine - almost perfectly straight. (At the time, in 2006, I had 3 months of therapy and wore a splint for 3 months.) Did not change and has not changed today.

This time I was not going to have surgery because of what I read about having repetitive surgeries, etc, etc. I went to my hand surgeon (in Nov) who said surgery (of course) and I questioned him about NA. He said that it was an "acceptable" procedure and did not try to scare me. He told me they do it at UCLA which I aleady knew.

I had begun a correspondence with Dr. Denkler in October and sent him pictures and he said I was a viable candidate for NA. I also asked for a referral to So Cal and he said Dr. Benhaim at UCLA. I was also trying to find a Dr. that was "in network" with my insurance and Dr. Denkler is not.

I began a correspondance with Dr. Benhaim and sent him pictures and he said I was a candidate for NA. I searched this forum about UCLA and Dr. Benhaim and found info buts lots of it was old.

After some more emails, I was feeling confident about Dr. Benhaim. I saw where he had improved on his methods and even had additional training with Dr. Eaton. He initially worked some with Dr. Denkler. At first, I had some difficulty getting anywhere with his office because they are so busy. It was also Holiday time and I was not in a rush. I finally made headway after the holidays and was given date options in Jan and Feb. I chose Feb 18.

I had an early AM appt so my husband and I went up the night before and stayed at one of the hotels nearby that provides a discount if you are going to UCLA for a medical reason.

I have had NA 4 times now. First treatment 2004 then 2005, 2008 and yesterday 4/9/10. I always fly from Southern California to Florida to see Dr. Eaton at the Hand Center. www.handcenter.org. I did inquire about treatment at UCLA but the Dr. dismissed me flippantly from the submitted photos as "not suitable for NA".
Dr. Eaton is fantastic and is now organizing a symposium to take place in Florida in May. The symposium will attract over 100 experts including lab researchers, surgeons and therapists. They are actively looking for a cure!! No longer just a better surgical technique but actually findiing a cure. Please take a moment and go to www.dupuytrenfoundation.org to see if you can help