I play guitar. In December 2007, I had NA performed on left index finger, hoping it would improve my left hand guitar capacity. The immediate result appeared positive: the finger was much straighter and I could play bar chords for first time in years.

However, after the procedure I now had more difficulty flexing the finger and pain in the PIP joint when I attempted to do so. I could no longer play a C chord in the first position, which I could do before the NA. The following summer I had my GP (family physician) inject cortisone into the tendon sheath in an attempt to remedy the problem. This temporarily reduced the pain when flexing the finger, but did not improve ability to flex. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but a month later I noticed that the finger was starting to contract again.

The contraction continued to increase and is now as bad at PIP as before the NA and slightly worse at DIP (DIP was visually unaffected at time of NA, but did have a small band, which the surgeon also broke). As the contraction increased, the flexing pain decreased and flexing range improved slightly: I can no longer play bar chords, but I can with difficulty play a C chord at first position.

During the entire time, I was taking NAC: anywhere from 500 mg a day to 1200 mg a day (most of the time 1000 or 1200).

I know I could have another NA done, but because it actually made it more difficult for me to play guitar, I am not prepared to do this at the present time.

What I am wondering is if anyone has any opinion about whether Viaflex might be a better bet in my situation: there is a single well defined and thick band to PIP and smaller band to DIP.

Wearing a night splint (see e.g. bottom of http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytr...techniques.html) might also help slowing down contracture. In the morning the splinted finger will be a little stiff but only for 5 minutes or so.

Wolfgang