Thanks Meg,

I willing accept any and all blessing, as we all need as may as we can pile up.

No one here should denigrate the effectiveness of OS compared to doing *nothing*, which is what most CHS will do until hand function becomes unbearable . Further, OS has a higher probability of stopping recurrence than NA. Further, OS always remains the fall back position for the cases where more fire power than NA can provide. Any talk of "NA Vs OS" is uninformed. It is "Both And". These two should not "compete". One is "First Level', the other "Second Level". But you are informed. Surely you know this.

The point I have made, over and over, and over again is simply that it is wise to try the least invasive, least dangerous procedure in *all* of medicine before moving up the ladder of invasiveness and more expensive and drastic measures. NA, as an entry level "first line of defense", is a perfect example of the bottom of the "ladder of treatment": OS is the last resort.

There is no doubt that over the years many have had very successful OS and stopped the procession of their personal disease. You are a case in point according to your testimony. And, there are certainly cases where NA failed and OS was the logical next step. This however does not negate the fact that NA is *safer* than OS and one has nothing to loose by trying it first. The percentages are with "NA first" decision. That was the *core* of Eaton's presentation to the ASSH last December.

Didn't you get he Memo?

The tone of your pot suggest that your personal experience would bias you otherwise. However, the data suggests that NA is a good bet statically for an entry level correction. By the way, have you ever actually had NA? It's amazing what the experience can do to open up your mind, especially when your have had *both* NA *and* OS. Nothing like a little First Hand experience. Know what I mean?

Edited at 08.10.07 04:25

Perhaps you're right Craggy and meeg1972's post was directed at *you*. I'm just so conditioned by my time on the BioS Dups Forum battling with the pervious NA Nay Sayers that I just naturally kicked into NA defense mode :-) I figured "Florida" was code Eaton's NA Ground Zero.

Have a good climb.

Trevb

From http://www.hand-consultant.com/dupuytrens-contracture.htm

"Dupuytren’s tissue can recur but this rarely results in a significant problem. The rate of recurrence is about 5% of all operations, often as a small swelling but this usually does not cause the finger to be pulled down into the palm."

If this were true we should all smile happily as we undergo what would essentially be a cure for this disease.
Not the case. At 5 years the rate of recurrence after OS > 50%. This site must have been talking of 5% recurrence after fifteen minutes :-)

One study showed that rate at >70% at ten years.

If you can "do heavy manual work" <after just> "4 – 5 weeks after surgery." Bruce Willis in "Die Hard" has nothing on you. While some do have that experience, that is the exception.

Why is Collegenase being developed if OS were a snap and essentially created a cure? Why are millions of dollars being spent to find an alternative? Why? The only possible reason is that the bright picture of OS being touted by that site is, shall we say, quite a few miles past Optimistic.

Quite frankly, having undergone OS I find the misinformation on that site disturbing. OS has it's place, and that is after NA or Collegenase has failed.

Edited at 15.10.07 08:27

Hi Australia Calling.I may not be too clear on the message I am getting about N.A. verus O.S. Patients will make their own decison. People should appreciate that , now and in the future there are least 8B3 options . ( In Aust we have now one Surgeon doing "needle fasciotomy".) 30 Yrs ago there were three options , chop your finger off , live with it or risk Open Hand Surgery and see what happens.( Imagine walking around with your toes chopped off. ) I've had l5 operations and with the time ,between each operation getting shorter and shorter , I made the most of what I had been dealt. I am appreciative for the Duputren's Society web site. My last op was in June and that is when I found this site. I have just returned from Essen Germany where I met Prof. Seegenschmiedt and had Radiotherapy on my hands and feet.This disease is like a Pandoras Box .I am now trying the R.T. to see if the progression of this disease will slow or stop. Let's have posative feedback.Regards from 'down under.'

Hi Dirk, you ought to have had a look at http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytr...ideeffects.html first ...

Wolfgang

Quote:

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Hi, I found a reference to hand surgery on swelling of untreated fingers in forum 1. My Physio recognised the sympathetic nerve dystrophy of my hand after surgery which Randy said he suffered for 17 months. Has anyone found a cause? Is it the tornoque technique used by surgeons or the 1 in 100 luck of hand surgery? I'm trying stella Ganglia Blocks which sound horrible but may kick start my recovery. I didn't see this one being a complication with surgery when I did my research. regards Dirk

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