Thankyou for the replies.

Rex - there are a number of reasons I am not going to go to Florida. I am in Australia for one, and they do offer NA over here. My right hand is not a candidate for NA anyway due to PIP joint involvement. Good to know you've had such success with it.

There are reasons why my case is a bit different to the norm - mainly concerning my age and the apparent aggression of my dups. Some of it is just luck - unfortunately my nerves were bundled up in the nodules in my left hand so I now have reduced sensation and control in two fingers. Also an annoying constant feeling of pins and needles. RT is an option, but one I am going to have to think long and hard about. My risk is greater - and if I were to be diagnosed with cancer (however small the likelihood of that happening) would I still think it was worth it? I am a mother of two young children. On the same token, if I were to become vegan and my dups progression slowed, would I think it was worth it? Of course I would!

Flora, thankyou for your reply. Its comforting to know that I'm not the only one who has times where this seems to be a constant in your mind. I'm not always so doom and gloom but the appearance of this new nodule really threw me.

AS I HAVE WRITTEN PRIOR..RE: PIP JOINT...I HAD 95 DEGREE ,PIP JOINT LITTLE FINGER,,,NA BY DOC EATON A YEAR AGO AND ALL IS STILL
GREAT,,,PS ..I STILL WEAR THE SPLINT

Brian 123...I too am interested in finding out about the splint...I have an appt. with Dr. Eaton in March for a 95 degree, PIP joint little finger (although mine has in addition a boutonniere deformity on the DIP joint)...I had NA on same finger in 2006 by another Dr. but the contracture returned because (I think) I didn't wear the night splint long enough...only wore it about 2-3 months.

THE SPLINT I WEAR WAS BASED ON A SCRIPT THAT DOC EATON WROTE ..THE SPLINT WAS MADE BY A CERTIFIED HAND THEROPIST.
IT IS WHITE AND A CAST TYPE MATERIAL THAT WAS FORM FITTED TO MY HAND. I LAY MY HAND ON IT AND STRAP IT ON WITH VELCROW.
I WORN IT MOST NIGHTS FOR 11 MONTHS. ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD TO WEAR IT 2 OR THREE MONTHS I FEEL WHAT COULD IT HURT TO CONTINUE WEARING IT ....SO FAR SO GOOD. LITTLE FINGER STILL GREAT !
A SIDE NOTE...AS I MENTIONED I HAD 95 DEGREE IN PIP LITTLE FINGER. I ALSO HAD HARD IN THE FINGER ALSO.
DOC EATON GAVE ME STEROID SHOTS IN THE NODULES 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO NA...AND MORE SHOTS I BELIEVE DURING NA.
THE NODULES ARE SMALLER AND SOFTER NOW.
DOC EATON IS THE BEST DOCTOR I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!