LubaM.:

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mstratfo:

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4 weeks.
Wounds healed with slight tenderness in some spots, extension progress remains the same straight on right, stage 1 on left (left was stage 4+.)
Being an active musician all my life it has been a joy to get back to octave bass on the piano and conventional tuning on the guitar. Although the revised guitar tuning to accommodate dups' was an interesting journey.
Very happy I got NA done. I'm guessing I'll need additional work on the left.
- Mark

Hi Mark,
Thanks for update. Glad you're happy with NA and hope everything continues to improve for you. Are you still dealing with issues of swelling in left hand? are you able to exercise and make a fist? last time you posted you had problems with swelling.

For me, it has been six weeks since my NA. There is much less swelling in the finger,but the DIP joint is still very stiff and hard to bend. I can bend the pinkie at the MCP and PIP joints but cannot make a total fist. Hopefully it will continue to improve. I bought "silicone strips" at CVS Pharmacy, and I use them (almost 24/7) on the cord-shaped swelling that had developed on the outer edge of the finger. The silicone strips have helped a lot, and the swelling is much better, especially when I first remove the strip. I am continuing with twice a week hand therapy and use a night brace every day.

juliebeesley:

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Hi LubaM,
Would you recommend silicon strips & night splints even without any procedures? I.e as methods to contain the disease?
Cheers
JulieB

Edited 07/05/13 03:21

If you search my posts from the last year, you'll see my very enthusiastic accounts of success with a custom night splint for my little finger PIP contracture. I hadn't had any procedures on that finger other than RT, and the splint REDUCED the contracture considerably. One factor I think is important is that the splint has a putty-like substance against the cord area that my CHT said was similiar to silicon, so it may help soften the cord.
Good luck!
Maddie


Hi Maddie, thanks... Interesting concept of having a putty-like substance similar to silicon inside the splint... it is great that it reduced your contracture.

My situation seems to be "unusual". I have DD in both hands but only in pinkie fingers, the rest of both hands are good. I have nodules and dimples but no "visible" cords, yet both pinkies are contracted. Have had two NA's on right pinkie.... RT three years ago, and recently NA on left pinkie. Both my pinkies have very "stubborn" PIP contractures, they seem to have a mind of their own and refuse to hold the good results I attain after NA.

Use of silicon strips is a new thing for me, I am hoping it will help.

I am not sure how I can find your old posts

Edited 07/07/13 07:16

Thanks, Maddie