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First NA --Don't Think It Worked
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10/02/2015 00:20
Broderbund 
10/02/2015 00:20
Broderbund 
First NA --Don't Think It Worked

Only been one week since NA but the end result is not very encouraging. Pinky pip joint is still pretty contracted --- it was 30 degrees bent before the procedure and Dr said he got it as straight as he could......

The procedure was done by a hand surgeon referred to me by Dr Eaton so can only assume he knows his stuff.....

What's my next step ? Photo attached

Edited 10/02/15 03:33

10/03/2015 00:34
Cherise 
10/03/2015 00:34
Cherise 

Re: First NA --Don't Think It Worked

It's not a bad curvature at all,leave it rest ,calm down. In my case I had surgery at the same curvature shown in your pic after that all my fingers are now at that curvature in ur pic & bending. The pinky eventually closed to the fist position. Any time the nodes or tendons are touched this disease worsens. It's called the Keobner Effect. Causes the collagen signals to exacerbate the nodes & curvature. Making the disease very active than at rest or at a slower pace when attempts are made to repair the effects of DC.
The scarring was trippled from surgery as scaring is made up of collagen, nodes were more dominate in my palm & it also caused the other fingers to curl and gripping small things are impossible. Then tried NA. did not open the pinky.
I eventually found Xiaflex injection online and it did open the closed pinky that started out just like yours in the pic. Also erased the huge scaring from surgery made up of collegen. Now the pinky joint is deformed from the pinky being in a closed position for 2 years. Now since Xiaflex its at the same curvature as it was before the surgery or before any treatment was started.It's now at the same curvature shown in your pic, back to where it was in the beginning same match as your pick.
The surgery was recommended in the first place as the hand surgeon said to open & straighten the finger out early before it closes. Yet surgery caused the opposite and more fingers to curve. The disease became activated after 20 years of small nodes with pinky curvature.
So basically went thru all that and ended up with my pinky back in the same curvature as when I started. Now the Other 4 fingers are curved were also effected from the treatment process, where they were all fine before I started any treatment on my pinky.
That's the risk with this disease it could cause a flair as in most case studies on this forum.
Whatever you decide good luck. And keep me posted. I hope I explained the whole experience that many of us deal with regarding treatment for different levels of DC. I will also add that my Xiaflex experience was extremely painful. However it was the only option I felt I had to open the pinky, or risk further damage to the joints. I am very open & honest about my treatment experiences hoping that others show restraint in any treatment until absolutely necessary.
It seems that I have read many posts that have shared my experiences on this forum. Yet invariably someone will advise the opposite.
I want to be clear that this is my experience & my DC was inactive at a slow pace before surgery which activated the disease to a extreme level where choices are limited.

Kind Regards,
Cherise

Edited 10/03/15 03:38

10/03/2015 06:36
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

10/03/2015 06:36
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

Re: First NA --Don't Think It Worked

Can you straighten it using the other hand? If so, maybe overnight splinting will help, at least that is suggested by other posts in the forum. If not, it does sound like the Dr got as much of the cord he felt comfortable doing. In which case give it a few months and see if Xiaflex is a possibility.

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