Well I finally got NA on my Left Pinky and thought I would post my experience to hopefully benefit others seeking this treatment.

My DC has been very slow and so far only hit this one finger. pre-NA it was at 60 Degrees with a large nodule right where the finger meets the hand. My Dr. was not expecting me to benefit as much from the NA due to the nodule and scar tissue.

My DC is weird though. I have had a small nodule and bending in this finger since I was 13 or maybe younger. It only became an issue in the past 8 - 10 years, and only painful and bothersome in the past 4 or so. I have been waiting for NA to become available in my area for a long long time.

Dr. Carolyn Kerrigan was the one performing the procedure at Dartmouth in Lebanon NH. She has (at the time of this post) performed 80 (now 81!) NAs.

I will try to give a good solid narrative to help folks like me, who, even after reading and watching videos didn't really know what to expect.

First off they took pictures and measured. Then I signed a form that said there were risks. Possible infection, nerve damage and lastly, diminished benefit, in other words it might not work!

I was washed and in position while the assistant prepared the steroid and local anesthesia. I cracked a few dumb jokes and asked stupid questions.

When the Dr. came in she felt the cord that was the main problem with me. I am sorry I don't know the exact medical term for the part of the finger, but the first cord starting at the base of the pinky to the first knuckle. She made four marks where she thought she would be doing the cutting.

Local anesthesia was injected into the surface of those points. It "took" really quick and she proceeded with the NA in the first spot, the side of the cording outside of the finger.
The insertion of the NA needle was ok, the next thing I felt was the strange popping of the bands themselves. This was such a strange feeling. It was like there were many tiny and strong rubber bands snapping.

I felt around 4 pop, then quickly 5 or so and then a few more. Then I heard her say "Hmmm, Look at that!" The finger was released and she was demonstrating the finger laying flat. I still didn't get it and asked, "are you telling me your done?" She said, "yes!"

I think she was surprised that this went this fast as well, she said she could not feel anymore cords to cut and I was happy with the result. Total time after anesthesia, the actual NA, was maybe 30 seconds. I could not believe it.

Next came some steroid injections. At my request these were done mainly into the nodule, which has been sore due to the over extension caused by compensating for the bent finger. These injections into the nodule hurt llike crazy. I don't think most people get injections into the nodule like this typically. I only had it I think because I told her the nodule was irritated, I think normally the steroid is intended to prevent re-cording.

Then "after" pictures were taken and I was sent packing. Measurement after NA was 25 Degrees, Not bad!

Dr Kerrigan did a great job. In addition to doing a great NA, she also took the time to listen to me, I mean really listen not like some Doctors who only pretend to listen. Her assistant Cynthia also was great, very nice and clearly cared especially during the painful injections.

So there you go, I have been waiting to have this done for the past 8 or so years. It has only become available in NH in the past couple years. Feeling those cords snap was a real rush. :)

I will try to post back as the steroid settles down in the hand and I can really stretch a bit. I may still have to get the nodule removed surgically someday, but for now, it is nice just to have a working finger.

Hope this helps somebody. Don't be afraid of NA, it is somewhat painful, but a real wonder to see that finger looking almost normal.

God bless you all who are suffering, I know there are a lot of people out there with much worse DC than mine. I hope and pray that you find some relief.

--Norm

One week UPDATE:

Wow. I must admit that I was very nervous in the days following NA. My finger was straighter, but I had a lot of pain shooting through my finger at random times, as well as continued soreness in and around the nodule.

After 4 days of pain I felt like it really wasn't going away. I still couldn't really do the recommended stretching without that shooting pain.

At this point I decided to try to put DMSO on and around the nodule. I must say that I have tried DMSO a few times with no result and wasn't really expecting much, but figured what the heck.

The very next morning the hand felt much better. I had been waking up to the pain and just working it out by stretching the finger a bit and massaging the nodule, but this morning it felt great. I admit, it could just be the normal healing process, but it was such a radical difference in pain levels I must say I am convinced it made a huge difference. Could be that DMSO in concert with cortisone might be a good combo.

Anyway, a week later I can't believe how great my hand is. The nodule is much better and really the hand feels like it did so many years ago. Not perfect but really great. I never noticed before how the loss of flexibility had been affecting me. Just putting my hand in my pocket is a smile inducing experience now!

Sorry to gush, I hope I am not upsetting anyone who isn't able to get this procedure.

So if you are recovering, consider DMSO, you may be as pleased as I am.

God Bless. Remember, God loves you very much. He really does.

Every one is different, but these experiences make me feel better about my limited fasciectomy.

callie:

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Every one is different, but these experiences make me feel better about my limited fasciectomy.