| Lost password
459 users onlineYou are not loggend in.  Login
Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic
 1 2
 1 2
11/08/2010 22:33
mharrel 
11/08/2010 22:33
mharrel 
Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

I had my first visit to Dr. Seegenschmiedt in September of this year. I was quite pleased with the entire process. His busy clinic, there are, I believe, two other doctors, is quite efficient. Dr. S and the staff speak better english than most americans. The first appt, on a Monday morning, I was examined and records were taken by Dr. S. My first radiation treatment was that afternoon. The radiation process takes about 10 mins. There is no pain or discomfort whatsoever. A really nice thing was that subsequent treatments did not need an appt. That certainly makes planning your day a lot easier. You just need to show up between nine and three. The wait was never over fifteen minutes. On Friday morning, I met again with Dr. Seegenschmiedt and was dismissed until I go again in January.

I had no aftereffects from the treatment and, I think the cords and nodules are less hard. I had stage one contracture on one hand and only nodules on the other. I chose RT because my DC hadn't progressed enough for other treatments--and I don't want it to. If I can stop it where it is, I will be happy. The cost was a little under 1000 euros. Compared to the cost in the US, I can pay for the treatment and the trip--and still save money.

We chose to make a vacation out of and stayed in the city instead of Langerhorn. We wanted to be more in the center of things. The trip, on Ubahn and bus, takes about 40 minutes each way. Take the U1 line to Langerhorn markt and the 292 bus. The bus and the Ubahn are coordinated so that the bus is waiting at the station or is there in a minute or so. One word of caution: Don't take the 292 that is marked "airport". For whatever reason, the 292 goes in two directions. The direction you want is ochsenzoll. The website is www.hvv.de.

The Hamburg transportation system is wonderful. Buy a "Hamburg Card", it covers all trains and busses, even the water taxis in the port, and gives discounts in most museums and other sites. Hamburg is a great city and it was good to stay five days. It may not be so great in January but you can always put on more clothes.

HTH and if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Mike

11/08/2010 23:18
mharrel 
11/08/2010 23:18
mharrel 
Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

I can't believe I left out the main factor in choosing to go to Hamburg. Dr Seegenschmiedt is one of the leading practitioners and researchers on RT for DC. One of those few times in life where one can save money and have the best.

Mike

11/09/2010 21:03
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

11/09/2010 21:03
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

Hello Mike

Thanks for this information, and best wishes following your treatment.

Can you say a bit about how this came about. For example did it start with an email, photos, a referral from your physician, a physical examination or was it all done remotely. What factors led to Dr. Seegenschmiedt agreeing that you was a candidate for the treatment at this stage.

I have started keeping a log, with photo's and wonder at what point I should make contact with one of the RT practitioners.

Thank you.

11/11/2010 22:14
MHARREL

not registered

11/11/2010 22:14
MHARREL

not registered

Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

Hi SB--

My Dupuytres's was self diagnosed. I followed it for several years, planning to do something when I got some contraction. I contacted Seegenschmiedt by email. He requested some pictures, which I sent, and he agreed I was a candidate for RT. Of course, he said that final diagnosis would be made on examination but my hands looked just like the photos on the net.

He did say that earlier treatment would have been better, even though I was stage one on my right hand and less than that on the left. I thought I was pretty early. Probably the earlier you treat, the better.

Mike

03/28/2012 16:42
RichSF 
03/28/2012 16:42
RichSF 
Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

i was wondering how things are going with you now. I live in the SF Bay area and i am checking my options, they do it here but i'm inclined to go to Germany because of the experience factor.
So please tell me how you are doing now and if there has been any progression in the DD.
BTW I'm 68 and i just found out about mine and have very early stage DD..
RichSF

mharrel:
I had my first visit to Dr. Seegenschmiedt in September of this year. I was quite pleased with the entire process. His busy clinic, there are, I believe, two other doctors, is quite efficient. Dr. S and the staff speak better english than most americans. The first appt, on a Monday morning, I was examined and records were taken by Dr. S. My first radiation treatment was that afternoon. The radiation process takes about 10 mins. There is no pain or discomfort whatsoever. A really nice thing was that subsequent treatments did not need an appt. That certainly makes planning your day a lot easier. You just need to show up between nine and three. The wait was never over fifteen minutes. On Friday morning, I met again with Dr. Seegenschmiedt and was dismissed until I go again in January.

I had no aftereffects from the treatment and, I think the cords and nodules are less hard. I had stage one contracture on one hand and only nodules on the other. I chose RT because my DC hadn't progressed enough for other treatments--and I don't want it to. If I can stop it where it is, I will be happy. The cost was a little under 1000 euros. Compared to the cost in the US, I can pay for the treatment and the trip--and still save money.

We chose to make a vacation out of and stayed in the city instead of Langerhorn. We wanted to be more in the center of things. The trip, on Ubahn and bus, takes about 40 minutes each way. Take the U1 line to Langerhorn markt and the 292 bus. The bus and the Ubahn are coordinated so that the bus is waiting at the station or is there in a minute or so. One word of caution: Don't take the 292 that is marked "airport". For whatever reason, the 292 goes in two directions. The direction you want is ochsenzoll. The website is www.hvv.de.

The Hamburg transportation system is wonderful. Buy a "Hamburg Card", it covers all trains and busses, even the water taxis in the port, and gives discounts in most museums and other sites. Hamburg is a great city and it was good to stay five days. It may not be so great in January but you can always put on more clothes.

HTH and if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Mike

03/30/2012 14:18
txmike 
03/30/2012 14:18
txmike 
Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

Hi Rich!

I thought I would give you my input. I finished my second round of RT in Hamburg two months ago. I had RT on my left hand only, Prof. S did not think it was time to do anything with my right hand. So far zero progression! Two small nodules have all but disappeared, main nodule is smaller & softer. My cords (two) have not seemed to change. I had nodules & cords but no contracture. I had no side effects other than dry skin on the palm. When I work my hands too hard, such as lifting weights, my left hand will be sore. I think that is just from not being fully healed from the RT and expect it to get better.

I would encourage you to make the trip to Germany, Prof. Seegenschmiedt's knowledge and experience in the treatment of this disease is the reason I decided to go. When the time comes for my right had to need treatment, I will be on a plane to Hamburg!

If you have any questions at all please feel free to ask. That is what this site is all about! Thanks again to Wolfgang for making this site possible!!! Without it I would have been lost.

Michael
48 year old male from Texas

03/31/2012 22:35
mharrel 
03/31/2012 22:35
mharrel 
Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

Hi Rich--

I completed my second session with Dr Seegenschmiedt in Jan '11--a little over a year ago. I have been quite pleased with the results. Although he said that all we could hope for was maintenance of the status quo, I got some regression. The contracture mostly went away and the nodules shrank but are still there. I did notice the other day that one nodule on my finger seems to be getting larger but it's not a problem. Overall, RT gave me better results than I expected.

In my research, I called the Univ of Oklahoma, the closest place to me here in N. Texas, that does RT. They quoted me a price, over the phone, of $20K. When told I had no insurance, she said something about bringing it down to $10K. I'm not sure what she said, I quit listening after the $20K. My initial treatment with Seegenschmiedt was a little less than a thousand euros and the second was less than that.

Bottom line--my results have been excellent.

Mike--70 in Texas

04/05/2012 08:09
RichSF 
04/05/2012 08:09
RichSF 
Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

Mike
I was wondering how Dr S treated your hand. Was the entire palm exposed to the RT or did he design a custom made shield to only expose the diseased areas and carefully map out the those areas (including some margin) and make shield specifically for your hand?

Also, i have a very mild case at this point in time, what was the reason he suggested to wait for the right hand?

And are you 70 yrs old? I'm 68 and it just stared acting up on me...when did yourd start. I hear that it's slower in older people waddya think??


RichSF


mharrel:
Hi Rich--

I completed my second session with Dr Seegenschmiedt in Jan '11--a little over a year ago. I have been quite pleased with the results. Although he said that all we could hope for was maintenance of the status quo, I got some regression. The contracture mostly went away and the nodules shrank but are still there. I did notice the other day that one nodule on my finger seems to be getting larger but it's not a problem. Overall, RT gave me better results than I expected.

In my research, I called the Univ of Oklahoma, the closest place to me here in N. Texas, that does RT. They quoted me a price, over the phone, of $20K. When told I had no insurance, she said something about bringing it down to $10K. I'm not sure what she said, I quit listening after the $20K. My initial treatment with Seegenschmiedt was a little less than a thousand euros and the second was less than that.

Bottom line--my results have been excellent.

Mike--70 in Texas

04/06/2012 13:44
txmike 
04/06/2012 13:44
txmike 
Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

Hey Rich!

There are two Mike's from Texas answering you!! LOL!! I am the 48 year old. Prof. S did not think that my right hand was active enough to treat. While I have some nodules and cords in my right hand, I have never felt the activity in it like I did in my left. This pic is after he marked me up in his office. The outline on my left hand is the area that was treated. They used a triangular piece of lead on the plate to shield my thumb, but as you caan see most all of my hand required treatment.

Michael

Edited 04/06/12 16:59

Attachment
hands2.jpg hands2.jpg (57x)

Mime-Type: image/pjpeg, 78 kB

04/07/2012 15:54
mharrel 
04/07/2012 15:54
mharrel 
Re: Report on Treatment at Dr. Seegenschmiedt's Clinic

Hi Rich--
I'm the 70 year old fart from Texas. My nodules, etc started showing up six or eight years before I sought treatment--so that would be my early 60s. I didn 't go until I got some contracture. Dr S said it would have been better had I been treated somewhat earlier. I will echo Miketx's opinion that, if you have the money and time, I would go to Hamburg. When we went, we rented a car after the week in Hamburg and toured Lubeck, Poland, etc. It was a good trip.
Mike

 1 2
 1 2
contraction   treatments--and   specifically   progression   contracture   treatment--so   Seegenschmiedt   Hamburg   aftereffects   maintenance   Treatment   radiation   nodules   ochsenzoll   examination   results   practitioners   transportation   coordinated   Langerhorn