| RT in Maryland? |
|
|
1
|
| 1
|
|
04/01/2011 21:01
johnMarylandnot registered
|
04/01/2011 21:01
johnMarylandnot registered
|
RT in Maryland?
Hi,
I'm a 48 yr old male in MD, USA. Got a nodule on my left hand at base of ring finger in Dec. Hand surgeon diagnosed DD in February. Since then a nodule appeared in same spot, but on my right hand. Today, a second hand surgeon confirmed the diagnosis. Both think RT is not a good idea. Their option is to wait until contracture. One said, anyone who would suggest RT should have the license revoked. My wife has spoken with Dr. Weiss in Richmond, VA. That would be over a 3 hour drive for me. Does anyone know of anyone getting treatment in Baltimore? I have relatives in New York City. Has anyone received RT there? Still not sure I should do RT.
The first doctor gave me a shot of cortisone in the nodule. The second doctor said cortisone is not a treatment to suppress progression. Who should I believe?
One other worry I have is for 15 years I have been canoe racing every summer. I am wondering if hitting my hands repeatedly with a paddle will make this worse?
Thanks,
John
|
|
|
|
|
04/01/2011 21:18
lauriw 
|
04/01/2011 21:18
lauriw
|
Re: RT in Maryland?
John,
Good luck finding someone close to home. Your doctors are wrong, RT is the best solution for early DD. I am 55, just had my right hand treated and am starting my left hand next week. My second round will be in 3 months. There are a lot of studies and information about RT for DD on this web site and others and I suggest that you become as well informed as possible so that you can be an advocate for yourself. I found my radiologist by calling every oncology radiologist in the area and met with a lot of slammed doors. I finally found a progressive doctor with a history of treating benign diseases with RT. When we met I came armed with a folder of information, case studies, etc and he agreed to treat me. I have been really happy with the care that I have received. The more quality doctors across the country that will treat DD with RT the better for those of us that have the disease.
Hope this helps, keep asking questions and if you decide that RT is right for you don't let anyone get in your way!
LauriW
|
|
|
|
|
04/01/2011 22:26
LubaM. 
|
04/01/2011 22:26
LubaM.
|
Re: RT in Maryland?
John,
LauriW. is absolutely right. Don't let any surgeon tell you to "wait for contracture". That would be a big mistake, one that I made years ago.... four different surgeons told me the same thing and I wound up with a badly contracted small finger in my right hand that keeps contracting in spite of two NA's (Needle Aponeurotomies).
Read all you can on this forum about the RT procedure, and come back here with more questions. By doing RT at the beginning stages of the disease, you will avoid bigger problems later on. I had RT in November 2009 on my left hand and left foot, and it successfully stopped the progression of the disease.
Edited 04/02/11 01:28
|
|
|
|
|
04/01/2011 23:01
INWnot registered
|
04/01/2011 23:01
INWnot registered
|
Re: RT in Maryland?
John,
I am a 58 year old male and had dupuytean’s surgery 15 Feb of this year on my left hand. Still have stiffness, swelling and limited use but is getting slowly better. If I had nodules appear on my right hand I would try to manage it with therapy as seen on this Dupuyren society site under mechanical treatment.
http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytr...s_research.html.
There were two cases and it seemed to work, one documented by a doctor. I also purchased a hand massager to manage my scar tissue from the surgery using udder cream as a lubricant for the therapy; this maybe a good method and tool to try out on your right hand. This is the link of the hand massager
http://www.ncmedical.com/item_57.html
Its worth a try at the early stage for a few months anyway, needs more research to be considered an acceptable method.
|
|
|
|
|
04/02/2011 00:23
fjellver
|
04/02/2011 00:23
fjellver
|
Re: RT in Maryland?
johnMaryland:
Hi,
I'm a 48 yr old male in MD, USA. Got a nodule on my left hand at base of ring finger in Dec. Hand surgeon diagnosed DD in February. Since then a nodule appeared in same spot, but on my right hand. Today, a second hand surgeon confirmed the diagnosis. Both think RT is not a good idea. Their option is to wait until contracture. One said, anyone who would suggest RT should have the license revoked. My wife has spoken with Dr. Weiss in Richmond, VA. That would be over a 3 hour drive for me. Does anyone know of anyone getting treatment in Baltimore? I have relatives in New York City. Has anyone received RT there? Still not sure I should do RT.
The first doctor gave me a shot of cortisone in the nodule. The second doctor said cortisone is not a treatment to suppress progression. Who should I believe?
One other worry I have is for 15 years I have been canoe racing every summer. I am wondering if hitting my hands repeatedly with a paddle will make this worse?
Thanks,
John
Hi John,
My DD started 3 years after I started rockclimbing, an interest of mine from earlier days. Last fall the DD started growing with a vengence. I saw a hand surgeon who offered me Xiaflex in one small finger contracture and steroids in the painful spots.He said major surgery was a last resort for removal of DD of the hands. Then I discovered this web site and had RT of both hands last month at MGH in Boston. I go back for another round later this month. I have already noticed some regression in the DD and a big reduction in the pain.
I would research your decision carefully there is alot of info on this web site and it has a search engine too.
Keep in mind RT can only be done in the early stages of DD, and not all insurance companies cover it-call yours I did. I believe RT can only be done once per limb.
I chose RT to delay surgery as long as possible, since I plan on rockclimbing again. My wife knows a lady who has had 5 surgeries on her hands so she can keep playing tennis. When she can no longer grip her racket she gets another surgery. We must all make our own decisions and then live with them.
Fjellver
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
| 1
|
458 users online
Login
