Well, I'm back online and trying to catch up on what's been going on.

Good luck with your Xiaflex.

My doctor was involved with the Stanford trials and she insists on doing two injections space 4 weeks apart as per the original protocols. Does anyone know if a "prescription" from Xiaflex is adequate for the two injections done in this manner or with were two "prescriptions" needed.

According to my doctor I would need two prescriptions at $3900 per prescription or $7800 for the Xiaflex and then the $750 to pay the doctor for the initial consultation, injection, straightening, second injection, second straightening for a total out of pocket cost of $8550.

Looks like I will be instead heading back for another NA procedure.

Great that it worked so well for you. If one trip and one set of injections of a single vial is adequate the treatment is going to work much better than in situations were two sets of injections are needed as this is not covered by many insurance companies.

In my case I needed the second set but it would have cost me another $4,000 out of pocket plus the travel after already paying $1400 out of pocket for the first vial and injections. Straightening the PIP joint of a single finger is the best candidate for Xiaflex.

Unfortunately the insurance companies only cover injections to release an area that is severely contracted and only that single area can be treated and only with one vial to get any amount of coverage of the payment. I had to switch to a more expensive plan with Empire Blue Cross that costs me over $7400 a year to get the coverage for only $2500 of the cost of the Xiaflex treatment.

I understand that the company making Xiaflex has a lot of investors to repay and its managers do not believe that lowering the cost is going to increase the number of vials sold to where they will make a greater bottom line profit. I think they are wrong but it is highly unlikely they are going to change their minds in the next several years either.

I know that for me my next treatment will be with NA and not a second vial of Xiaflex. But each person needs to decide for themselves based on the condition of their hands and the risk factors involved as assessed by the doctor providing the treatment. I do strongly recommend having that evaluation done as well as the treatment by a doctor with as much experience as possible with both NA and Xiaflex.

Does Dr. Denkler do surgery (fasciectomies)?

bstenman:

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My doctor was involved with the Stanford trials and she insists on doing two injections space 4 weeks apart as per the original protocols. Does anyone know if a "prescription" from Xiaflex is adequate for the two injections done in this manner or with were two "prescriptions" needed.

According to my doctor I would need two prescriptions at $3900 per prescription or $7800 for the Xiaflex and then the $750 to pay the doctor for the initial consultation, injection, straightening, second injection, second straightening for a total out of pocket cost of $8550.

Looks like I will be instead heading back for another NA procedure.
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Right now xiaflex is approved for one vial ,one cord.I met with the xialex rep back in may.Im in the clinic right now for multiple cords ,multiple vials.I had 2 vials in my right hand almost 3 weeks ago.Big time swelling but it has gone down now.Finger is lookin good.Next month will be the test 3 cords in the left hand.I m approved for 5 vials in the study.I have 3 left.It itches something fierce the first couple days.The nurse said they have not had a cord it hasnt worked on.100 % success rate in 140 treatments.It is not without pain.It hurts.I had it done on weds and was cuttin meat at work on sunday.amazing stuff.