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03/16/2007 16:06
BIGFRANK
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03/16/2007 16:06
BIGFRANK
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POST OP
Had the op 11 days ago, pinky finger L/hand. When plaster was removed wound was infected, maybe being 58 years old and diabetic had something to do with it. Finger still very painful with very little movement. Antibiotics have eased the swelling a little. Had misgivings before the op, now totally regretting it. Finger was pulled in more than 90 degrees, despite this I had great strength in my hand ,I am a weight trainer. I am trying to exercise the hand but I can hardly tie my bootlace. Anyone else had any of these problems.
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03/19/2007 00:51
Mark_D
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03/19/2007 00:51
Mark_D
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Re: POST OP
Frank:
I had no bad experiences like that.
But I had N.A., whereas it sounds to me like you had the more aggressive open surgery.
Hang in there.
Mark
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03/19/2007 18:11
BIGFRANK
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03/19/2007 18:11
BIGFRANK
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Re: POST OP
Thanks for your answer Mark, it is always good to hear from some one who has had the condition. I am getting a little more movement in the hand now. To be honest I was in a bit of a panic, I am a very active person I am a joiner , my hobbies are weight training and gardening. I am office bound now using the computer a lot so you can see the old hands are important. I did not realize there was a website for the condition, it would have been a great help. My surgeon did not explain very much about the surgery, I live in Nr Ireland by the way. As I say my surgeon gave me the impression that it was a simple operation that would heal within a short period. To be fair he did get the finger fairly straight, unfortunately I have the condition in my right hand, ring and pinky fingers although not too far advanced. If I ever require surgery for this hand I will make sure the surgeon gives me a full explanation of every aspect of the procedure. It would appear from the website that this condition is hereditary but no one in my family ever had it.Does any of your family have it.Once again Mark many thanks for your reply.
Frank.
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03/19/2007 18:20
Wplfgangnot registered
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03/19/2007 18:20
Wplfgangnot registered
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Re: POST OP
Frank, have you ever considered NA for your "not too far advanced" condition? It's a minimal invasive, outpatient therapy and might be just what you need!
Wolfgang
Quote: ... unfortunately I have the condition in my right hand, ring and pinky fingers although not too far advanced. If I ever require surgery for this hand I will make sure the surgeon gives me a full explanation of every aspect of the procedure. Frank.
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03/19/2007 19:02
craggy
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03/19/2007 19:02
craggy
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Re: POST OP
Hi Frank
I had surgery on my lefthand small finger in january. After 11 days there wasn't much I could do with it - stitches still in, and it smelt a bit! I was running by then, though, and looking forward to improvements. I had been very worried, prior to the operation, although I already knew the surgeon (he'd put my dislocated shoulder bones back together last year) and had faith in his abilities. Having already had NA on the finger, I decided that surgery was the best option, since it was locked rigid at 90+ degrees...
Anyway, enough of that! 14 days and the stitches were out. Day 15 saw me in the gym (light weights) and after another 3 weeks I was able to climb (indoors - more in control of hand placement) and last week I went outside climbing. I had some ultrasound with the physio, and I massage the finger a lot (I use vit E oil) Oh, and I play many instruments (including many's the Irish tune on the whistle!) and I'm sure that helps...
UK surgeons don't know much about NA (well - they don't let on if they do - after all, it ain't surgery is it?!) so it's not surprising that, as a newbie, you felt a bit shortchanged. Read the forum, and learn, cos sure as eggs the DC will come back, and you'll need to know what to do
Here's hoping you are soon on the road to recovery!
Richard
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03/19/2007 19:04
craggy
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03/19/2007 19:04
craggy
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Re: POST OP
And I should add my dad (a Viking for sure) had the condition, and so does my sister
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03/20/2007 01:35
Mark_D
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03/20/2007 01:35
Mark_D
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Re: POST OP
Quote:
Thanks for your answer Mark, it is always good to hear from some one who has had the condition. I am getting a little more movement in the hand now. To be honest I was in a bit of a panic, I am a very active person I am a joiner , my hobbies are weight training and gardening. I am office bound now using the computer a lot so you can see the old hands are important. I did not realize there was a website for the condition, it would have been a great help. My surgeon did not explain very much about the surgery, I live in Nr Ireland by the way. As I say my surgeon gave me the impression that it was a simple operation that would heal within a short period. To be fair he did get the finger fairly straight, unfortunately I have the condition in my right hand, ring and pinky fingers although not too far advanced. If I ever require surgery for this hand I will make sure the surgeon gives me a full explanation of every aspect of the procedure. It would appear from the website that this condition is hereditary but no one in my family ever had it.Does any of your family have it.Once again Mark many thanks for your reply.
Frank.
Frank:
Yes Dupuytren's runs in my family.
My Dad had it; my brother has it; & I think one of my two sisters may have it.
Great to be Irish!
Mark
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03/22/2007 13:52
BIGFRANK
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03/22/2007 13:52
BIGFRANK
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Re: POST OP
Richard thanks for the reply. I think you may have a point when you say the doctors in this part of the world may not be up to the mark when it comes to DC. The first doctor I saw told me the contracture was too far advanced and they could do nothing with it. The next doctor told me he would operate but was not confident about the outcome. As it turns out the outcome was far from perfect. Dont get me wrong I have great respect for the medical profession. Despite a lifetime of not drinking or smoking,training for over 40 years and following a healthy diet I have problems with my heart, my kidneys I am diabetic and I have coeliac disease. The doctors have looked after me very well with these problems, but the Dupuytrents has been a big disappointment. It is 18 days since my op the wounds are no where near healed, I have little movement in the finger and I feel recovery is going to be along slow process. good luck Frank.
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03/22/2007 20:57
DaveS
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03/22/2007 20:57
DaveS
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Re: POST OP
Hi Frank,
Can I start by saying what others have told me on this site: Hang in there! At 18 days post op. it's pretty normal to be looking on the dark side. I had surgery on the little finger, dominant hand, 7 weeks ago. The wound has healed great, but my fingers and hand are still quite swollen, which means I still can't make a fist without help from the other hand. From reading this site it seems that many people recover use of their hand quite quickly, (lucky sods!) for others, I think myself included, the process is a slow and frustrating one. I have physio every week, and every week I'm told not to worry, it takes as long as it takes.
Dupuytrens runs in my family also, with my Dad, brother,sister and a couple of aunts all affected.
For the record, I live in the UK and had the surgery done at Broomfield in Essex.
Not sure if this has been any help Frank, but stick with it. (Lets face it, we can't do much else now, can we??)
Good luck, Dave.
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03/23/2007 08:27
craggy
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03/23/2007 08:27
craggy
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Re: POST OP
Hi Frank
When I read of the difficulties faced by you and others in the aftermath of surgery, I can well understand others' reluctance to go through it, and their search for viable alternatives. I myself, having seen the state of my sister's hand, post-surgery (and she's had around 6/7 ops - on all fingers bar one, and one thumb - although she's still able to play the piano, and the organ in church) was prompted to go to Paris for NA. Unfortunately it didn't work too well for the left hand, which I had let get too bent and rigid, I guess.
I have had good luck, I think, in choice of surgeon (local hospital, no particular history of hand surgery that I know of, the man newly promoted to Consultant for hands, and him Spanish too - I doubt they have too many DC sufferers there) He's a man who looks you in the eye when telling you stuff, and they don't all do that! He said he'd get it 95pc straight, and he did, and that's good enough for me
All the best for the future for you (and Dave S). Let's hope both of you heal soonest!
Regards
Richard
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