Personal experience |
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07/03/2012 21:14
eastwind
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07/03/2012 21:14
eastwind
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Re: Personal experience
I've had the surgery on both hands -- right hand one cord in ring finger-3 incisions. IN May thsi year I had cords in 3 fingers "pulled out" (that was the surgeons description)--too early to tell on that one. But the previous one finger is now coming back and showing the cord.
The one finger job was fairly easy...(I have photos of both of these post op) The 3 finger---9 stitches and lots of scar tissue. As I said before--to each his own, and each if us is at adiferent level and agressiveness of the disease.
BUT--what I would like to hear is: are we all getting the same kind of surgery?? That is--are the surgeons perfoming identical cord removal, all of the cord--just a partial, etc etc? I ask because if they remove the cord--why does it come back within a year (in my case)?
Could our surgeons tell us more of exactly what they are doing??? to compare notes.
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07/04/2012 12:51
anna71
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07/04/2012 12:51
anna71
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Re: Personal experience
alicat1969: I have just had my second hand operated on, for involvement of my ring and little finger, both at 45 degree contractures. I know surgery gets bad press on these forums, but I can report no issues, either hand that I have had done. The surgery was not painful (initially when the sutures and the bandaging are removed it is a bit sore), and I have been to a hand therapist a couple of times, and both my hands are (almost) perfect again. I say "almost" as my second hand was operated on a month ago, and I cannot fully make a fist yet, although I am about 90 per cent of the way there. I do my exercises faithfully, I wear my splint at night, and that's it really. I also have a very good surgeon, and have had very good anaesthetics, which helps. We don't really have the chance to use Xiaflex yet on the NHS, but I am hoping by the time I have a recurrence ( which I am sure I will) that I won't have to have further surgery, but for the moment, if any of you are considering surgery as your only option, I would say go ahead. It is not that bad - honestly. I no longer stick my little finger up my nose by accident when washing my face !! Small thing I know, but it does make a difference. If anyone wants to know any more about the surgery, feel free to ask :)
Hi Alicat Glad to hear your op went well. Did you have it done on the NHS and if so which area? (Hope you don't mind me asking). My thumb hasn't contracted yet, but it's getting stiffer. Plus I'm getting more lumps and bumps on both of my hands. I just wondered as I'm in South East UK and if I get to the point of needing an operation I want to ask my GP if he'd refer me out of the area.
Thanks Regards Anna
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07/04/2012 17:16
alicat1969
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07/04/2012 17:16
alicat1969
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Re: Personal experience
Glad my post was of some help - Marigail - I had a "block" as well as a general anaesthetic, and my arm was completely numb for about 12 hours, so no pain at all immediately post-op, and I probably took pain killers 2-3 times post surgery. It was uncomfortable at times, but not what I would describe as painful - my surgeon puts the hand in a cast to keep the fingers straight while healing, for about 10 days, so I was pretty helpless for a while (when my right hand was done I had to learn whole new ways of eating until the cast came off!). The only pain I really had with both hands was on removing the cast, and the sutures - I was probably able to use my hand fully (picking heavy things up, opening things) about 10 days after removal of the cast. I still have some stiffness, especially in the mornings after taking the splint off, but it is still early days. I suppose it took about 4 months for my first hand to feel completely "normal". I too have involvement in three fingers on both hands, but the disease in my third finger seems to have almost completely gone since the surgery - I only had 2 fingers done on each hand due to the length of the operating time, and the time the tourniquet can stay on.
@ Anna 71 - I had my surgery done at the Royal Sussex County Hospital's elective orthopaedic unit in Haywards Heath, the "Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre". I am a senior nurse, and have worked at the Trust for 15 years, so I picked my surgeon carefully, with expert advice...Her name is Mrs Leonard - an eminent hand surgeon.
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07/05/2012 08:32
anna71
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07/05/2012 08:32
anna71
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Re: Personal experience
Hi Alicat
Thanks for the information. I live in Essex, so it's not a million miles away. If I get to a point where I need surgery I'd rather push to see someone who is recommended!!
Hope your recovery goes well!
Thanks again! Regards Anna
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07/10/2012 09:45
alicat1969
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07/10/2012 09:45
alicat1969
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Re: Personal experience
Glad I've been of some help! As a nurse, I have to use my hands in a very physical way every day, so I guess that I'm unconsciously doing physio all the time, but it is also very important for me to be at work with no open wounds, and that I was able to do after 3 weeks ( I took an extra weeks annual leave after the 2 weeks sick leave I was granted - 2 weeks just wouldn't have been enough). Good luck with whatever you decide .
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07/22/2012 17:59
daleladue
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07/22/2012 17:59
daleladue
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Re: Personal experience
I have recently been diagnosed with dupuytren's on my right baby finger plus quite a few nodes on both hands. I have an appt with a hand surgeon in Aug. and am anxious to hear her opinion on this. Additionally, I have bilateral Ledderhose for which I have just been evaluated for new soft orthotics. In the past, I was wearing sturdy plastic orthotics for approximately 10 years. Hopefully, they will help because I walk 2 miles daily for exercise. I had been using lidocaine patches for pain but could still walk because the patches blunt the pain! Always cautious about not wearing them longer than 10 hours a day! These issues certainly add another dimension to one's life! If anyone has any suggestions, I would be happy to hear them. I do have a 57 year hx of Type 1 diabetes which does complicate matters a bit!
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07/22/2012 19:05
flojo
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07/22/2012 19:05
flojo
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Re: Personal experience
Hi,
Sorry to hear you have joined our special club and none of us want to be a member of this club. :-)
Before you go to the surgeon, be sure to research everything you can find on this site regarding treatment options, especially needle aponeurotomy/NA, and radiation therapy/RT. Both are early treatments. You may find that you will actually know more about all treatment options than your surgeon. Most of us found that in traditional medicine they really know only about surgery. Knowledge is power and you will know what questions to ask and how to figure out which treatment is best for you. Even so, it is hard to determine what to do because this disease is so weird.
It sounds like you are in an active stage of CDupuytren's disease since you have nodules and minimal contracture. Radiation therapy is the only thing out there right now that stops progression of the disease and is not invasive. I found RT effective in stopping the progression of my Dupuytren's. I don't have Ledderhose's so others on this Forum will know much more than I do, but it seems that yours may no longer be active. If it is active, RT has been found to stop progression of that, too. Ask on this or the Ledderhose's thread questions specific to the condition of your feet.
Don't hesitate to come back to the Forum with questions and updates on your Dupuytren's journey.
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1 .. 7 8 9 10 11 .. 31 .. 51
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