| Do dupytrens lumps get bigger?? |
|
|
1 2 3
|
| 1 2 3
|
|
11/14/2011 15:16
callie 
|
11/14/2011 15:16
callie
|
Re: Do dupytrens lumps get bigger??
flojo,
I agree with you that preventative, early treatment is desirable whenever possible. It was your statement, "NAn orthopedist, my GP, and my dermatologist all told me to wait until my fingers were contracted almost down to my palm then get surgery", that was the eye catcher. I have never heard of such poor advice for Dupuytren's. That would be well over 90 degrees contracture. My surgeon made it very clear that the degree of difficulty for surgery increases exponentially over 70 degrees contracture. Over 90 degrees it can be a two-part surgery, one to open up the hand to gain access to the affected area and the second to treat the Dupuytren's. So yes, I find the statement alarming and not representative of most/quality advice about Dupuytren's.
|
|
|
|
|
11/14/2011 15:32
flojo
|
11/14/2011 15:32
flojo
|
Re: Do dupytrens lumps get bigger??
I was never given degrees, but it was clear that I should wait until there was significant contracture. My visualization is that 30-50 degrees contracture is almost down to the palm, and I was not going to wait for more contracture anyway.
You have cited the research about degrees of contracture needed to be reached for surgery. Your citations are certainly more accurate than my estimate and important for people to know when considering surgery.
Thank you for you posts about surgery.
|
|
|
|
|
11/14/2011 16:59
LubaM.
|
11/14/2011 16:59
LubaM.
|
Re: Do dupytrens lumps get bigger??
At the risk of sounding repetitive...I want to put my two cents in...
Prior to the first NA in 2006, I consulted four hand surgeons, one of them a well known hand surgeon and head of his department at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. The fist surgeon said, to wait until my finger was "at least 45-50% degrees contracted"... All four surgeons recommended surgery and "all" of them were totally against any other treatments I mentioned, (in those days I knew of RT and NA)...and they were horrified at the mention of RT and very much against NA. Xiaflex was in PhaseII trials at the time.
I had my first NA in July 2006 to release a contracture for my pinkie finger in the PIP joint. The contracture returned within one year and I had a second NA on same finger/joint in March 2010. Again the contracture returned within one year. Both times the recovery was a breeze and the procedure was very easy. In spite of the short term success, I would repeat the NA in a heartbeat, and the possibility of complications with surgery and Xiaflex are a turn off, so far.
Of course, that is my personal experience and preference, but for me I prefer an easy recovery with NA. If one day in the future I must, then I will have surgery, but for now I will delay it as long as I can with RT and NA.
None of the available treatments for Dupuytren's are guaranteed to work the same for everyone. This is such a crazy disease in the way it progresses and in the way the different options work for each individual.
|
|
|
|
|
11/14/2011 18:00
bergie 
|
11/14/2011 18:00
bergie
|
Re: Do dupytrens lumps get bigger??
Hello,
I was diagnosed with DC about 10 years ago.
I have had surgery 2x on my left pinkie--i can tell you that I will try anything to avoid more surgery.
I have had many other operations in my life and the pinkie surgery was the most painful due to all of the nerves in your fingers. I still have a lot of scar tissue in the finger and it has restricted movement.
I am not a good candidate for the xiaflex because the nodules are in my palm and fingers, but if NA is available, i will try that.
Yes,the nodules do get bigger and they are painful--do not let them tell you they aren't.
Regards,
Bergie
|
|
|
|
|
11/14/2011 18:14
callie
|
11/14/2011 18:14
callie
|
Re: Do dupytrens lumps get bigger??
Bergie,
How much had your little finger contracted before you had your first surgery? What type of therapy did you have following the surgery?
|
|
|
|
|
11/14/2011 19:15
bergie
|
11/14/2011 19:15
bergie
|
Re: Do dupytrens lumps get bigger??
Hi,
I believe my finger had contracted about 40-50%. The doctor told me that he would be able to get it back to about 10%--which he did.
I had quite a bit of physical therapy after the surgery. And he had me immediately soaking my hand after the surgery and moving the finger (even tho this caused the stitches to split). He said you have to do that to avoid the finger freezing up in the upright position. I tried to follow the phys therapy the best i could and even had my hubby bending my finger all over the place which really hurt!
Bergie
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 2 3
|
| 1 2 3
|
71 users online
Login
