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A Tale of Two Hands
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10/01/2015 12:47
emelem 
10/01/2015 12:47
emelem 
A Tale of Two Hands

In September 2014, I had PF surgery on my left hand. Pinkie PIP contracted to 90%, one large nodule, no visible chords, but minor involvement with ring finger as well. Truly awful experience. Three months of edema and constant flaring. Ineffective physical therapy. It turned out that sometimes, hand surgery can produce carpal tunnel syndrome. I ended up with a severe case, and needed CTS surgery in November. It took about 10 months to recover. Its been a year, my left hand is now fully functional, but I'm left with some minor nerve damage from CTS.

I thought long and hard about having my other hand done. I'm told that NA doesn't remove the diseased tissue, nor does it eliminate nodules. I had 2 large nodules on my right pinkie, and a cord, so I decided to go with surgery again.

Last week, I had PF surgery on my right hand. Pinkie PIP contracted to 75%, two large nodules, and visible cord halfway down my palm. No involvement with ring or other fingers. Same doc, same procedure, bigger incision. I'm one week out, and really can't believe the result. Two days of swelling, only minor pain, no CTS symptoms. My doc asked me to go through a series of movements (fist, flat fist, raise fingers off table, etc.). I have nearly full range of motion and functionality. I may not need PT. I realize that I' still looking at months before I can use my right hand the way I did pre-surgery, but the difference is really worthy of note.

10/01/2015 13:03
Seph 
10/01/2015 13:03
Seph 

Re: A Tale of Two Hands

The way I see it is that you have surgery and you hope it works and you hope the DD doesn't come back. If it does you have run out of options.

The alternative is that you have NA and you know it will come back, just like plaque returns to your teeth, so you do it again and again and again.

Just had my 8th and 9th NA procedure. A bit painful for 1 hr but 3 out of 4 fingers straight again and the web between thumb and finger opened up. 7 days later I am playing tennis plus light sessions in the gym. This time next week it will be back into it with full weight gym sessions.

That will be good for 12 -18 mths then back I go and we do it all again.

10/01/2015 13:36
Stefan_K. 
10/01/2015 13:36
Stefan_K. 

Re: A Tale of Two Hands

Thanks for sharing, elemem. May I ask two questions?

Do you know what contracted your left hand pinky by 90° when you didn't have a visible chord?

What scars were you left with from your first surgery?

Best wishes for you recovery.

10/01/2015 16:07
emelem 
10/01/2015 16:07
emelem 
Re: A Tale of Two Hands

Hi Stefan,
My guess is that I had a cord in my left pinkie, but that it wasn't visible. For scarring, I have a scar running across the DIP joint, then diagonally from left to right across the DIP joint to the Metacarpal Joint, then back across, diagonally into my palm, ending between the ring and middle fingers, about 1 1/2 inches beneath those fingers. I tried to upload a photo but no luck. If you'd like, I can send you photos of what it looked like right after surgery and what it looks like now.

10/01/2015 16:52
Stefan_K. 
10/01/2015 16:52
Stefan_K. 

Re: A Tale of Two Hands

Thanks. If you have a photo of what your hand looks like after surgery today on your computer's hard drive, you should be able to attach it clicking on the "Browse" button next to 'Upload file" to go the the location of the file and to select it, and then on the "Upload" button. I am mainly wondering if the scars disturb you, aesthetically or otherwise.

10/01/2015 20:02
emelem 
10/01/2015 20:02
emelem 
Re: A Tale of Two Hands

I've tried. I have a 150 KB file (I started with a 500 KB). As soon as I hit upload, I get a white screen that stays that way indefinitely. Same result on Microsoft IE and Google Chrome Browsers.

The scars don't bother me at all. Very hard to see, and they don't impair the use of my hand at all. I used the silicone scar covers for a few months, I think that helped.

Edited 10/01/15 23:05

10/01/2015 21:19
Cherise 
10/01/2015 21:19
Cherise 

Re: A Tale of Two Hands

Just read this. I had the same issues when down loading my finger splints. I had to edit the pic down smaller in order to down load it on this forum. Have u tried to edit it down smaller?

10/03/2015 15:43
emelem 
10/03/2015 15:43
emelem 
Re: A Tale of Two Hands

Seems to have worked this time. I didn't change the file size. Anyway, the scar goes across the DIP joint, then diagonally across the PIP to the outside corner of the metacarpal joint. Then back across the palm, ending between the ring and middle fingers about 1 1/2 inches beneath those metacarpal joints.

Attachment
20151001_123134.jpg 20151001_123134.jpg (25x)

Mime-Type: image/jpeg, 191 kB

10/03/2015 21:08
Cherise 
10/03/2015 21:08
Cherise 

Re: A Tale of Two Hands

Glad to see your pic has turned out better. I had the same surgery. And I hope your hand does well. Always wear a splint for the first few weeks day and night. Then every night for ever while sleeping.

Have you been to therapy? They are very helpful and experienced with DD.

Hoping for the best outcome and your doing well. Protect the hand always.

Kind Regards

10/05/2015 12:02
emelem 
10/05/2015 12:02
emelem 
Re: A Tale of Two Hands

Thanks Cherise,
Getting stitches out tomorrow. I started doing the PT exercises I remembered from last year. I expect to have some PT but right hand is so much better than the left.

Edited 10/05/15 16:00

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Ineffective   pre-surgery   Metacarpal   remembered   visible   alternative   functionality   experienced   flabbergasted   contracted   discovered   functional   fingers   difference   diagonally   surgery   aesthetically   experience   indefinitely   involvement