hammer:

---

Sounds like you have done some research,thats always a good thing with DD.My pinky still wants to contract from 20-60 degrees by the end of the day.The bigger finger dosent contract much after 4 Xiaflex injections in that hand.Get a good night splint and it will help alot.You might have a skin split on the pinky.I had a pretty good one once it was manipulated.Keep us posted.Good Luck.Dave

I have considered it - but since you are irradiating normal tissue as well - I prefer to do something else first. I've thought of having radiation as a preventative measure after treatment to prevent reoccurrences. Still thinking about that. My insurance company will cover Ziaflex completely - not sure about radiation.

Ok - had the Xiaflex injections last Monday (the 8th) and the manipulation the following day. After seeing my pinkie finger he decided to use the entire bottle on that finger and not treat the others. He said my situation was worse case and that it's likely that i would not get back all of the 90 degrees - the previous surgeries and the 90 degree contracture of the finger were the factors.

He injected into 4 sites in the finger and palm, which took about 20 minutes. He did this without any anesthetic. It was the most excruciating experience that seemed to last forever. I've had three hand surgeries, back surgery and knee surgery and this was the most painful of all of them. He really should use anesthetic if he is going to have a needle stuck in your finger for 20 minutes. My hand swelled up, got bruises, large hematomas, pain and swelling and bruising up the arm into the armpit - the usual stuff. None of this is major or long lasting. That night my hand was very painful and sensitive and I could not imagine going back the next day for the manipulation - but I did - and was very nervous.

He injected Lidocaine into 4 spots in my hand and waited about 15 minutes for it to take effect. Those injections were very painful as well - but fairly short lived. He then manipulated the pinkie finger to break the cords - and yes little popping sounds. The skin tore very badly at the base joint - a large gaping whole which will take several weeks to heal - but it is healing. You could actually seen the broken cords in the flesh. I did not have pain during the procedure as my hand was very numb. My hand swelled up further and bruised some more - but not a big deal - that's just part of the procedure. I don't know how straight the finger will be - he called it 100% straight - but my knuckle and joints are still swollen and tender and bent (5 days later) - we will see what it's like after things settle down. My guess is that it is going to be significantly straighter - but I won't know about mobility and functionality for a few weeks. I'm wearing a split all the time, and doing wound care three times a day.

Dr Verheyden needs to modify his protocol to include pain management during the injections - this was unbearable mostly because of the length. If it had only been a few minutes - I could have tolerated it. But 20 min....no way.

I am a violinist and pianist so I'm looking for some substantial improvement so I can resume playing again. I will repost in a coupe of weeks after I know where things are and if I'm playing again.

BrianPrice, just curious as to why you waited until 90 degrees contracture to have another procedure? What kind of a surgeon did your surgery?

nriedell, what kind of a surgeon did your surgery and what type of surgery was it?

Edited 10/15/12 16:53

A hand surgeon did the normal Z shaped incision up into PIP joint and down into the palm.