Well I was in to see a new doctor for something unrelated to my Dupuytren's but had dutifuly mentioned it in my health history. He said why haven't you had surgery. Do you want to wave like the Pope? I tried to explain that first I'm not a candidate yet since I don't have a contratcture and second that I'd been diagnosed early enough to have radiation and that it had been very effective. I quoted the German statistics He sneared at me and growed Germany as though I'd quoted literature from an illiterate jungle medicine man. I had this urge to explain to him that Europe really was civilized but felt it would be wasting my time. So instead I will appologise for all the members of my profession who are as inflexable and rude and assure you that we are not all like that. If you run across one who is just say goodby and try someone else.

ColleenC1W889

Well if they thought about it at all that's probably what they'd think. But even if they knew better he did his "work" in this country so that's all right. We had such an influx of the best and brightest to this country for quite a while after world war two that some of the afore said idiots forgot that some of the best and brightest stayed home and did excellent work. From a pediatricians view point both Rett's syndrome and Angelman syndrome were well discribed in Europe but treated as something that really didn't exist here for about 20 years. And this country didn't grasp Fetal Alcohol Syndrome untile Smith discribed 7 or 8 cases in Seattle while a French Physician had a series of over 400. ( OK the French didn't much believe him either)

Colleen

I just had my first visit with a Hand Specialist in Brisbane Australia, where I was diagnosed with MD (female aged 47). The experience was not a positive one. An assumption that there will need to be surgery in the next five years if things move quickly towards a contracture. Absolute shock horror response when the word radium was mentioned. I actually brought along information on radium treatment from this site, but he would not even look at it. Response was 'that will cause cancer without a doubt'. Also no interest in NA either. I am not going to waste time on a second opinion as I believe most Australian specialists are of this view. I am still keen to pursue the radium treatment but obviously I am probably going to have to travel to Germany. It is certainly disappointing that there has been such opposition to new ideas in this country. He did advise however that he had been involved in an American trial for collagenase (not sure if correct spelling) with twenty of his patients, but no results as yet. It seems many of us have had this experience with specialists and it is certainly a bit disconcerting. Self education is clearly a positive step.

I first went to my doctor 3 years ago with what I thought was a cyst in my palm. He said it could be treated at any point and added that they use micro-surgery which made me feel a little happier. I went back about a year later because the lump was not going away. I was referred to a specialist who confirmed Dupuytren and said come back for surgery when you can't put your hand flat on the table. I am therefore watching nodules and cords grow and waiting until the use of my one good hand is becoming a problem.

Looking at things I think radiotherapy would be a good option although the effects do worry me. I am disabled, without a passport, and would find travelling abroad difficult. Once again, this seems to be another treatment very hard to find in the UK. I've e-mailed 3 addresses without any form of reply. Perhaps I will have to try make the very considerable effort to make a first ever trip abroad while radiotherapy is still an option?

Poole Hospital carries out this treatment - how does the strength of radiation in this compare with the strength used for treating Dupuytren?

Radiosynovectomy - What is Radiosynovectomy?

Radiosynovectomy is a procedure using a radioactive product (Yttrium-90) to treat inflamed knee joints, for example rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory osteo-arthritis. Synovitis means inflammation of the lining of a joint cavity (synovium). Radiosynovectomy means injection of a Radiopharmaceutical called Yttrium-90 silicate into the synovial cavity. Are there any side effects or risks from this treatment?There is a risk of a temporary increase in synovitis following treatment. The radiopharmaceutical will not benefit other joints but some overall positive effect may be noticed if steroid is injected at the same time. The procedure can lead to local bleeding and bruising. Other side-effects are infection leading to fevers (sometimes very high) and Septic arthritis. These are the most important complications of any joint injection. The type of radioactivity used can cause a slight reddening of the skin, and as with all radioactive materials there is a very small risk of future cancer. Some X-ray contrast agents can react with the Yttrium, so if you have had an X-ray examination with contrast within 8 days of the planned treatment, you must tell us as soon as possible. Is radioactive Yttrium-90 dangerous?
The radioactivity will stay in the knee(s) if you are careful not to move the knee-joint(s), for 48 hours after the injection. The radioactivity will not cause any damage to other parts of your body, and the type of radioactivity will not irradiate any other person. Although the radiation dose from this treatment is quite high, a large Finnish study has shown that patients treated with Y-90 do not have a greater risk of getting cancer compared to patients who did not have any Y-90 treatment.



Edited at 21.02.08 13:51

on the clinics page it says

Clinics in the UK:
Unfortunately we only have limited contact data, feedback regarding additional addresses is very welcome!

Dr. T. D. Goode (FRCP, FRCR)
Dorset Cancer Centre
Poole Hospital NHS Trust
Longfleet Rd
Poole BH15 2JB
01202 / 448647 (Dr Goodes secretary)

http://www.poole.nhs.uk/

e-mail is my preferred method of contact. Thanks anyway, I need to put pen to paper in that case Has the treatment had the desired effect for you?


Edited at 21.02.08 13:55