It feels weird to be excited about getting approval from my insurance company to have radiation, but I am! I want to thank Lori again for referring me to Dr. Crimaldi at Southeast Radiation Oncoloy in Charlotte, NC. He was truly awesome, as Lori promised he would be. I'm having the treatment at one of their satelite clinics, and it will be a 2 hr drive for me each way, but I figure it's 10 days of my life, and I'm willing to invest the time. The clinic has bent over backwards to get my insurance approved, and to accomodate me. My first treatment is February 25. They are also going to treat my left hand, which does not have any palpable nodules, but some thickening in the palm that he suspects is DD. He & Dr. Mitro, who will be doing my treatment, were both very optimistic about the treatment and although I was undecided prior to the appointment, after talking with them, I was 100% in.

Dr. Crimaldi told me to say on this forum that he is happy to see anyone who is willing to come to him. He is treating more and more people each year with Dupuytren's and Lederhose. The people in his office are extremely cheerful and helpful. Such a breath of fresh air after seeing 2 different hand surgeons who both told me to come back when I fail the tabletop test.

A question for those of you who have had RT - I'm assuming I'll need to avoid the sun for the next few months? Maybe get some lightweight SPF gloves? I have gardening and utility gloves but am thinking more about driving, hiking, walking, etc.

Thanks for reading, and I wish the best of luck to all you dealing with this very strange disease.

Ellyn,

Congrats on the insurance approval. I had my RT in the summer time and Dr. Crimaldi told me to avoid exposing my palm to direct sunlight for extended periods of time (sunbathing). He said to do this until the skin had healed itself. I took that to mean a couple of months after the second round of RT. My skin did get a little red during the second round, like a mild sunburn. It went away after about a week.

Let us know how the radation treatment goes.

Lori

Yay, Ellyn! So glad for you!

Do you have active nodules?

The RT (I finished a couple of months ago) has worked well so far for me. Good luck!