I've had the surgery on both hands -- right hand one cord in ring finger-3 incisions. IN May thsi year I had cords in 3 fingers "pulled out" (that was the surgeons description)--too early to tell on that one. But the previous one finger is now coming back and showing the cord.

The one finger job was fairly easy...(I have photos of both of these post op) The 3 finger---9 stitches and lots of scar tissue.
As I said before--to each his own, and each if us is at adiferent level and agressiveness of the disease.

BUT--what I would like to hear is: are we all getting the same kind of surgery?? That is--are the surgeons perfoming identical cord removal, all of the cord--just a partial, etc etc?
I ask because if they remove the cord--why does it come back within a year (in my case)?

Could our surgeons tell us more of exactly what they are doing??? to compare notes.

Glad my post was of some help - Marigail - I had a "block" as well as a general anaesthetic, and my arm was completely numb for about 12 hours, so no pain at all immediately post-op, and I probably took pain killers 2-3 times post surgery. It was uncomfortable at times, but not what I would describe as painful - my surgeon puts the hand in a cast to keep the fingers straight while healing, for about 10 days, so I was pretty helpless for a while (when my right hand was done I had to learn whole new ways of eating until the cast came off!). The only pain I really had with both hands was on removing the cast, and the sutures - I was probably able to use my hand fully (picking heavy things up, opening things) about 10 days after removal of the cast. I still have some stiffness, especially in the mornings after taking the splint off, but it is still early days. I suppose it took about 4 months for my first hand to feel completely "normal". I too have involvement in three fingers on both hands, but the disease in my third finger seems to have almost completely gone since the surgery - I only had 2 fingers done on each hand due to the length of the operating time, and the time the tourniquet can stay on.

@ Anna 71 - I had my surgery done at the Royal Sussex County Hospital's elective orthopaedic unit in Haywards Heath, the "Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre". I am a senior nurse, and have worked at the Trust for 15 years, so I picked my surgeon carefully, with expert advice...Her name is Mrs Leonard - an eminent hand surgeon.

I am so pleased to learn of your continued positive progress. I am no stranger to having to use one hand/arm. Several years ago I was in a car accident and I shattered the bone from just above my elbow to just below my shoulder on my right arm. I required two surgeries, so i was out of commission for quite awhile. Fortunately I'm ambidextrous, so I wasn't as limited as some may have been, but I really had to learn many different strategies to accomplish everyday tasks. To hear you say in 10 days you were starting to do things is very encouraging. My doctor has told me that it is a 6-8 week recovery period followed by intense physical therapy, and I was envisioning not being able to do very much at all. Your posts sound that that won't be the case. I have been in a constant state of worry about this, which is exactly what I didn't want. I wish to enjoy the summer!!! Your posting has helped me calm down on this! Thank you again.

I have recently been diagnosed with dupuytren's on my right baby finger plus quite a few nodes on both hands. I have an appt with a hand surgeon in Aug. and am anxious to hear her opinion on this. Additionally, I have bilateral Ledderhose for which I have just been evaluated for new soft orthotics. In the past, I was wearing sturdy plastic orthotics for approximately 10 years. Hopefully, they will help because I walk 2 miles daily for exercise. I had been using lidocaine patches for pain but could still walk because the patches blunt the pain! Always cautious about not wearing them longer than 10 hours a day! These issues certainly add another dimension to one's life! If anyone has any suggestions, I would be happy to hear them. I do have a 57 year hx of Type 1 diabetes which does complicate matters a bit!

I just read through this entire thread. I've read and posted in the forum, but somehow missed this thread. I had my first Xiaflex injection in April. I have lots of nodules and cords in my right hand. My pinkie, ring and middle finger on the right hand are contracted. The worst was my ring finger and it was at 45 degrees. That is where I had the injection. It was a lot more painful than I expected but was only bad for about a week. That ring finger is straight, but my entire hand is so tight now that it's hard to even open it up fully. The left hand is full of nodules and cords but isn't contracting yet.

I'm still wearing my splint at night (made in the physical therapy department at the surgeon's office) and am including a picture of it here since splints were discussed before. I'm also trying a compression glove on my right hand because it aches horribly and swells a lot.

Do the pictures show up? I wasn't sure if I'm attaching them correctly.





~ dawn