I want to thank you all so much for responding to me! I actually live in Bellingham so Mount Vernon-Burlington is great--a better option than I could have hoped! I will call on Monday.

I also appreciate each of you being willing to discuss your pain and thankfully relief from pain. I was feeling like maybe I was, ummmm, well, wimpy that these lumps in my hands and feet hurt.

It is good also to hear that someone had a traditional surgery that worked well. I think much of the time when something works the person that had the surgery feels no driving force to say that they had a good surgery, so a person reading a forum gets a lot of one side. Certainly from all I have read, even on the Mayo site, surgery is very discouraged-so it is good to hear another view.

It is also good to hear about responsive doctors because the help I have received from the medical community to this point has left me feeling like crying. Thank you again!

wish you the best....hang in there...Maybe Dr. Eaton will come up with a cure..at least I hope so ..for all of us..

I recently came to the conclusion...that driving a car..for long periods of time...gets the Dups going...you see ..the steering wheel has a very slight vibration....and can stir things up...just wanted to pass this along..if driving...wear gloves..

Surgery continues to be an important option for Dupuytren's. As your example shows, it's sometimes the last resort and then can still yield good results. Wishing you a quick recovery and a long lasting success!

Wolfgang

coachG:

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Amy & others,
I had surgery from Dr. Huang 10 days ago for DD on my right hand. This is my 2nd surgery (1st was 10 years ago) & I've since had NA on the same finger 3 times from Dr. Kline in Boise. The 4th attempt by Dr. Kline didn't resolve anything, too much scar tissue. I had Xiaflex injected once as well--which worked, but offered a very brief reprieve. After visiting Dr. Huang, he saw my only option as surgery (which Dr. Kline said was probably the only option as well). Though my case is different, take it as a lesson in dealing with this condition. I'm 48 & have been battling DD since 35-36, so I'm looking at a life of this. I joke about just chipping the finger off...not so much of a joke any more!

Surgery went well, finger is straight as its been as long as I can remember--straighter than my 1st surgery, any of the NA procedures & the Xiaflex. Way too early to tell how rehab will go, but Dr. Huang thinks my age will help as will my generally good health & active lifestyle. Still numbness of the finger & a little on my palm--stitches run from palm up to my last knuckle as the DD had moved way up my finger.

I visit Dr. Huang on the 11th to get stitches out & have post-op visit. I'll post more after that.

Good luck to you & everyone else dealing with DD.
coachG

Reply to AmyD--
Not sure Dr. Huang does feet. He works in the "Hand Center" at UW Medical Center. I don't think he recommends RT, as one of his staff seemed a little surprised when I told her I had RT on my other hand. BUT, I'm not really sure & it is something you could ask him if you went to see him.

I will say this, though...
My experience with Dr. Huang has been nothing but fantastic. He took a great deal of time with me from my first appointment through my surgery. Very professional, thorough & understanding of this condition & how it affects us mentally. His desire was to get my finger straight & he recognized surgery was my final option. To quote, "I almost guarantee I'll get your finger straight." He mentioned that it will depend on my ability rehab & the ability of my body to heal.

Having been to Dr. Kline in Boise, I feel Dr. Huang was just as supportive & thorough in his recommendations for treatment. Once this hand is mended up pretty well, he's ready to Xiaflex the other hand. My call at that point. The last Xiaflex on my other hand was brutally painful & didn't get the job done as well as I'd hoped. My first Xiaflex treatment was done by an ortho, not a hand specialist. My gut tells me Dr. Huang will do a better job. Who knows, time will tell.

Callie,
Yes, Dr. Huang & I discussed surgery for my other hand. He feels that at this time Xiaflex would be the better option, with surgery sure to come later. Only had NA twice on that hand with 1 attempt at Xiaflex. Finger still has contracted nearly as much as my other hand, but there is a large nodule on the pinky, with another good side nodule just below the knuckle--as well as 2 nodules forming on the palm up towards the pinky. The RT seems to have stopped (knock on wood) the nodules below the middle & ring fingers.

Fun stuff...