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05/25/2018 14:37
kevinp 
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05/25/2018 14:37
kevinp
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Recovery time
I had my op yesterday, after a general anaesthetic i was home in the afternoon. Now in a cast/bandage up to my elbow as a skin graft was needed. Any suggestions to speed recovery or ideas to help would be appreciated? Supplements to speed skin growth?
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05/25/2018 16:58
spanishbuddha  Administrator
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05/25/2018 16:58
spanishbuddha Administrator
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Re: Recovery time
kevinp:
I had my op yesterday, after a general anaesthetic i was home in the afternoon. Now in a cast/bandage up to my elbow as a skin graft was needed. Any suggestions to speed recovery or ideas to help would be appreciated? Supplements to speed skin growth?
I’m not sure about supplements, a balanced diet. Topical use of vitamin e is often touted anecdotally, but I would not advise doing anything to the wound or graft area other than that advised by the surgeon or clinical nurse specialist who will change the dressings. If not already I would line up such a wound care specialist who can advise on scar reduction or softening once the wound is dry and graft has taken. Also the OT for hand exercises at the appropriate time. Hopefully your surgeon has done all this?
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06/30/2018 08:36
kevinp
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06/30/2018 08:36
kevinp
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Re: Recovery time
I went to my first physio session and complained about pain in one area of the scar, the nurse was great and had a colleague clean the wound removing all the dead tissue, this revealed an are of over granulation. A painful application of silver nitrate and now a few days before I go back to the nurse to see if this has worked. It has been a slow recovery! My foxglove has arrived but my palm is too painful to use this at the moment.
I will work hard with the physio when I can but my little finger is still not straight as it took so long to have the operation.
I have booked in to see Dr Shaffer in Guildford to have my righthand treated with RT - I do not want to go through this again with my righthand!
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06/30/2018 09:36
Luciferette
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06/30/2018 09:36
Luciferette
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Re: Recovery time
kevinp:
I went to my first physio session and complained about pain in one area of the scar, the nurse was great and had a colleague clean the wound removing all the dead tissue, this revealed an are of over granulation. A painful application of silver nitrate and now a few days before I go back to the nurse to see if this has worked. It has been a slow recovery! My foxglove has arrived but my palm is too painful to use this at the moment.
I will work hard with the physio when I can but my little finger is still not straight as it took so long to have the operation.
I have booked in to see Dr Shaffer in Guildford to have my righthand treated with RT - I do not want to go through this again with my righthand!
Please keep us updated with your progress, Kevin, as I'm going in for a dermofasciectomy in September and would like to know how you're getting on (my last surgery was fasciectomy, no skin grafts). Has the graft taken ok? That's the bit I'm most worried about!
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06/30/2018 09:59
kevinp
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06/30/2018 09:59
kevinp
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Re: Recovery time
My skin graft unfortunately did not take, it was placed around the base of my little finger. This was removed last week but it was good to see that under the graft the existing skin had repaired well.
Please do not let me put you off the op - the over granulation is just unfortunate, although some research suggests that these often occur near a knot of a stitch. it is a longer recovery time than i expected - 4 weeks now andI had hoped to be full into physio by now.
I wish I had managed to get the op earlier before the contracture had become so extreme, full recovery may have been better then. In 2 weeks I have the RT appointment (private) and I hope this slows/stops the righthand issues
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06/30/2018 10:41
Luciferette
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06/30/2018 10:41
Luciferette
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Re: Recovery time
Thanks, Kevin -- that sounds a bit grim, but hopefully you can start working on getting the hand working again soon. I found the physio pretty tough after my first op; like you, the contracture was very severe and long-standing.
This time we are tackling this aggressive disease sooner rather than later in the hope that skin grafts will solve the problem! How was the surgery pain-wise? Sorry for all the questions, but I'd like to be prepared!
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06/30/2018 10:51
kevinp
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06/30/2018 10:51
kevinp
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Re: Recovery time
I had day surgery and was anaesthetised for the op. For the first 48 hours there was little pain. I think something was added to the anaesthesia 'cocktail' that blocks this post op - it certainly worked. I woke up with a plaster cast on from forearm to fingers giving me just 2 fingers and a thumb showing. I used paracetamol and this worked when the pain started, the worst pain has been caused by the over granulisation and this is just random - hoping you avoid this.
You will need help with the basics after the op and certainly worth buying a plastic cover for the cast (amazon sell them) - I used cling film to stop it getting wet in the shower.
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06/30/2018 13:13
Luciferette
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06/30/2018 13:13
Luciferette
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Re: Recovery time
Yes, those cast covers are a godsend, I got one for my other arm when I had the op last year (just have to find it now!). My right hand was totally covered by the cast, no fingers left out, like a big boxing glove -- I will ask if they can leave finger/thumb free this time, that must make things a bit easier? And I had a nerve block last year, not general anaesthetic...most unnerving (ha), but I suppose better than a GA in terms of recovery.
What about the site they took the graft from? I've heard that's often more painful than the area of surgery. Did they take it from your inner arm? Again, apologies Kevin, but I don't know anyone round here that's had a Df :) I've got my pre-op assessment next week so will raise these questions with the nurse then!
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06/30/2018 14:17
kevinp
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06/30/2018 14:17
kevinp
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Re: Recovery time
hi again,
The graft was from my inner arm, this has settled down and healed quickly, sure a little tender at times but nothing to worry about - I did get the nurse to cut the ends of the stitches - the were getting caught on clothing. It is about a 5cm scar I will need to think of a good story as to how I got that wound once I have found some humour in all this! :)
I am seeing the nurse again on Tuesday re the granulation, I am back on pain killers now as its still sore.
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07/31/2018 11:27
dupynz 
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07/31/2018 11:27
dupynz
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Re: Recovery time
Sorry to revive this thread when you have posted on mine about the latest state of your hand.
I have read a lot more about the success rate of dermofasciectomy and your own experience and I have to say it all sounds depressing.
You were kind enough not to discourage me... but when I saw the photo (pre-op?) of your hand I have to say mine is worse in that the ring finger is also somewhat bent as well as my little finger being the same as yours. And if your op. didn't straighten out your little finger (at least as reported a month ago in this thread) then would you really say it was worth the pain and the long time it has taken you to recover to any extent?
Is surgery really ever advised in an advanced case, I wonder? Better to live with it forever?
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