I was just wondering why the PT was so vigorous to break the stitches and cause pain. Doesn't seem normal to me. What I meant to imply was my therapy stopped at the edge of pain.

Thanks Carol,
You say, "In my case, I had a lot of nodules "wrapped around the nerves" in my pinky and as a result".

I would just wonder if this would be a case that NA would not be productive.

Did your surgeon/PT suggest a good hand cream? My surgeon thought (and I agree) that the hand moisterizer was one of the most important parts of recovery.

Carol,

From Eaton's web site:

"If the nerve is wrapped around a cord, how can the cord be cut without cutting the nerve? Very carefully. At the Hand Center, the procedure is performed with local anesthetic only in the skin itself. Deep to the skin, nothing has much feeling, except the nerve. If the needle gets close to the nerve, you will feel an electrical tingle, which tells the doctor to reorient and stay away. As long as you can feel in the fingertip, it's safe to keep working." <END>

I asked Eaton specifically about this, as to whether there were some cases where he could not release a PIP because of nerve interference or other factors. In over 1,200 procedures the answer was "No". That's not to say it *can't* happen and render NA useless, but obviously it's rare. Scar tissue from prior surgery is the *big* problem for NA, not nerve interference. Plus, so far, Zero nerve damage. You can't do that with OS.

Yep, I've got Raynaud's too.

A little help from the audience for the million dollar question: Surgery, vs. the French procedure, or Nuking my palms the New German way.I've seen people after the knife and they've reformed "the grips" as they had before the procedure. Now I also hear that even after the heralded Frenchy non-invasive procedure has been done, it too, can also come back. I'm 45 and have worked hard most of my life in the building trades (Obviously I am no longer able to) and just ultimately want one visit and be Done with this DC!!! But, should I never pick up the bongos again, afterwards? Should I quit drinking also ( one report said smoking and drinking were causal factors)? Any help? Thanks for your replys, any and all. This seems to be a very helpful website.