When I had DC surgery a year ago I gave the surgeon some information about Collagenase and asked his opinion. He was impressed by the Phase II trial results but said he thought it would be at least 10 years before it was actually available.

At the time I thought he was a bit cynical, but I've come to realize that he was probably speaking from experience. Developing, testing and marketing a new drug is a long and expensive process which probably takes even longer for small companies with limited resources. BSTC hasn't even started phase III trials, and maybe those trials have to be completed before they can start manufacturing, marketing and distributing Collagenase, and showing doctors how to use it.

While I continue to watch the situation with BSTC and their product, for the forseeable future I'll have to choose between surgery and NA. I've had 2 surgeries and while they were basically successful they've taken a toll in loss of flexibility, impaired circulation, nerve damage and (I believe) some atrophy of the affected fingers. Next time, I want to try NA.

What I would like to see is NA performed here in the U.S. The cost here would no doubt be several times what it is in Europe, but still a fraction of the cost of a surgery. The American medical care system is such that doctors aren't going to do something that isn't covered by the health plans, because they wouldn't get enough patients. Until recently health plans wouldn't cover a procedure that isn't approved by the medical establishment - but, in response to public demand, they'e now paying for things like accupuncture and chiropractic, which are on a shaky scientific basis compared to NA.

I think all we need is for a couple of doctors in the U.S. to learn about NA and the logjam would break.

Logjam is right. I've seen in CRO's how long it takes just to put the trial data into a database before it's even submitted to the fed. Several years for some trials. Yes, would be helpful if US docs dared to venture into new methods.

Sell collagenase from the liver and pancres of crab by price 215 $ USA from Russia, Vladivostok, tel. 4232-45-19-68
Alexandr, Tatyana

i haven't tried this, but i thought it was interesting because i remember reading about collagenase from some species of crab being the best collagenase. who knows what form of this they are selling tho, etc.

Diane,

I participated in the program at Stonybrook university. I highly recommend the treatment. I had good success on 3 of 5 injections, 2 injections were only modestly successful. I happen to have a very agressive case of DC and did have reoccurence, but if the injections were approved, I would imagine an injection every few years would be a better alternative to a fasciectomy. The collagenase is administered in three needle pricks, spaced a few cm from each other along the cord. They originally used novacine, but since this needed to be injected via needle, it was abandoned. There is some pain, but it is short lived, certainly less pain than from surgery once the anestetic wears off. Within a few hours your hand begins to swell up slightly, and there is some discomfort in the hand, but again tolerable. Roughly 20 hrs after the injection, the physican attempts to rupture the cord by bending the finger backwards. If the cord has been sufficiently attacked by the enzyme, the cord will "snap", with a slight sound. You will be instructed to continue to bend your fingers over the next week to further separate the cord from normal tissue. The biggest down side is the frequent return visits required after the treatment(1,2 week, 1,2,3,6,9,12 months, annually thereafter). So if you live far a away from the treatment center this requires significant commitment.

Good Luck,

let me know if I can be of further help

juli