I saw my hand surgeon at Massachussets General for a follow up today and he told me that while NA would fix my dupuytrens for a while "it would come back with a vengeance" as it would be more trauma for the hand and aggravate the condition. I've read that we know recurrance does happen frequently, but have people had their contracture spread or get worse following an NA procedure? I would imagine this isn't a 6 month phenomena necessarily so Dr. Eaton's patients may be too soon to addd value in sharing their experiences. Thanks all.

I hope my surgeon is misguided in his idea but am not going to dismiss the opinion of the best hand surgeon at one of the country's top hospitals so lightly without some investigation. What you have to say is very useful to hear and I'd love to hear about more long term results.

Your hand surgeon is quite correct that you need to be concerned about trauma to you hands. However, ask him which is more traumatic, NA or traditional invasive surgery. The idea that full open surgery isn't traumatic is nuts. Yes, most of the disease tissue is removed with surgery (that's why it's so traumatic) With NA only the offending cords are severed. The question is: How much diseased tissue did you have *before* the Dups started? None, right? So originally your now diseased tissue came from *healthy* tissue. So even if the surgery removes all the existing diseased tissue, it can still return, especially after such a traumatic event as surgery. The conditions that created the Dups in the first place are not altered by the surgery one bit.

Now, since your doc is so concerned abut trauma as a trigger for more Dups growth, why isn't he concerned abut the trauma he will inflict if he opens up your hand? The answer is that he really believes he has *no choice*. This, of course, comes from the standard American surgical ignorance concerning the actual facts about NA. Though many surgeons haven't even heard of NA, the knee jerk reactions form those who have are:

A) "It doesn't work."
B) "It's too dangerous"
C) "It requires repeated treatment"

Assertions A and B have been clinically proven to be false in 30 years of practice Europe and now by Dr. Eaton in Florida. My reaction to C, in the worst possible case scenario, is....So What?

(The above statements are in no way intended to imply that US hand surgeons are mercenary, incompetent or devious. When it comes to NA they are simply ignorant. I do believe, however, that this ignorance comes from a firmly entranced set of blinders caused by professional arrogance. Don't worry. Once NA is firmly entrenched as the initial treatment of choice, they will all be pleased as punch with themselves at how advanced the've become on our behalf.......Fine.)

Today I went to the local hospital for a repair to my nighttime splints that I received when having NA from Dr. Eaton. The Therapist here had not heard of NA but was very experienced with the traditional surgery for Dupuytrens. I had NA in Fl. and was getting my splints repaired in Va. She was anxious to look at the websites I gave her and was quick to comment that the patients she had from surgery usually had repeated trouble and wounds that were swollen and needed therapy for months with the fingers. I am happy to have had NA in Fl by Dr. Eaton for both hands and will do it again if necessary.

NA straightened my hands.

I had stage 3 almost 4 in my left pinkie, with all the others ranging from stage 1-3 in both hands. That was three years ago and only now am I starting to see the curl come back, not aggressively, just gradual.

I will have NA again. Surgery means trauma, surgical scars etc.... I am hoping collegenase will become available as my cords are quite thick....until then, NA is all I will consider.

Good luck,
Hope this helps.
Terry