I am trying to decide at what point surgery is absolutely necessary. I am hesitant to have the surgery, as I do not know what to expect for recovery time, pain, etc.

Is there anyone who could give me some idea as to the healing process after surgery.

Scared.

Marlene,

Subject: Some thoughts on the surgery
Name: Don Guild
Email: dguild@hotmail.com
I'm about 1 month post op on my right hand and I couldn't be more pleased with my result. I believe that I had a great surgeon who removed 99% of the contracture using a few (three)very small incisions. I was in a cast for a week then a splint. My wound was left open, I had no sutures. I'm just abut 100% healed and can flatten my hand on a horizontal surface for the first time in about three years! I had a local arm block which was nearly painless and I was awake the whole time chatting with the surgical nurse while my surgeon worked away. In about two hours I was out and ready to go home. I had little/no pain during the operation and during the healing period. Before surgery I was an avid visitor to this website and I must say I am very impressionable and became concerned when I read of some of the accounts which some of you have had with surgery. Then I thought I needed to go to France for the needle injections instead, frankly I was frightened. The more I read the more apprehensive I became to the point of postponing the procedure multiple times. What a klutz I was! Thankfully I was able to keep a surgical appointment and believe me I consider myself better off for it! True the injections may be preferable but until they are available in the U.S. surgery is the only route for us. I'm pushing my surgeon to operate on my left hand now and he tells me I should wait about 6 months before we do the other hand. He can't believe that I'm actually looking forward to having the other hand done, but based on the experience thus far, I can hardly wait! Good luck to all of you and find a good surgeon!

John, it must have taken some real digging to find postings praising the results of surgery. I congratulate you for finding those needles within the haystack.

It's fairly obvious,if you haven't waited too long, aren't brainwashed by the hand surgery industry, NA is the only way to go.

I had surgery six weeks ago-ring finger involved with large nodule. Finger is swollen and inflexible despite therapy three times a week, wearing glove for swelling, massage, exercises at home, sleeping in splint and a scar pad to fight building tissue. Any ideas on how to speed up the healing process?

Also have been using machines at gym to excercise since 1997. I wonder if pulling these machines and the pressure of the weight could make this worse? Did not see Dupuytren's until about 2 years after I started machines and have had three surgeries since then.

I had N/A treatment in early February. I can not imagine even considering surgery after the incredible results. People that knew of my condition and the limited use of my right hand are amazed. Those on this forum who are skeptical and those that are literally fear mongering about N/A treatment do a major disservice to others who are contemplating this proceedure. My first hand.... no pun intended... experience with the proceedure and Dr.Eaton left no doubt in my mind that this is the only logical course of action. When i got home, the following is what I wrote to a another couple of DC sufferers that I have been in contact with. I think it says it all....

So what can I tell you about it all? Florida is a great place to go. Expensive, crowded, lots of traffic, warm, no snow, beaches, and best yet, hand surgeon Dr.Charlie Eaton. Hell of a fine fellow.

The best way I can describe it is.... well, let me digress for a moment. The bands in the palms and fingers of my hands were very pronounced and close to the surface. Anyway, a bit of freezing into the area and Dr. Eaton starts working away with a needle. The strangest feeling...like a fairly thick rubber band being perforated with the needle. I could feel the needle hitting the band and it start to break away. Dr.Eaton put a little pressure on my index finger and there was an audible snap as the contracting tissue gave way. I could feel it snap and again the rubber band is the best description I can give. Dr. Eaton was like a "kid at Christmas" getting the job done. Absolutely no disrespect meant with that statement. In all, the first day he did 6 entry points on my right hand and in each of those spots broke away the contractures. He had a bit of a problem getting one area to break as the nerve was close to where he was working and he was concerned about hitting it. He was none too gentle with the knuckle as he tried to break the tissue by straining up on the knuckle to keep from using the needle in the area. He was apologetic about it and the knuckle was a bit uncomfortable but nothing to it other than that. A bit of blood, 6 small bandages and I went into the reception room and my wife gave me a "high five" and the palm of my hand could meet hers...flat! She says I was a grin from ear to ear. Really, the feeling of being able have full function of my hands again is incredible. No pain , no discomfort other than the knuckle. And to prove the point I went and got a case of a dozen beer and was able to use my fingers to grasp the carry handle only 2 hours after the procedure and take it from the store to the vehicle with no discomfort.
Probably not doctor approved procedure!
Anyway, back to the hand center on Monday for the pinkie on my left hand, no big deal and it's back to near normal. He reviewed the results of the right hand and went back to the index finger and one more contracture band that wasn't visible on Friday.
I had 4 nodules on my right hand and 2 dimples. For the most part they are gone or at least diminished to the point that I first noticed them several years ago.
To say the least I am very pleased.
On the second visit I asked Dr. Eaton about his opinion of the needle procedure vs. surgery. No comparison he says and added that if it were him his choice would be NA. He added that he considers himself to be a very good surgeon and to accomplish what he did with NA using surgery, my fingers would have been "baseball park franks" for days with the swelling being up to 6 months before completely dissipating.