I havd had DC for 13 years and have had surgery about 7 times with Dr Markley in Ann Arbor. I sent my photo to France for NA but was turned down because of previous surgeries. I would certainly try NA before surgery.

Having had a dozen surgeries for conditions from cancer to cataracts and everything in between, I know that every case is different and the "healing arts" are not exact science, but highly educated and controversial guesswork. So my experience with Dupes may or may not be typical or predictive of what others can expect. I just had a major fasciectomy of the right pinkie by a plastic surgeon who does many hand surgeries. There was lots of scar tissue from surgery ten years ago. The other hand is also now seriouly affected.I admit to letting it go too long before this surgery. I have a lot of pain and such a small correction of the contracture that I am now seriously considering amputation of both pinkies.Even if NA were financially viable, I'm sure the scar tissue on the right hand would have disqualified me.
I'm frankly astounded by the posters who speak casually of flying off to Florida, France or Australia for surgery. If I had that kind of money I wouldn't be shoveling Michigan snow every year.

Clif in Michigan

You are right, Sean. I need to dust off all those positive thinking books and quit borrowing trouble so soon after surgery. I'm old and cranky about second time surgeries, one of which almost croaked me.
My plastic surgeon never heard of NA. I wonder how typical that is. When I told him what little I know of it from this group, he dismissed it as having little value. I'm going to copy a bunch of stuff, including some of the glowing testimonials and your post about the traditional job Eaton did for you, and see what the local doc has to say if he reads it. I hope some members will comment on the following questions I have , from being on several support/information groups:
Is it likely that regular readers of groups like this one know more about their condition or infirmity and treatments for it than their practioner does? Seems unlikely that doctors go home at night and read patient groups. And is it possible to know "too much" about what ails you and about all the traditional and alternative, legitimate and quack treatments? I get that feeling a lot from the posts on a cancer group I'm on . (I'm a "caught it early" survivor, doing remarkably well after almost ten years.) Any comments from those who are in other groups? I'm thinking about writing an article and would appreciate your input.

Clif in Michigan