Decided to simplify matters. The portion you are interested in follows;

SUMMARY: 81 respondents reported having traditional surgery while 26 replied about Aponevrotomy. Utilizing a basis of recurrences of months through 2 years as unsatisfactory and 2 plus as satisfactory the totals are:

Surgery: Satisfied 12---Dissatisfied 52---Too Recent or omitted 17=Total 81
Needle: Satisfied 11---Dissatisfied 15*=Total 26

*The APO responders indicated an almost 100% satisfaction rating since the disease caused no scarring and did not return with a vengeance in other extremities as reported with the surgical method. Most are willing to continue with APO as a means of avoiding surgery. Most APO responders had their procedures within a 2 year time frame; therefore the amount of dissatisfied should be taken into consideration.

REVISION: 1 YEAR AFTER SURVEY

29 procedural responses.

13 SURGERIES: 3 Good, 2 Fair, 5 Bad, 3 Awful

Most reported post surgical trauma affecting extremities.

16 APO (NEEDLE): 14 GOOD, 2 FAIR (some regression)

1 report of resultant trauma or damage.

My NA went fine. No nerve damage. No tendon damage. Everything is OK. My pinky is now straight. I am very happy with the results. Put me in the satisfied list.

Patty,

A common tale. The "nerve damage" issue, yes, it's bogus and amazingly *we* know what the CHD don't. Believe me, I'm on your side. But don't over react. We need these guys, as misinformed on NA as they currently are. We aren't going to change things by Storming The Castle.

Please, my sugestion....have your NA done if necessary. Show your CHS the results. Let him dismiss you as a "Lucky Case" and move on. In the end, the only guys most of them will listen to are other CHS, who are currently, quietly, amassing the Data that will put this all to rest.

NA is, at best, a "stop gap" solution to avoid more draconian measures (OS). It has it's limits, though it should always be looked at as a "first line of defense". OS is necessary in some cases, and will be until a real cure is found.

I share your frustration that NA is not more widely available and understood by our caregivers. Let us be resolute, calm, and persistent. And it shall.

Dear Tommy,

It's nice to hear stories of surgeons who are willing to follow up on finding out about the procedure. :-)


Anon