As I understand it, DC-cords follow clearly defined paths.
The difficulty, it seems, it not so much the interrupting of the cord, but avoiding damaging the nerves.
For a hand surgeon, with a thorough knowledge of hand anatomy, and the location of these nerves, a 'short' training should suffice.
Why in France most of the NA's are not performed by hand surgeons ? I guess a hand surgeon is really 'overeducated' to spend his time just on NA.
Not that I personally would mind having 'my' NA performed by a surgeon :)

Dear Dr. Wicks,

Please forgive me if I have been grating, but many of us, including myself, have been on this Forum for *YEARS* relentlessly promoting NA so our fellow suffers could know its benefits.

We have endured staunch proponents of the 'surgery-only' opinion...nasty comments from our family doctors as we cancelled our surgeries and prepared to cross the ocean... we've heard terms like 'back-room hacks' and ignored them ... we've emailed newcomers and urged them to seek NA out, helped them muster the courage to do it, then listened to the joy in their voice/posts once they returned ....we've answered questions patiently both by email and by Forum...we've protected, promoted, and even been willing to pay for someone we've never met before in another country to have the surgery because of our belief in NA.

But this...what you want of us.... is too much. You want us to accept a Doctor whose training is unclear - a doctor who is not on Dr.L's list as qualified practitioner of NA.

If you want to promote NA with us, LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DOING, then wonderful, but to ask us to ignore the chain of command (the list), that's too much, and frankly dangerous.....because there may be a doctor in one of the many countries of this world, or even here in North America, who is not so ethical, may see the fee of $500/finger and say..'Hey I can do that...I will do that...I am a doctor...that is what gives me the right.'

Then this doctor self-teaches NA only maim and disfigure their patients, then the name of NA will be destroyed - it will become the Hokus Pokus technique that OUR family doctor called it when I told him about it and cancelled the surgery.

An NA practitioner must have a traceable education/ pedigree, we can accept no less. They must be on the list of NA practitioners or NA will become open to opinion, interpretation, change, mutation.

It is for or fellow DC sufferers that I am so relentless. I am sure Dr. Bourland is an excellent surgeon as you say, but without the paperwork, there can be no blue ribbon. If it only takes a week for a surgeon to train as you say...fine, Dr. Bourland can go to France, train then get his name on the list - like everyone else.

Once he's there, I personally would be thrilled to shout his name from the rooftops. Until that time, I will stick to the list.

I agree Dr. Wicks that NA needs to be pushed - but not rushed.

Frances

It has been confirmed that Dr. Eaton spent one week in France and saw 60+ patient with Dr. L. I have no problems with that, he went, he saw, he learned, he qualified, and got on the list. No problem.

One week of training is not a lot of time to ask. Like I said below, if there are no requirements attached to being qualified to perform NA the results could be disasterous.

Frances

I can assure you that Dr. Bouurland has had more experience with the NA procedure than just talking with Dr. Eaton.

Eddie,

I forgot to enter your name. This information is in response to your post, and of course, to anyone else that cares to read it.