| reduction of scar tissue |
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04/14/2006 23:38
mark 
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04/14/2006 23:38
mark
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reduction of scar tissue
i had surgery on my left ring finger to the base of my palm a month ago. it was extremely successful and my finger which was once drawn in 45 degrees is now straight. however, the resulting scar tissue in my base joint has left my finger totally numb. i go to physical therapy 3 times a week and have considerably more mobility than anyone expected, but i am in significant pain by the end of the day and the tissue is hard by morning no matter how much i soak, heat, massage, or ice. any clues?
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04/14/2006 23:36
jim hnot registered
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04/14/2006 23:36
jim hnot registered
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scar tissue
Just keep doing everything the physical therapists tell you to do. It takes months but scar tissue can be gradually reduced and sensation can return IF you follow through on exercises, massage of the scar tissue, ultrasound treatments and/or whatever else is prescribed by the surgeon and the PT. Been through it all, twice.
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04/15/2006 23:15
Sean
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04/15/2006 23:15
Sean
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scar tissue
Each person probably is different with scar tissue. I only went to therapy a couple of times, but I exercised the hand continually during the day. I have no noticeable scar tissue and normal flexibility. My surgery was 4 years ago.
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04/16/2006 23:16
Randy H. not registered
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04/16/2006 23:16
Randy H. not registered
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We are all different
Mark,
Sean is right. In my case, because of the open Mccash incision clear across my palm, scar tissue developed deep inside the palm directly opposite of the knuckles. Unfortunately there was so much scaring that it now impedes the ligaments that go though that aria. This make it difficult (stiff and painful) to open and close that palm. I was commended at how well I did all the exercises assigned to me by my PT.
Without that, things would have been worse. So do the work. My surgery was three years ago. So essentially, there was absolutely nothing I could have done to prevent my current condition, except to avoid Open Surgery all together.
Understand that I am an unusual case, as my biology responded *very* poorly to the trauma of OS. So poorly that my surgeon, having seen the NA results on the *other* hand, has recommended I use NA indefinitely to avoid further OS. Sean and I are on polar opposite as to how well we were able to recover. Also, I suspect that Sean may not have had his full palm opened up form one end to the other and dug into during his procedure.
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04/17/2006 23:45
Wolfgangnot registered
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04/17/2006 23:45
Wolfgangnot registered
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post OS
Randy, I am very sorry to hear about your problems after surgery! You probably couldn't have done anything better with regard to post-surgery treatment but some of us are just not well suited for surgery. Unfortunately we only find this out by having surgery.
One of the issues is that for the time being hardly any side effect of operating on Dupuytren is predictable. Some, like cutting a nerve unintentionally, are just by chance (well, you might have picked a better surgeon but it can happen to the first in class ones, too). Others, like scarring or extension to other areas, sure have reasons but those are not researched. A constriction of the arm's vein may cause long term swollen hands after surgery and a slow healing process, something that is predictable but usually not checked before surgery because too expensive to check. Overall it is left to the patient and experiment to find out what the side effects will be.
There are not even good statistics. An example: it is generally accepted that trauma might cause Dupuytren and surgery is a major trauma. Therefore surgery might cause or accelerate Dupuytren, in the operated area (recurrence) or elsewhere (extension). To find out how likely this is one would need to analyze operated Dupuytren patients for a year or so before and after the surgery and compare frequency and growth rates of nodules. Nobody has done that and probably nobody will.
Therefore I agree with your conclusion to be reluctant with surgery because side effects are numerous and difficult to predict. And to you personally I assure you a lot of empathy. The best cure might be a glass of red wine in the evening sun. Life is good, even with Dupuytren. And without this surgery you would probably not contribute as much to this forum ...
Wolfgang
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