thanks for info about the fingers being straight

i 'll keep going to therapy


good luck

Hey Randy, enjoy your posts, even the satirical ones. I can see, though, that some (or one anyway) of the surgical proponents haven't the wit or intelligence to appreciate your sarcasm.

The 'troll' definitely needs to up it's meds. Hey Troll, how about being brave enough to put up an email address????

Coward!

Tom,

??? Where is your email address. Certainly not hotmail.com. Nothing is spineless so much as hiding behind shadows.

You first and a real email address. Are you game? Don't bother with the hotmail.

Randy, your email was immature and is inexcusable. Is that what this forum has come to? Posting false statements and making fun of others? We share a rare disease and apparently, all we can do is fight each other. As for you, I think you're a fake and are likely posting under multiple names. I know someone has been submitting postings under my login name, "no name". Honesty time now - who has been doing that?

Tom. Give me a real email address. If you won't, well we know what you really are.

In response to Deans questions:

After hoping for several years for this collagenase treatment coming on the market I had to have surgery.
My surgery (open palm fasciectomy)for two crooked fingers in left hand one year ago was by far not as bad as I had feared. On an outpatient basis it lasted only one hour with local anesthetic (left arm block which I prefer over general anesthetic. Some of my relatives had general anesthetics which keeps you longer in the hospital which I personally don't care for)from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM. AT 11:00 AM I was eating breakfast at Perkins with my arm in a sling. Never took a single pain killer afterwards.Three small incisions in two fingers and 2 in hand palm.
Next about 8 weeks of hand therapy (once a week or so, Don't remember exactly: Hot whirlpools, ultra sound massage and daily exercises at home. The fingers were almost but not quite straight initially. Strangely the unaffected finger knuckles were very stiff initially but this improved after a few months. A short time with a splint during the day. A bit longer during the night (few weeks?. No big deal I thought. I found just using the hand was the best therapy. What was unanticipated and for me a bit frustrating, was the extreme temperature (cold) sensitivity of the palm of the hand that lasted for about 6 months. I solved that by just wearing a thin glove on my left hand when holding metal utensils, forks, knives etc. A year later the scars are basically invisible to my surprise as the day after it looked scary. Only I know where they are. The hand is 100% functional today and no numbness left. Before the surgery I very rarely had some pain of very short duration. Not enough to bother me. However the two crooked fingers started impeding with the functionality of the hand and I was concerned that over time it only would get worse.
So overall I am very happy I had it taken care of. The cost (About $12,000 total) gave me sticker shock of course even though insurance paid most of it. Since every case of Dupuytren's is different, if there are other and less expensive methods, more power to you. Thought some of you might like to hear just one experience. Greetings.

I had NA in Paris 2 1/2 years ago. Dr. Lermusieux did a wonderful job of straightening out left pinkie and ring finger. (Plus it was wonderful to get back to Paris) After approximately 2 years the DC had returned enough that I saw Dr. Eaton. (Oct '04) This was a good experience, with a significant improvement. Because both the metacarpal and PIP joint were involved, there is still some bending of my pinkie. I knew that the PIP was more difficult to treat, and did not expect full correction of that joint. I am, however, pleased with the result and if future treatment is necesary, I would not hesitate to have NA again. The biggest decision I will have to make is whether to have it done in Florida or Paris. I feel confident that NA has worked well for me, and I would be very reluctant to consider "traditional" (invasive??) surgery.