I had a right ring PIP at 35 degrees straightened by Eaton in April of 2005. If anything the procedure has slowed down the progression. My hand still lies flat on the table. The nodule above the PIP joint has softened and in currently inactive.

Rates of recurrence will be different for everyone, and higher for NA than OS. However considering the outstanding advantages of NA there is only one argument against trying NA first. *Some* people's disease is such that they can have just one OS and be done with this for life, whereas if the same person had NA, he would have a higher *probability* of needing more NA. This is the argument that Eaton himself presented to the ASSH as "A chance for a cure". Yes, he proposed the argument, but he himself does mostly NA because he feels that the stats are on that side of the equation.

Bottom Line: Eaton believes that the strong majority of new patients can use NA to avoid OS for their lifetime.

We all have to Pick our Poison. I've had *both* OS and NA. For me, OS is the course of absolute *last* resort. My OS hand has new Dups growth. No thanks.