Today I saw my radiologist who booked me an appointment after knowing I just had a Needle Aponeurotomy 2 weeks ago
My hand is flat now, but one of the nodules on my ring finger- the one operated on- is giving signs of being alive..
She told me it’s better to do the radiation as soon as possible to stop DD for regrowing the chord and it’s better just after the procedure I just had.
I’ve already read a lot of stories on this forum on RT and it seems a good way to go
Don’t want to redo the NA after the painful experience
Next week I’m supposed to go for the mould she will make to protect the rest of my hand
I guess soon after there will be two cycles of 5 days with an interval of 6/8 weeks in between.

Are you tired after each radiation? How is normal life?
Still reading and learning but any tips are welcome ☺️

P.s. I cannot find the link to the updated “RT following surgery of 2019” of Prof. Seegenschmiedt
https://www.dupuytren-online.info/Forum_English/board/dupuytren/rt-following-surgery-0_1541924404.html#7

Edited 06/24/2025 04:14

I had RT done in Germany and used the 2xweekly times away from home as a vacation. I had no tiredness, or immediate side effects whilst there and even hired a bike a couple of times and that was fine too (on the hands). But some people do complain of tiredness; those who have RT on the feet may limit their walking, and some feel some short term burning sensations or reddening as well as the tanning in the week(s) after. Additionally there may be a perceived increase in activity sensation such as soreness, tingling, stiffness, and for myself once home I did have minor tanning of the skin and later quite severe dryness too, but I resumed tennis playing almost straight away. The radiologist should give you an aftercare list, mainly using high urea skin cream, some things to avoid and some things to watch for that may be additional but normal side effects that will resolve in time. SB

spanishbuddha:

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I had RT done in Germany and used the 2xweekly times away from home as a vacation. I had no tiredness, or immediate side effects whilst there and even hired a bike a couple of times and that was fine too (on the hands). But some people do complain of tiredness; those who have RT on the feet may limit their walking, and some feel some short term burning sensations or reddening as well as the tanning in the week(s) after. Additionally there may be a perceived increase in activity sensation such as soreness, tingling, stiffness, and for myself once home I did have minor tanning of the skin and later quite severe dryness too, but I resumed tennis playing almost straight away. The radiologist should give you an aftercare list, mainly using high urea skin cream, some things to avoid and some things to watch for that may be additional but normal side effects that will resolve in time. SB

Edited 06/24/2025 17:24

Katbel:

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An update:
I had the second radiation cycle 6 weeks ago and the radiologist called me yesterday to know how I was.
My nodules have shrunk a little and for now no signs of life in there...my hand is flat 97%.
It could be 100% if the surgeon who did the surgery had cut the cord on my right palm too and not only in the ring finger
Somehow also the nodules in my left hand -only in my palm -are doing better: did the radiations travelled there too?! 😉
I didn't have any side effects during and after the radiation like hitching etc. Just a lot tired but that is gone now
At the last radiation session the radiologist told me the radiations are still active for 6 weeks and this is why she called me after that.
Time to time I'm stretching my hands wide open and if in the left hand I feel any "activity" I put some
Rub-a535 (Triethanolamine Salicylate 20%) topical cream and massage both palms together.
Voltaren gel works too but I prefer Rub-a535.

I use the splint glove at night time but lately not every night and there is no difference.
I also use a golf glove with some foam inside the palm to drive: softer handling the steering wheel.
For a better use I cut the fingers tips.
The only side effect I'm dealing with is pain in my right arm and neck but this is due to the whiplash my arm and neck had during the surgery without waiting for the local anaesthetic to work. I'm seeing a physiotherapist that is doing acupuncture and some work on my neck and I'm improving.

Definitely radiations were a good solution in my case. 😊
Probably if I had known earlier I would have had radiation before DD got worse. Unfortunately, even the surgeons who had seen me before had always told me to wait to see that my hand could not get flat on the table and a pencil could pass under my finger: so wrong!! Act before that if you can! The radiologist told me at the beginning that maybe we could do radiations to the left hand too
I keep an eye open for now: my hand is flat and with the topical cream I have no problems and I'm not using it too often either


Wishing all you the best 💗