Schumy:

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Great!!! I've read some nasty posts lately, specifically about the Z surgery. Are you able to use your hand (strength, flexibility) as it was before Dupuytren? I know you need a rather long therapy after surgery (3 months aprox), is it painful?

I'm still on the very early stages on my left hand, but it has hampered my lifestyle since I enjoy doing all sort of exercises (specifically weight lifting).

I'm extremely happy you read some good news!

Thank you all for your kind responses!!!

Sorry small, I know all my questions diverted your position (and the subject of the current forum). As I said before, I'm on the very early stages and still have a lot to learn about it, so got excited reading callie's answer...

Fondest regards!

I just read my report from eleven years ago:

OPERATION: Partial palmer and digital fasciectomy.

PROCEDURE: The patient was taken to surgery, and general anesthesia was administered. The arm was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion. After exsanguination, the tourniquet was inflated.

A zigzag incision was made along the palmer aspect of the palm and extended out to the finger, and the skin flaps were raised in a zigzag fashion. The fascia was released from the transverse carpal ligament, and then the proper and common digital nerves were identified and protected. The fascia was removed, tourniquet let down, and hemostasis obtained.

The skin was closed with 4-0 nylon, sterile compressive dressings were applied, and the patient taken to the recovery room in stable condition.

I was on my way home about 4 hrs. after I showed up. It was the fastest 4 hrs. of my life (it seemed). My wife drove me home. They didn't want me to drive right after having the anesthesia.

My experience is similar to Callie's. I had open surgery on my palm to remove the diseased fascia about 10 years ago. It's now as good as if I never had DC. The only evidence of it is the scar, which is a big V from my middle finger down to a point at the bottom of my palm and back up to the base of my ring finger. No problems whatsoever now.

For the surgery, I was given sedation along with a total arm block, wherein they put a tourniquet on my arm to prevent blood loss and administer the block. I fell asleep from the sedation, but woke up in the middle of the surgery. I felt nothing. The doc was talking about how well his lasix eye surgery was, and I commented that this really isn't the best conversation for a surgeon who is operating on an awake patient. hehehe......

Post surgery was kind of painful for me. I took vicadin for about one week, but mostly at night, just so I could sleep. After that, I didn't need it. I wore the splint on and off during the day for a couple of weeks, then only at night for a number of months. I hated when the sutures were removed. I hated when they cleaned out the bit of infection at one location just at the base of my ring finger. But, it was doable.

I am thinking about Xiaflex now on my right hand because it is my understanding that they, and us try to avoid surgery and only use it as a last resort. When I had the surgery, it was the only option. I'm not looking forward to it. The thought of needles going into my hand make me break out into a sweat. I discussed this with my doc, and I am going to ask her for valium for both days of the procedure. I had valium when I had surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in my right thumb about 30 years ago. It was great. I could care less what the did to my thumb when I was under the influence of that stuff. That's the only time I've ever taken it. I want it for this.