Hi everyone, I'm new around here with a recent diagnosis. My contracture isn't too bad I guess and my specialist is suggesting to wait until it gets worse before surgery. It's not impacting my day-to-day life or work, but is impacting sports as I can't comfortably press my hand flat (e.g. pushups) and have to be careful to avoid pressure that hyperextends the fingers. The specialist also said the earlier people get the surgery, the better the outcomes can be.
Considering it will get worse at an unpredictable rate, how did you choose when to get surgery? And overall what was your recovery like? I'm hearing different lengths of times, but as someone who is very active I'm keen to know how long it takes to get back into things.
I'm someone who tends to want to get things over and done with rather than waiting patiently. I have to admit it's annoying because I know it's there, and I do like my sports.
I also got a surgery recently last year. 32 years Old, pinky finger right side. Contracture was kind of bad already but also not really noticable in daily life. After the surgery I read that often these surgeries can trigger growth in other dormant Dupuytren cells. So far after 1 year it didn't start somewhere. I still have some swelling occasionally in the operated area. But this depends on outside temperatures and my activity.
So far the Pinky is almost 100% straight even though the surgeon said it might have been too late for a recovery. But I have been religious in training my fingers and I have been wearing a night splint religiously to prevent any contractures from the scar tissue.
Though with some of the knowledge I acquired after the surgery I would probably look at a needling it before surgery.
I would also like to add that my surgeon did a really, fantastic job.
Most surgery comes with some risk and in the case of Dupuytrens the outcomes seem to vary quite a lot and almost unpredictably with differing experiences. This is why as a general rule we suggest minimally invasive procedures for mild contractures, such as NA or Collagenase, before surgery (fasciectomy). Reported patient healing from surgery varies from a few weeks to a few months and some experience scarring/keloids or quite immediate flare up of new instances or Dupuytrens or slow recovery from swelling and being able to make a fist. How well do you normally heal and how experienced is your surgeon and what post-surgical support will be provided are questions that may indicate your success and recovery, but even so with a 'moderate contracture' I would ask about NA or Xiaflex first.
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