My name is Craig and I’m writing this at the behest of my surgeon, Dr. Eric Balaguer, to chronicle my experiences with Dupuytren’s Contracture. I’m a 68-year-old African American male in relatively good health. Prior to Dupuytren’s, my major health issues were a broken collar bone in childhood, knee osteoarthritis as a result of athletics, arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus, and gout. I was given the initial diagnosis of Dupuytren’s at the beginning of February and now in May, the restoration process is almost complete. It’s a genetic disease caused by excess collagen, which builds up forming knots of tissue, which forms thick ropes, which extend to the finger. As these ropes shorten and tighten, the finger is pulled to the palm. I contacted Dr Balaguer and he recommended Xiaflex to remedy the situation. Given the choice of a drug or surgery, I immediately opted for the drug.

As a former college athlete and coach, I’ve experienced pain from contusions, sprains, various dislocations and muscle tears. My experiences with Xiaflex were my worse pain experience. Let there be no mistake, the injections are painful!! On two different occasions, I received a syringe of Xiaflex, which was injected into 3 different parts of the palm (first injection) and 3 different parts the little finger (second injection). The day after each of the injections, the hand is manipulated to break the cord (no pain just pressure) and there is then a 30-day waiting period before another injection can be administered. The pain began with the injections but exacerbated during the 3-month recovery process. The collagenase enzyme attacks the collagen ropes but also attacks other collagen in the hand resulting in swelling and discoloration followed by erosion of skin tissue. In each treatment, the skin weakens, splits and develops into a weeping, painful sore. (After the second injection, the little finger doubled in size and developed a black blood blister covering the entire bottom of the digit up to the second digit). After each injection, I was given a splint to immobilize and straighten the little finger but found both splints initially too painful to keep on for any length of time.

The good news is that the Xiaflex worked. My little finger is now back in its normal position and I use the splint at night to keep the finger straight. So, Xiaflex works but not simply, nor quickly. The recovery process is lengthy and painfully complicated. One has to learn to endure the pain, which eventually diminishes. My one recommendation is to get a surgeon experienced in the treatment of Dupuytren’s who is knowledgeable, skilled and empathetic like Dr. Balaguer.
Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!