Last Tuesday I had an injection of clostridial collagenase as part of the Clinical Trial. Prior to the injection I had a 25 degree contraction of the ring finger on my right hand, and a 20 degree contraction of the middle finger. I had a distinct cord running from my palm to the second joint of my ring finger, with a good sized nodule just below the joint.

The injection was made along the first crease in my palm and I think there were two separate injections, right next to each other. The experience was something like a novicane injection at the dentist. The needle was moved around a bit hitting the cord in a few spots. Immediately following the injection my hand was wrapped, mainly to keep me from using it much. the wrap was to be removed at bed time. When I removed the wrap my hand had swelled to the size of a small grapefruit. The bulk of the swelling was on the back of my hand. I was told the next day that was normal since the back of the hand has loose skin and will swell easiest.

Twenty four hours after the injection I returned to the doctor's office. The doctor attempted to snap the cord three times by extending my ring finger. Now, being a male and obviously not equipped to deal with much pain, this was not pleasant. The pain felt like a knife slicing through my palm. I involuntarily yanked my hand away each time. The doctor then fashioned a splint to straighten my ring and middle fingers, and I left with instructions to wear the splint at night, along with a set of stretching exercises to be performed four times a day.

Within two days the swelling was mostly gone. The splint went from being quite painful to being easy to wear. It has a metal band that allows it to be adjusted as the fingers straighten. Over the next few days I attempted to pull on the finger to snap the cord, same painful results.

Yesterday I returned to the doctor for my one week visit. Even the cord never did 'snap' both my ring and middle fingers measured at 0 degrees contraction. The cord is still there but it seems that it has loosened up a bit. Now, I never attempted to stretch my finger before participating in the study, so I don't know if I could have reduced the degree of contraction my just stretching or not. I still can't place my palm flat on a table, but I can come much closer than I could before the injection. With just a bit of effort, I can get my fingers pretty straight.

My next appointment is at the 30 day mark. At that point they will decide if I am considered a success or if they should inject again. The study allows for up to three injections in a single cord, and up to 5 injections if multiple cords are present. I suspect that if my fingers continue to measure at 0 degrees, I will be finished.

If anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to try to answer them.

Harry

From what they told me, quite a few patients have their cord release before the first appointment after the injection. Perhaps you'll be one of those. Good luck...

GMP:

I'm sure you know that there is a 33% chance that you are in the Control Group and haven't been injected with Collegenase at all. In a double blind design the doctor would not know either. Naturally he is going to give it his best effort to snap the cord regardless. But considering you got back to zero degrees of contraction which is impressive, it's hard to believe that a placebo could do that. Keeps us posted.

It's great having participants in these trials reporting here. Presumably BioS created their original Forum so that readers could monitor the progress this same way and promote their product. Unfortunately they ran out of money, the trials stalled, and we all would up talking about NA instead, which actually launched the NA movement in North America and now elsewhere :-) Now this Forum is returning the favor to BioS.

Finally now actual money is being spelt on Collegenase Phase III. We are probably still two years away from general availability, however. We should all keep our fingers crossed, at least those who can. If you can't, go get some NA in the meantime.

I still have not heard back form the hand center on the Auxilium AA4500 blind study in Indianapolis, I should here something this week to have my first injection on the 19th of this month w/ the other members of this study.. After reading a lot of your experiences I must say my mind in not at ease! I have 45 degree contracture in my pip joint of my dominate hand. I had told the doctor that I really need to be able to use my hand during the next 3 months and they told me I could w/ no problems. But I bet you guys might have a differnce of opinion! I can maybe put it off until December for my first injection but they want to start me soon. They told me I would be their youngest female thus far. If I am one of the un-lucky ones that do not get the drug I still will have to go thru all the same procedures as the people that do. I would after 90 days be able to get the drug if I was not lucky the first 3 months. I do have 6 new nodules ( small) in the same hand that was pointed out by the doctor during my 1st visit , but no contracture yest do to them.. So I know in the long run I will be glad that I am doing this but fo today I am a little unsure... Any advise would be welcome.. Oh by the way they said no pain medicine will be allowed in this study .

Australia Calling. Hi J.Anne , Don't wait I would take your chance as early as you can and take the treatment . You never know they may run out then what.Your health is the no.1 priority. Regards