Photobill:

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Saw the physical therapist today and she made a very comfortable splint that I'll wear on the back of my hand at night to keep my ring finger straight. She also gave a routine of exercises to strengthen and stretch the tendon.

My hand feels very good and I have almost full extension of all my fingers. There's a small blood blister at the site of the injection that is still tender to the touch. There is very little swelling and by the end of the day I am now able to flex my fingers from fairly tight fist to straight. There is a slight stretching pull feeling when straightening the ring finger.

I'm impressed with the speed of returning to normal. Not totally there yet, but 36 hours after straightening, it sure feels good.

Bill

Thanks for the splint photos and sharing the one of your hand.

The PT made me extra straps and she gave me a light glove to wear as well as cotton finger covers. The splint is very comfortable. Why do you stress that I wear it longer than the 2-3 mos. suggested by my doctor?

Three weeks after the Xiaflex injection and the finger is totally normal. There is a small area of dead skin where the needle was injected and where the blood blister was, but other than that the finger is good as new. The doctor was very pleased and I will follow up in 4 months. Only time will tell how long this will maintain.

To dCinNYC and Photobill....

Three and four weeks after Xiaflex injection is too early to tell what long term results will be....I am VERY happy for both of you that the immediate results were successful and hope it continues for a long time.

I would be interested to hear from both of you after 4-6 months and also hopefully after 1-2 years... Please keep posting long term results. I would also like to know from both of you which finger/fingers, and which joint were affected and what was the degree of contracture before Xiaflex.

I had NA twice on same small finger, PIP joint ... First time July 2006, second time March 2010. Two well-known doctors, very experienced with NA. Unfortunately both times the contracture returned within six months after the NA. I'm waiting to read more about people's experience with Xiaflex and would consider it, if many positive long-term results are reported.