Anyone had hand surgery?

Dupuytren's Disease:

As the disease progresses the nodules may then grow, and cords develop along the tendons. These cords then thicken which can contract and bend the affected fingers towards the palm. This can stop the fingers from being able to straighten, and is called a ‘contracture’. The progression of a contracture can be more aggressive if there is a familial history of the condition

In my husband's case, the little finger on his left hand was bent right in and curved across the inside of his palm. Over time, the next finger (ring finger) did the same. After the first operation, the fingers were slightly straighter but the scar tissue became like a thick rope across his palm and it became very hard and inflexible, making movement of his whole hand almost impossible. The 2nd operation did ease that but again, over time, its recurred and he's now been advised that further treatment won't ease it much more.

Tanith,

Sorry to hear you’re still having pain. I hope your hand will continue to improve. It’s only when we have a problem with our hands that we realise how much we use them. Did you have a plaster cast on too after surgery?

I can’t put make up on at all Suzie, at the moment anyway. I could continue wearing makeup when I had the left hand done. I can’t even fasten my own bra or take a bath without my husband’s help. I don’t know how people who live alone cope when their hand is out of action.

I also have had the same operation as you Maddyone. Both thumbs with several years gap between the two operations. Both successful and left me pain free after the initial 6 weeks. I think you’ve been very unlucky and if you haven’t done so already, perhaps a call to the surgeon might be an idea? Wishing you all the very best for a swift recovery.

Ahh, just read your second post Suzie. Is it a type of arthritis?

Chewbacca, I haven’t heard of your husband’s condition. Is it a type of arthritis?

What was your condition Suzie, if you don’t mind me asking?

Suzie, thanks for asking. I did post yesterday but got no replies so rephrased today hoping someone would be able to answer. I had a trapeziectomy three weeks ago tomorrow, to my right hand, I’m right handed. A trapeziectomy is the removal of the trapezium bone, at the base of the thumb, usually done to relieve arthritic pain. I had my left hand done some six years ago and after initial pain for the first few days, I recovered well. Fast forward six years (I waited that long as I’m right handed) and the surgery was done three weeks ago. I’ve had daily pain since then and I’m still taking painkillers all day and every day. I was told that pain levels can vary on each hand/person but the pain is so much worse than when my left hand was done, and so I’m wondering if anyone else has had this and how long their recovery took. Information on the internet seems to imply bad pain should only last a few days to two weeks. My hand is now in a plaster cast, initially it was in a very firm dressing, and I thought perhaps when the stitches were removed and the cast on, that I’d be in less pain, but I’m not.

Tanith

My husband had it about a year ago, no real improvement I’m afraid, I think it was more painful than he was expecting as well, so stock up on painkillers!

Yes that was mine Chew. I’d read very negative reports about the conventional surgery - infection rates, long recovery period and very high recurrence rates. I researched surgeons in my area who would carry out the collagenese injection and my local NHS said they would fund it ( in the event I went privately because of logistics with work commitments). 5 years on my hand has hardly regressed at all from when the treatment was first carried out - my test is that I can still use all my fingers when putting on make up.

I’ve had surgery for carpal tunnel 3 mths ago so far my hand is no better I have scar tissue at the incision site but with massage it’s improving. I still hope for it to improve the weakness and numbness.

My husband has Dupuytren’s Disease and had an operation on his hand, at a local hospital, about 4 years ago to ease it. I'm sorry to say that it wasn't successful and his hand was left in a far worse condition than it was originally. He was then referred to another hospital in Derbyshire, where they operated again and that was much better. He's due to go back later this month for follow up treatment but has been told that the chances of improving it any further are slim. His hands are very gnarled and twisted now and he struggles with fine motor movements.

What for maddy ? I actually avoided hand surgery for a specific condition by having what was then a very new alternative treatment.