Dupuytren's contracture

[VSS]

Having a pee outdoors in cold weather is pretty tricky.
By the time you've fumbled about with one hand trying to align the openings in your various layers of clothing (waterproofs, overalls, jeans, base layer, underpants):
a) You're so close to wetting yourself that you can no longer think or behave rationally.
b) The little fella had decided it's far too cold out there, and disappeared out of reach into the warmer recesses of your groin, which just makes everything 10× worse.

Remember what your mother used to tell you:
"Go before you go".

 

[opticron1]

You'll be fine!
There is always a way of getting through the early stages and surviving "one-handed"...... You will probably end up with a "Z" scar on your finger and once the splint is off and the physio starts you'll be able to use your other fingers fairly well. I've seen some severe contractures with dupuytrens over the years and yours doesn't look too bad. One of my pals who had a similar op realised it was bad when he couldn't take his hand off the handlebars of his motorbike and was finding it hard to let go of his shotgun! He managed to feed himself just fine!
Although VSS's comments did make me chuckle.......

 

[McKenzie]

I don't know about your specific condition, but my left hand has been in a splint since it was operated on just before Christmas, and it'll be staying on for at least another couple of weeks, followed by plenty of physio. (Total recovery time expected to be a minimum of 12 weeks).
Even simple things like getting dressed or going to the toilet become extremely time consuming and tiring when you're learning to do them with only one hand. And meals such as soup or curry become the norm, unless you've got someone to cut stuff up for you.
But you do adapt. After 4 weeks in the splint I'm finding myself able to do a lot of stuff that I couldn't do in the beginning.
Just ask your partner to slightly slacken all the jam and pickle jar lids before she goes away, and to slice up a loaf of bread for you.

(Incidentally, during my recovery, I have developed a profound respect for anyone who goes through life with a limb (or limbs) missing).

I regularly work with an art handler with 1 1/2 arms & we lift & hang very heavy paintings. He does just fine for most things, he's also a keen surfer. I've also worked with an art handler with only one leg & that was far more difficult due to balance issues.

 

[Rasputin]

You'll be fine!
There is always a way of getting through the early stages and surviving "one-handed"...... You will probably end up with a "Z" scar on your finger and once the splint is off and the physio starts you'll be able to use your other fingers fairly well. I've seen some severe contractures with dupuytrens over the years and yours doesn't look too bad. One of my pals who had a similar op realised it was bad when he couldn't take his hand off the handlebars of his motorbike and was finding it hard to let go of his shotgun! He managed to feed himself just fine!
Although VSS's comments did make me chuckle.......

The low budget Harry Potter scar.

 

[finbar]

Tiz but a scratch

 

[landkeeper]

Having smashed up my right hand in the past and 6 weeks in plaster , my advice is learn to do things with your left hand ASAP practise practise b4 you lose the use of your hand for a while !
Buy trousers with an elastic waistband , zips and buttons are hard especially if in a rush
It's amazing how much the inability to use both hands impacts on everyday things .
I was so frustrated in the 1st couple of weeks even stirring simple food in a saucepan was hard as the pan moved on the hotplate before the food would lol

 

[GBR66]

View attachment 402844

The low budget Harry Potter scar.

Some people would pay for that scar....

 

[Klenchblaize]

Something for the Op to listen to during his recovery:

K

 

[Sjambok]

Runs in our family and there is Danish ancestry. Can also get it in your feet and worst of all, your dick. Un-plagued so far apart from both hands. On second thoughts, maybe it is contagious and jumped appendages.

Zig zag heals quicker than tissue removal but not as succesfull. Skin graft takes longer and my finger has hair on it still from skin under my bicep. That's my explanation for hairy palm.

Best results if you religiously do the hand exercises post op.

 

[Tedward]

Ask your consultant about his percentage success rate, and also what the chance of recurrence is, post op ?

 

[sh1kar]

My wife has the same syndrome and not helped by breaking a bone behind her little finger this autumn. She has been told that it's probably too early to have the op on it but therefore am very interested in your outcome and maybe the man....depending on how happy you are!!

Will revert

 

[sh1kar]

Ask your consultant about his percentage success rate, and also what the chance of recurrence is, post op ?

View attachment 402927

Will always come back. 5-10 years. Happy to pm if you remind post op. I am in 10/4 so mail me say June

 

[sh1kar]

He says btw 100pc. But it will come back

 

[KimE]

It better be two months. Have organised a holiday with my 95 year old father abroad and it will look odd if he is feeding me!!

Dont worry the bartender poor the drinks for you.

 

[sh1kar]

Well. A week on and it seems to have gone well. Physio started today
I must admit the Block anaesthetic was a bit wierd. Took a couple of days to wear off and I still have a numb bit by the elbow

 

[opticron1]

Very neat job, will be good when the sutures are removed!
PS the indelible ink does come off eventually!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Wow - that looks like a full gralloch!

 

[GBR66]

Well. A week on and it seems to have gone well. Physio started today
I must admit the Block anaesthetic was a bit wierd. Took a couple of days to wear off and I still have a numb bit by the elbow

View attachment 411258

Good luck with the recovery - like I said before a plastic and rubberised sleeve from the chemist will let you shower or bath safely.

 

[Rasputin]

That’s a beauty that. Get stocked up on the bio oil to help the scar. Did they get you to wiggle it ? I got some good pics of it open for posterity.

 

[spanj]

After having had this many years, I decided just before Christmas I would get it fixed as it was beginning to deform my hand (not just the palm but also the back of my hand and knuckles, I can't now get my hand flat palm down on a table). So toddled off to see a consultant (Best hand surgeon in the country apparently who also specialises in this). Agreed to surgery but needed to defer it until 10 March. I will have finished shooting and stalking commitments by then and should have enough time to recover to be OK for the Roebucks and fishing when it kicks off in May.

I will be in a hand splint and sling for fortnight before stitches out then a couple of months of physio. The timing is it turns out isn't too good. GF is away the week of 10 March so I will have to fend for myself the first week. Obviously won't be able to drive so will have to use Ocado for the first time ever, and probably eat with my left hand, I suspect cooking may be out too other than simple stuff.

I wondered if anyone else has had the op and had any tips etc re coping in the first couple weeks and generally speeding recovery. Obviously the physio will be a big part of this.

Thanks

View attachment 402703

My old man had this and shortened his recovery considerably by continually massaging the nodulous areas (not sure thats even a word but ….). It was painful but the consiltant was genuinely amazed at it, he was 87 at the time…..