How’d you cope going from two hands to one (Dupuytren’s contracture surgery)

In my case though, rather than not having the surgery, I have considered (seriously) elective amputation of my little finger as another option

After the contracture came back for my mum she ended up having this done.  I can’t remember now why they said she couldn’t have the contracture surgery again.  She was surprised at how much you use your little finger for day to day stuff, even a really bent one.  She’s adapted now though and its better than the dupuytrens was.

My brother has the starting of it as well. Fingers crossed (while I can) I don’t seem to have it (yet)

Eight weeks in to being effectively one handed (pinned finger fractures that healed well but then a second op last week to investigate potential osteomyelitis in another, uninjured, knuckle). Even with hand out of a cast three of my fingers are now effectively ‘stuck’ (only really mobile at the knuckle joint with the hand – will only bend at the other joints if forced with my other hand*) so not much use. Following second surgery even the index finger which was OK is now stiffening up.

Luckily my affected hand is my non-dominant one. Even so, everyday stuff can be ridiculously frustrating but you just find a way or not do that thing. You quickly learn how prehensile your mouth is… At least with some use of the index finger and the stuck fingers free I can do more – riding is a way off yet though I think and I’ve even just bought a smart trainer…

Given the extent of my ‘stuckness’ I’m facing 6 months of rehab until I get anything like full movement and strength back. Was just starting to see some progress but then they threw the new surgery in so now set back about 3 or 4 weeks again.

* I’m finding this fascinating though – I know the movement is physically there as while I couldn’t feel the discomfort under the regional block for the last surgery the surgeon crunched the frozen hand into a fist. Interesting how much of the stuckness is physical (tendons are obviously not working as they should) and how much is mental as I can bend the fingers using external force but they won’t bend on command – feels like my brain/body have forgotten how to make the fingers move following the periods of immobility in the cast?

I’m sorry, but someone has to and it might as well be me.

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