I had my surgery (right hand little finger and palm) on Nov. 28th and I still have swelling and redness. The last stitches just fell out (they were the dissolvable ones). I wear a splint at night but still cannot extend my finger fully because of the swelling and the tightness of the healing incision. Is this normal? I am very frustrated but don't know if I should be.

Have you seen this other thread by someone who's just had similar surgery?
http://www.dupuytren-online.info/Forum_E...y-0_1177_1.html

He too has a splint but it sounds like he is healing better, and now that his stitches are out (removed by a doctor/nurse) will be getting treatment for the healing scar.

Everyone is different including the degree of surgery but it might help to compare and exchange views and post surgical treatment and recovery. There are reports, on this forum, of healing, stiffness, and recovery to good flexion taking many months.

After my surgery it took about 2 months before I was able to passively make a fist, i.e. bend my hand into a fist, and it took 5-6 months until the swelling was completely gone. My doctor told me that this long swelling is not typical but does happen for some percentage of patients.

Wolfgang

CherieR:

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I had my surgery (right hand little finger and palm) on Nov. 28th and I still have swelling and redness. The last stitches just fell out (they were the dissolvable ones). I wear a splint at night but still cannot extend my finger fully because of the swelling and the tightness of the healing incision. Is this normal? I am very frustrated but don't know if I should be.

Edited 01/05/12 07:29

altoclef:

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Are you in physical therapy? If not, it might help. You're less than 6 weeks out of surgery, so there is still a lot of healing that needs to happen, but you need to do what you can to ensure that you get good range of motion back.

CherieR,

Of course, everyone is different in their healing process. I can remember kind of plateauing and then things got better fast. One of the things that helped me the most was with the elastic self-adhesive bandage (1 1/2" wide). I would take about a 10" strip and wrap my fist and hold that for about 10 minutes. Then take it off and flex the hand several times. I would do this during the day a few times. I used Aveeno lotion all day for the moisture and never let the wound dry. I also flexed my hand every time I thought about it during the day.

Good luck!!