Woman Finds Warm Hands in San Antonio, Texas with Micro ETS Surgery

Bentonville, Arkansas - For five years, Jackie Howard’s hands have been cold. Affected by Raynaud’s disease, Howard’s hands would tingle and then become numb. They would change colors from blue to black and eventually back to red as the circulation would return. She recently traveled to San Antonio, Texas to meet Dr. David Nielson and regain the warmth in her hands.

“ It was the most horrible pain,” Howard, 64, said of her hands. “My hands would be as black as black could be.

Told there was no treatment, Howard suffered and learned to cope with her pain. She wore gloves to restaurants. She kept a heat lamp next to her desk at the local assessor’s office. If the outside temperature was below 65 degrees, she simply stayed indoors. She went to a family physician, neurologist and a dermatologist. All confirmed her diagnoses and all said there was no treatment. They gave her a prescription of beta-blockers and told her to be careful in cold weather. Facing retirement and longing for full use of her hands, Howard started searching for a treatment option. Her medications were not working. Howard turned to the Internet in search for any information she could find.

While searching for information on Raynaud’s Syndrome, she saw Dr. David Nielson’s website at the top of the list. While reading through the literature, she knew this was the one doctor who would help her.

“ He’s the one,” Howard said when she saw his picture. “I felt like God had led me there.”

Dr. David Nielson
Dr. David Nielson is a successful cardio-thoracic surgeon who specializes in endoscopic lung therapy on adults and children. But what Dr. Nielson is fast becoming known for is his innovative treatment for patients with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the hands and face), Raynaud’s Syndrome (cold hands and feet), facial blushing and RSD. These syndromes are all connected to a hyperactive sympathetic nerve dysfunction. Micro-endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, revolutionized by Nielson, is the least invasive surgery for people suffering from any of these ailments. This procedure has the quickest recovery time and has a high success rate for those suffering from hyperhidrosis and an 85- to 90 percent improvement rate for those suffering from Raynaud’s Syndrome.

Using precise instruments, Dr. Nielson makes a single incision, one-twelfth of an inch per side, under each arm. Nielson inserts a 2mm scope, camera and micro scissors into the incision. Nielson compares the size of his instruments to angel hair pasta. Once Dr. Nielson identifies the sympathetic nerve, he severs it to instantly bring warmth to the hands. The procedure takes 30 minutes. The patient is able to leave two to four hours after the procedure.

“ Performing this procedure using a tiny scope eliminates the need for a larger incision and a longer hospital stay, meaning less pain and recovery time for the patient,” Dr. Nielson said. “Any time I can make a medical procedure easier on a patient, the better.”
Raynaud’s Syndrome, named after the French physician who discovered it, is more than having cold hands and feet. It affects mainly women although anyone can develop the condition. Triggers for the disease include the cold and stress. Symptoms depend on the frequency, duration and severity of the blood vessel spasms. The skin may turn white due to lack of blood flow. After the spasms subside, the skin may turn red before returning to its normal color. Symptoms include color changes in the skin in response to the cold or stress, a numb or stinging pain upon warming or relief of stress. In the most severe cases, blood circulation to the fingers and toes could be permanently lost causing deformities or in worse case scenario, an amputation might be necessary.

While the majority of the people living with Raynaud’s view it as a nuisance, Howard feared she would eventually lose her fingers. Howard’s trip was a success. After undergoing the procedure, the temperature in her hands increased by over 10 degrees.

“ It’s a miracle,” Howard said. “The first thing I said when I woke up was ‘my hands are warm’. Dr. Nielson is incredible.”

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