Great to hear it, Chris! I'm feeling much better about it now. Thanks!

A little late on this response to you Jim but there is mention of spontaneous knuckle pad remission in several research artcles I've come acrross so I am surpised that your doctor was surprised...

PJS,

You are the first case I've seen that is virtually identical to mine. Pads, pain, stiffness, and inability to completely flex. Also like me, playing guitar is possible (sort of) but very painful. Also pads are sensitive to touch and really light me up if I bump them on a hard surface. Identical symptoms and identical advice from the hand specialists. Cosmetically my pads are relatively insignificant but they hurt like hell.

My pads and joint pain are much worse in my left hand (fretting hand) than my right which has always led me to suspect guitar as a factor. Is this true for you as well?

Did your doctor tell you the pads are Dupuytren's tissue or Dupuytren's related?
Are you in the US? Where?

I have had cortisone shots in all PIP joints of my left hand except for pinky. Before cortisone, I could not bend my left index PIP past 90 degrees so playing was impossible. In fact, it was very painful to even get to the 90 degree flex point. After a year away from guitar, a cortisone injection, and very slow but routine stretching however, I can now bend my left index finger back into an almost completely closed fist. I tried to go back to playing a little, but the pain is still there so I'm gong to rest for another several months.

Have you tried NSAIDs? The pads seem to be initially associated with inflammation which subsides over a long period of time

I have 30 years experience with this disease. I was diagnosed with fiber mitosis knuckle pads. This was in the U.S. Navy. I have been fighting this case for 30 years. These knuckle pads are early stages of DUPYTRENS. Of course the Navy never want to admit this. I am 100% disabled from this disease from the Veterans Administration. And now trying to obtain backpay for the cover-up. My e-mail is
peb11200@yahoo.com. Many veterans do not know where they are disability evaluations come from. It's called the Code of Federal Regulations 38 or better known as CFR 38. This book can be obtained to Amazon.com. Had I had this book in 1980 out of one my disability then. For all of you veterans on TDRL, that enormous temporary disabled retired list this is a scam. They tried to get the DA to on diagnosed you so you will lose your disability in five years at year-end of your temporary disabled retired list. Get educated people. In fact while I was in the military 1980 a biopsy both hands at the same time to destroy evidence in my knuckle pads. U.S. Navy then called my disease fiber mitosis knuckle pads. In fact I am now typing with my voice. The best thing you can do is do not continue doing vibrating work. Spread the news to other veterans where you can obtain your benefits CFR 38 Amazon.com