So many great replies! Deffinately makes you feel better talking to other people in similar situations. I agree keeping fit, carrying on as normal deffinately helps. I must admit DC hasn't stopped me doing anything and I will carry on as normal for as much as possible. I too take care with what I eat (although the odd vodka might slip by!) organic, natural foods as much as possible. Most of the people I know probably see my DC as a bit of a novelty (especially the children!) as no1 else I know has heard of it or seen it, also not in my family. I saw a chiropractor last year, and he did lots of research on my behalf, finding out about NA and actually contacting a Dr in the US. He also advised massage, that it may not make it better but could help it from getting worse. This is certainly something we can all do and it's free! I was advised to massage quite hard on the nodules, uncomfortable but not painful. Mine does seem to be getting worse constantly, but maybe this is just a phase and luckily not affected my feet yet! The 'saddles' on my knuckles ache the most and are easly knocked which hurts and also stops me wearing my rings. It would be easy to let it get me down, but also makes me realise how lucky I am and also life is for living now.
Nice to hear from other females (no offence men!).

I have had my sugar tested and it is normal and I try to never eats sweets and have no craving for them anymore. I have no knuckle pads , Mine is in my fingers not the palm it circles around the tendons under the knuckles and then pulls down from there making the joints not work. I have it bad in my pip joint and have had two failed surgeries 6 months apart. I also have a fleshy nodule on ring finger under the middle joint slight contracture on that one.. I have been able to help my grip and fingers with constant stretching and wgt training but no hope for the pip. Doctors in Indiana say I have the worst kind to treat.. No NA ,no injections, and surgery has not been good for me. Mine runs in cycles I can tell when it will flare, it tingles and itches and my stomach and digestive system gets messed up and I know it is coming!! I have just started in the past two weeks with the flare up, so far I see no new nodules..

It's unbelievable how this disease has a mind of it's own and one could feel quite alone with it.

Over the past week I've been down about it and have become almost obsessed with checking my hands daily. I live in London and was looking at the multitudes of hands on the underground. Not one with any sign of DC from what I could see. Reading this board makes me feel like this is quite a common affliction, yet it is obviously not. I went to three doctors (two GPs and one rheumatologist) who each said my knuckle pad was a ganglion. One even said it's the kind of thing people hit with a bible in the old days to make them go away!

I am intrigued by radiotherapy but am worried about the risks given my age. Not sure what to do about the vigorous exercise either -- it's only the start of the regatta season! I'd hate to think my training has aggravated it. I am not a quitter, but I don't want to make things worse either.

Thanks for the pep talk, J Ann. You've got a great attitude about it. Shame we're all so spread out around the world -- it would be nice to have a support group meeting! Thank goodness for this forum.

Hello Friends,
I first started watching the forum about 2oo3..just before Dr. Eaton started practicing....I read and read and put off the traditional surgery..I am soooo glad.....I have since gone to Dr. Eaton for N.A. IN 2004 AND COULD NOT HAVE BEEN HAPPIER.. it is time to repeat..
I have spoken to 3 people and people that know people that had the traditional surgery.. not once but twice..It was months and years for rehabilitation and painfull and did not work...It is also almost impossible to have n.a. after traditional surgery..Go to the wem site on WWWHANDCENTER.ORG and look at pictures of traditinal surgery on other links there.....I would avoid this at all cost and have been told that you can only have traditional surgery 3 times and then amputation....You can have N.A. OVER AND OVER.. THATIS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.......Since Dr. Eaton gave his report to medical socoiety I bellieve insurance is covering this N.A. procedure now....It depends on how your doc weites it up for insurance company..
I am a female that noticed lumps at age 58..now 69...My 2 paternal cousin/twins also have Dups....I DO NOT DIRNK..DO NOT HAVE DIABETIS..HAVE HAD FROZEN SHOULDER and took Xanax for many years.. but no more.

Good Luck to you all..
Linda