I was diagnosed with DC in my right thumb and forefinger today. I went in for a post op of a joint replacement in my thumb, and the hand surgeon discovered DC as well. My concern is that I am disabled from a back injury, and the few things that I can still do, will be severely affected by DC.

I had started playing the bass (used to play the guitar but became too difficult because of the joint pain) after my thumb joint was repaired. Should I continue playing the bass? Is it realistic to start something like this at age 50, now that I have been diagnosed with DC? Will playing the bass help my DC or hurt it? Is it possible that I could still continue playing the bass for many years, even with DC?

Just some concerns.

Thanks

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Hi Australia Calling,I would go for it .Rember life is what you make it . We are all different . The majority of patients are hit with MD in the little and ring finger first and may never have it in the thumb. Where on your thumb is the Dups. In my case I've had it in all but the centre fingers. Have you any contracture , lumps and is Radiotherapy on option . Exercise is very important to carry out slow stretching exercises. In my case I was diagnosed and had no surgery until 15 yrs later. Right from the first diagnose I was told to place my hand on a flat surface and stretch even a couple of times a day .Maybe this extended the time before I needed surgery. I still have good mobility and can place both hands flat on a surface. Keep Positive.

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Thanks newman,

Trying to stay positive; but this is my first day of finding out. Right now, the talk is surgery in 3 months.

My Dups is mostly around the second joint of my right thumb, across the web of the hand, on to and up a bit on my index finger.

Isa
Lincoln, NE USA

Isa

What triggers Dups is *trauma* to the hand. The bass players I work with don't seem all that traumatized :-) Why not switch to base! At least it will keep you playing. The hand trauma you had recently was the previous surgery. Your surgeon may not mention that to you. After all, it was your genetics that caused the Dups. The trauma just triggered it. You can't stop necessary hand surgery just because 5% of the population has this wacky gene. And naturally what surgeons do is usually more surgery.

Unless your case is very aggressive requiring a skin graft there is no reason not to try the new less invasive procedure, NA. While you may eventually need full surgery why start there?

See: http://www.handcenter.org/newfile16.htm

Your hand surgeon will most likely oppose this. They don't always get it right.