Hi,

I posted this some time ago at
http://www.dupuytren-online.info/Forum_E...621_13.html#128
I dont come to the site much, so this is a quick coincidence
My hands are about the same. Dr S told me to do stretching like pushups, and to keep fat rubbed into them as that may soften the callogen. He was great.


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I am 50 years old. I started my radio therapy 3 years ago, in Hamburg with Dr. Seegenschmiedt. I completed my second visit in August 2010. Dr Seegenshmiedt had deduced that I had abut 10% curvature in my hands, and was in early stages.

Background: I have done years of hard physical labor doing remote backcountry trailwork, carpentry, lots of rock work, and general construction. I hammered my hands for decades. In fall of 2009 I noticed a bump that wasnt going away, and a trough under my pinky on the other hand, and soon discovered online descriptions of Dupuytrens. I am an avid guitarist and for that reason I sought out DR Seegenschmiedt as the medical options in US for preventative measures seemed non existent. So I went to Germany in Spring 2010 for part 1 of 2 visits to the Hamburg clinic.

Its been 3 years now. My hands have only progressed a very little bit. A node on the right hand has stayed the same.
The trough under my pinky on left hand has gotten a bit more pronounced, but nothing very significant as in debilitating. It is a line of gristle extending about 2/3 to my wrist, with a chord going up the finger to the first knuckle.
I have nodal areas in the web of each thumb. Those areas were deemed best left outside the treatment area as Dr Seegenschmeidt was conservative as to how much of both hands should be treated. Those two web areas do feel a bit tight, but nothing that has noticeably contracted.

I stretch my hands alot. Nothing too painful. I stopped alchohol intake as I understand it may be a contributing factor.
I work just the same. Where I never used to wear work gloves, now I might. I dont baby my hands in any way accept not to pound them directly. I do a lot of hammering, ground work with yard tool, digging tools like picks and rockbars, etc. It is an occupation and lifestyle I wont leave.

My feeling is that the Hamburg treatment greatly reduced the onset rate of dupytrens. I play guitar as I used to. I work as i used to.

Dr Seegenshmeidt was very knowledgable and friendly. The Hamburg staff were excellent. Both trips were enjoyable as Hamburg is a nice location. I rented a bike and pedaled all over the country side."

Jamiesara:

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Anyone and everyone that has been treated for DD with radiation by M. Heinrich Seegenschmiet in Hamberg, Germany please respond to this. I am planning to do everything I can to get this treatment. I would love to hear experiences that others have had and need opinions from people's personal experiences. I am 25 and need to make the most educated decision possible. Thank you.

Jamiesara:

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Anyone and everyone that has been treated for DD with radiation by M. Heinrich Seegenschmiet in Hamberg, Germany please respond to this. I am planning to do everything I can to get this treatment. I would love to hear experiences that others have had and need opinions from people's personal experiences. I am 25 and need to make the most educated decision possible. Thank you.

Whether stretching or avoiding stretching is best is not clear. There are experts who support both views. I like Dr. Denkler's theory. It makes sense to me and I find that mild stretching and massage feels good to me. Whether or not it is helpful or detrimental to my DD, I don't know but so far I haven't noticed anything getting worse.

Typically Ledderhose is more about the nodules than contrature of the toes. DD is more about contracture of the fingers than nodules. What is the difference? Maybe it is because those with LD are on their feet and stretching the foot/toes with every step. The whole weight on your body goes into every step. It is very plausible so I like to do mild stretching, but not enough to cause pain. Also works best to loosen up the deeper tissues of your hands first with warm/hot water or other methods before stretching.

Here is a paste from Dr. Denkler's website.

Surgical removal of Dupuytren's frequently requires therapy. However, needle aponeurotomy only separates the bands. Scar tissue may reform and start the contracture again. It is important to do finger stretching frequently to maximize the results. In the beginning, this may be difficult due to the recent procedure. As weeks pass, aggressive hyperextension can prevent the severed cords from re-connecting. I am in favor of stretching to prevent and slow down the recurrence of Dupuytren's. Dupuytren's occurs in the feet and is called Ledderhose disease. Despite severe trauma to the foot over a lifetime and constant overstretching of the toes with each step, the toes do not curl underneath. Therefore, I believe lack of stretching, or bending back of the fingers is more of a problem in the hand. I encourage my patients to fight the Dupuytren's from contracting.

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