Chris, there is no doubt that there is a hereditary component in Dupuytren's disease. It might require additional factors to ultimately trigger the disease and it might even be that those factors can trigger the disease without familiy involvement but in many cases Dupuytren's goes by families. The reason why only the men in your family seem to suffer from Dupuytren's might be that men typically develop the symptoms 10 - 20 years earlier. My mother developed her first nodule at the age of 82, I got my first one with 35.

You might find below pages of our web site interesting:

http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytrens_contracture.html

http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytr...stribution.html

Wolfgang

Australia Calling, Hi Chris.
You may be closer to the truth than you think. Dupuytrens is known as the Viking Disease. You did not mention if you have any contraction to you finger. Are you aware that the first operation may be the trigger for the next. I've had 15 opeations including 4 skin grafts. My last repeat operation in june 07 on my right index finger caused a number of nodules to form in the web and on the thumb and triggered a large nodule on the left index finger. I had radiotherapy treatment in Germany, and am happy with the result. Radiotherapy works best where there is no contracture and treated in the early stages. Explore all the options before surgery.How old are you. Sometimes Dupuytrens lays dormant for years. I was diagnosed at 35 yrs of age but no surgery until 15 yrs later. I also developed ledderhose about 7yrs ago and this was treated in Germany with RT with good results Regards

Hi,
I have had similar circumsatnces first diagnosed at the age of 30 with it in my right little finger and surgery in 1980 it returned by 1990 it was bad enough that the scar runs from the tip of my finger to my wrist. In 2000 it developed in my left little not wanting another surgery I put off doing anything about after being locked at 90 degrees for 5 years I was going to have it operated on Nov 14th of this year then I found this site and decided to try NA it was done on Nov 7th so far no problems. I have been in physical therapy 3 times a week with movement now at 20 degrees and no pain at all. And yes my mother also has it in both her hands but at the age of 82 doesn't want to do anything till she has to. If you want I can send photos of just before during and after the NA procedure. At your age I would sure look into some alternatives to surgery with all the scaring and therapy with not much better odds of it returning.

Hi looks like a good result for you unfortunatly mine looks far worst than yours my little finger is totaly bent both knuckles, i will take some pictures and show you what i mean but i will discus the option with Mr Roy on monday and see what he says about it. i must say i am a bit aprehensive about having the surgey done in january mainly as it means i will be off work for 8 to 10 wks with it.

ive also been getting alot of pain in my palm and wrist Mr roy will also be operating on my arm to release the nerve,.

many years ago i actually chopped my thumb off and had it reatached and to be fair its the only part of my hand that i feel actually works properly apart from a little numbness in the tip.

i get bad cramps in my hand when i grip things for any length of time and regular dop hot coffee and beer all over the place so ive learnt now to use my left hand for most things.
i smoke as well and i am unable to hand roll a ciggy

regards
chris

thanks for the pics by the way very interesting.

I've read that hand injury causes Dupuytrens to become active, if you are genetically programmed to get it. For me, this is true. I accidentally stabbed my left palm with a knife - and within months, the first nodules started in that palm. Then I broke my right wrist and shortly after, developed nodules in my right hand. I read later that a radial wrist fracture can cause DC to advance. My father has had multiple surgeries on most fingers plus NA on one finger. My sister has Ledderhosen plus dupuytrens. I have dupuytrens in both hands with painful nodules, deep puckering but so far only one finger starting to contract. Our ancestors were of Viking ancestry. We're New Zealanders but ancestors came from Yorkshire.