Hi

I am new to this forum, but have Dupuytrens on the palm of my left hand. (I am left-handed) Fortunately. I do not have a contracture yet, but could feel it getting worse. I have 5'ish nodes 1'ish ( one and a bit) for the middle finger, a cord and two nodes for the ring finger, and one node for the pinkie - which, thankfully, is still small.
I found a local physio who was willing to try LLLT on my hand (I am the first case of Dupuytrens to be treated with laser) - she said 6 sessions over 3 weeks as well as physio and exercises to do at home. I was at the point of pins and needles in my ring finger and in the palm of my hand - so quite early days!! And, of course, we forgot to take a photo before we started.
I have just had my third session, and I am really pleased with the changes... the cord seems shorter and not quite so thick, and the space between the two nodes on my ring finger has increased quite a bit. The pins and needles are also virtually gone - a slight sensation occasionally, that is all. The nodes don't seem to be quite so raised either.
I massage a mixture of Vitamin E oil and Horse Balsam (nothing to do with horses!!) into my hand at least twice a day, do my stretching exercises, and am hoping for the best. My father has the same - his was much worse. His was triggered by an injury to his hand many years ago, and by the time he had surgery, the ring finger and pinkie were immobile. After surgery, he could open his hand a little, so he could put on a glove, and, he says, could count his money!! But now the tendon has snapped and his pinkie can only be moved "manually". He is over 80, so they are not willing to operate to repair the tendon. The recovery after surgery seemed very long, and I really cannot afford to take that much time off work, so surgery is not an option. I will let you know how I get on over the next three sessions, and what we decide to do next.

Edited 11/14/13 23:12

Hello,

Thanks for this information. I have wondered why they have not tried laser. I pray it works. Would love for laser to work and then be used for the foot. Wow, I think that would be the best of best treatments!

Elke:

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I have not yet heard of anyone treating Dupuytrens with RT in Ireland

Elke,
Prof. Sullivan would need you to see a hand surgeon to confirm diagnosis of Dupuytrens before he would accept a consultation. The treatment is in two rounds. A daily dose of radiation, that takes just a few minutes per day, goes on for 5 consecutive days and then 12 weeks later you go back for another 5-day treatment round. The cost is expensive. There are two rounds of treatment and each round will cost maybe 1,800 euro. So the total cost might be more that 3.5K euro. However, if you have VHI level B or equivalent you should be covered by insurance. If you do not have insurance there is a possibility that Prof. Sullivan might see you at the Galway University Hospital, rather than the Galway Clinic. You would could ring his office or email his office with a query.