Hello and Merry Christmas!

As a bit of background I am female, 25 years old and first developed a nodule in my left palm at 21 years old. This nodule is now quite large and I have had a cord develop aswell. There is some contracture as I can no longer place my palm flat. I also have Garrod's pads in all knuckles.

Last night I was carrying a plastic bag and noticed that just under the first knuckle of the ring finger I have a painful lump. That in itself was not so shocking, but the part that made my blood turn cold is that when I hyper-stretch that finger, I have an obvious, raised, blanched white cord extending from the base of my finger.

The similarity to the cord running through my palm on my left hand really has me concerned. But after a googling session, I have not come across to much reference to dupuytren's nodules in the fingers . . ?

I have an appointment with a hand specialist (I am in Australia) in mid-March. But to be honest, the contracture in my left hand has progressed so rapidly and I have already had to give up things I love because of the reduced sensation (lucky me - my nerves have been caught up in the nodule so I have constant tingling and loss of strength in two fingers), so the thought of having a similar thing happen in my right hand at such a young age is pretty overwhelming. Especially as the statistic for recurrence after surgery is so high. Over 50% within 5 years I believe. I am studying to be a nurse and I just dont know what this disease will do to my professional life in the future. But I am getting ahead of myself. . .

My question is, has anyone out there had experience with - or can point me in the direction of a reference to - dupuytren's in the fingers?

Thanks in advance for any replies

Hi gecko, Australia Calling. Can I suggest you click Dupuytren's disease( left margin) and click- literature. This page has recently unpdated. The article written (5th para) by LUCK is still relevant today. Also scroll down to BOOKs . 'Dupuytrens Disease by Raoul and others'. click -'preview with some chapters' I think you will find a wealth of info. along with photos. This is a new publication .When you seek out a surgeon find a Hand /Upper Limb surgeon and if he is also a plastic surgeon that is a bonus.Dont just go to a plastic surgeon. Have you looked at "Experience by Australian Users" .(when the home page opens click forum - it is on this page) Keep us posted.

Edited 12/26/09 01:57

Hi again.firstly your age is against you. Having dups at a young age with knuckle pads and bilateral dups is an indication that the disease is aggressive. I would be asking questions about NA. Needle aponevrotomy. (Called needle fasciectomy in OZ) You mention RT but if you were my daughter I would be negative, but that is only my opinion. I was diagnosed at 35 no surgery until 50 .I've had 15 surgeries including 4 large skin grafts. In 07 I had Radiotherapy for both hands and both feet after a repeat operation. I know that the Government Hospitals are implementing the NA procedure and a mix of the two. The hospital you mention in Perth is a large hospital. Do you know the name of the specialist. Make some calls to the hospital , so you can do some homework on the surgeon, find out if they do NA. Many of the surgeons are also in private practice. You are doing the right thing by chasing up the literature . Are your stretching your hand slowly every day , I do believe it is very important. I see you posted on Veg Diet. The 50 yr study by Erlangen University Hospital did not come up with any negatives on what we eat or drink.(in moderation) I spoke with Prof Seegenschmiedt in Germany about many of these topics and the conclusion was the disease was inherited.Regards

Edited 12/26/09 09:01

Hi my concern with radiotherapy at 25 is the cancer risk is twice that of a 45 yr old. Have you looked at-' Cancer Risk Dupuytren radiation?'( Found under side effects click Radiation therapy.) It appears that 30 yrs can elapse if any problem are to arise. I had a benign skin cancer removed and I was informed it proably started more than 30 yrs ago . Might I suggest that when you go to Perth make an appontment to see Dr.Chris Harper at Royal Perth Hospital Oncolcogy .(He is listed on the Dupuytren web site .) He is also in private practice and you might see both on the same visit.I am not a doctor and my concern may be ill founded about the age factor. Lets hope that Collagenase will be the answer. I was told 30yrs ago Dups was not life threatening so no money injected for reseach. That's now changing. The average age factor for men is in the 5th decade with women in the 6th decade but further on the rate is similiar. Regards from Adelaide.

Edited 12/28/09 06:59

I found Dr. Dilley in Sydney on Dr. Eaton's website. I had a needle aponeurotomy from Dr. Eaton and I strongly recommend the procedure to everyone. If the folks you talk to don't perform the needle procedure - forget'em! - in my opinion they are cavemen. - Rex

Dr. David Dilley
15 Albion St.
HARRIS PARK 2150 NSW
Australia
Phone: (02) 9687 8735
Fax: (02) 9687 6947
http://www.sydneyhandsurgery.com
email manus@bigpond.com