I highly suggest that you research and consider radiation therapy (RT). That stopped the progression of my Dupuytren's in the radiated area which was my whole palm. I had minor contracture, about 15-20 degrees and I had NA done to release that. My contracture was across the palm from pinkie to thumb. The span of thumb to pinkie was reduced as well as the span across the web of my thumb to forefinger greatly reduced, shorter by about one inch. I had cords across my palm and in my thumb. What you describe sounds like it might be cords?
For me, I'm going to try to be ahead of contracture. I watch my left hand for signs of contracture, and I'll get RT to stop the progression from forming contracture. For RT to be effective, they say that the disease needs to be active. If nodules are forming or getting bigger and cords seem to be connecting them, that to me indicates active Dupuytren's. Sometimes it stops on its own, but it also starts up again on its on.
Read every thing available through the menu on the left side of this page and read the Forum for individuals' experiences with this weird disease. After you learn all you can, you'll at least be able to make an informed decision. Then you just have to decide what is best for you.

It is the cords that pull and cause contracture. Then again, they might go a long time and not cause contracuture. It is such a weird disease!

RT is not highly regarded by some people and doctors. On the other hand, it is a highly regarded treatment for me and others on this site who have had RT and experienced the progression stopping. I didn't get RT to reduce my existing Dupuytren's nodules, tightness and contracture. I only wanted to stop the progression. Actually, nodules reduced in size, got softer and the tightness in my hand was less. That was a bonus, because I would have been happy with just stopping the progression.

Of course, nothing is guaranteed. Again, the key seems to be getting RT when Dupuytren's is active. My palm felt itchy under the skin which to me was an indication of it being active. The itchiness stopped after about the first 3 days of RT. The protocol used for my RT was electron radiation, 1.8Gy daily M-F and the same the following week. That is a very low dose of radiation and conceivably could be done in the same area again if needed.

So far, 8 months later, it seems to still be in remission in the area radiated. I am closely watching some signs of activity outside the radiated area. I'll post here if it looks like it is for sure active.

Mike,
Join the crowd. I think we all freaked out. I was fixated on watching my hands. I am much better now that RT worked, but I still am very aware of what is or may be going on with Dupuytren's in my hands.

Hi guys,

I will be brief in going over my past history. I developed a nodule and a cord in less than 6 months. I was beginnig to have a little puckering and slight drawing in of my middle finger. I went to a hand specialist who suggested I wait until I basically had a claw and then to do surgery. I flipped and knew that could not be the right answer. I found this forum and after a lot of research decided to use RT. I would do RT again in a heartbeat. I would not wait until your hand begins to contract. RT worked great and you can see before and after pictures of my hand by searching out "From MRI to now". RT seems after 6 months to have stopped the progression. I have not developed any new nodules and RT softened and has made almost all of my nodule disappear. My hand has regained mobility and almost feels like my old hand. My cord is less pronounced and you can almost not see it anymore. My finger stopped drawing in and the tightness went away. So far it is a success. My own personal opinion is based on the research that says it is best to treat with RT while the Dups is growing. Mine grew so fast that I felt like contracture was going to occur within the next few months. I felt I could not afford to wait and see what would happen. I was already having trouble at work using the computer, writing, etc..

Hope this helps you in your decision process.

Lori

Wach,

You said, "Hi Dalton, callie's warning not to interfere with Dupuytren's refers to surgery".

I wasn't referring to surgery. I was referring to anything that might interfere with Dupuytren's, including therapy and lifestyle. My hand was opened up with surgery and there has been zero effect (eight years later) concerning growth of nodules or the spread of Dupuytren's. I still stick to my reasoning that people should be careful with lifestyle influence in the growth of Dupuytren's. I am not sold on the "preventative" treatment to control the advance of Dupuytren's because of the irregularity of the disease.