Laurie, I would visit a hand surgeon who is certified by the ASSH, you want someone with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Surgery of the Hand. You can start here http://www.assh.org/Public/Pages/default.aspx
Needle surgery (NA) is an option if there is any significant contrature. Doesn't sound like you have any yet.

Yes, pain, burning, tenderness, etc. is not uncommon. It may resolve somewhat after some time passes.

You can read a lot on here and others will tell you the benefits of early radiation therapy to possible help control/reduce early DD. There is a radiation doctor in Viriginia who is highly qualified and will work with DD. She is listed in the links on the left.

Virginia Commonwealth University
Department of Radiation Oncology
Dr. Elisabeth Weiss

I have communicated with her and found her very helpful.

Edited 08/20/10 16:04

Laurie,

I had lots of pain in my palm. My hands felt cold and ached really bad. As the nodule grew, the pain radiated up my arm and my shoulder ached. It actually was the pain that sent me to the doctor, I thought I had a callus. By the time I saw a hand specialist I had a cord stretching from the base of my middle finger to my wrist. All during this time I had difficulty typing, gripping, squeezing anything and I was starting to get really clumsy. I had RT and all the pain went away with this procedure. I gained most of the use of my hand back. I took the advice from people on this forum and the research provided to treat with RT. Treating the RT while it was active seems to have stopped the progression. I have not developed any further nodules or cords. I still have difficulty making a fist and I believe I developed osteoarthritis in this hand because of the DD. I am glad I did not wait for contracture to occur, because it would have changed the course of treatment. By the time I started RT I had puckering, dimpling and the beginning of contracture. It all developed in under 6 months.


Regards,


Lori

I, too, had RT 13 months ago for DD in my right hand. RT stopped the progression (actually I like Cindy's term, remission because you never know what this disease will do next) of my Dups so far. Better function/use of my hand, reduced nodules, greater span across my palm, itchiness and aching gone - better than I ever imagined. I would have been delighted just with stopping progression. The other improvements were bonuses.

Sounds like you are in the early stages and that yours is active. That is the key - it needs to be active.

Go for it if you can and soon.