Hi, Im new here, but not to Dup. Was first diagnosed at age 30 with Dup, had open surgery at age 35, when left little finger PIP at 45 degrees. Before stitches were out, Dup was back! Open surgery caused much scarring, dimpling, puckering, tough, hard skin. Was a total failure to me. 10 years later, Dup had grown in both hands, palms, little fingers, ring fingers, thumbs. In 2007, I had Dr. Klein do NA on both hands with great initial results, but within 1 year I was back where I started. That was 3 years ago. Now my little finger is fully contracted into my palm. Im thinking of just having my left little finger removed as the pain is unbearable with obvious nerve damage as I get numb feelings and what feels like electrical shocks in it. Or maybe try NA one more time or? I now have a nodule growing in my right foot, with tenderness in my left foot(which feels very similar to what my right foot felt like before I noticed any nodules), so I expect my left foot will be effected in the near future also. My Dup seem to be in full speed ahead mode! I had a new cord develop in my right ring finger, went from a slight bump, to a full painful cord with 1 month! Im very scared and depressed with the fast progression of my Dup lately. Im now 50 and cant see a very active future for me. Im in great shape for 50 y.o., within 5 lbs. of my weight when I graduated High School. I love(d) skiing, rollerblading, hiking, running, motorcycle racing, exercising, none of which I can do any longer. Just carrying a bag of groceries causes a painful next day and stiffness. My Dup is very painful. Pain Med use over the years has caused me internal problems(high liver and pancreatic enzymes), so they are out. I live in So Calif, so my Doc gave me a Marijuana script for pain control. Doesn't really relieve my pain, but allows me to not focus on it and I can at least sleep thru the night. But Im a single Dad with 2 kids, 12 & 13 y.o. and feel pretty silly sneaking around to puff. If anyone has any suggestions or similar experience, I would be interested in hearing from you. My parents have generously offered to help pay if I can find some procedure that might actually help as I have HMO health Ins and have given up dealing with them, they just want to do more open hand surgery(and nothing else), which I know will just mess me up even more. I was thinking, NA one more time in both hands, followed up with radiation treatments on both hands and both feet? I see a Doc is doing radiation in San Diego, does anyone know the cost for that? I have anthem blue cross HMO, anyone know if they are approving alternate procedures like NA, radiation, or ? If I were only pain free, I could deal with my disabilities, but being a basic cripple and in constant pain is really getting to me. Of course, my 25 year job/career as a Tool & Die maker is history. I had to give that up about 5 years ago. Went back to school for Engineering, now have a hard time being on computer all day and typing with these crooked/contracted fingers and curved, nodule strewn, corded palms. Sorry for my ranting on and on, Im sure there are others much worst off then me. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks

Edited 08/13/10 11:24

I developed DD that went from a sore spot in my palm to a nodule, then to a cord in less than 4 months. The cord developed while I was waiting to see a hand specialist to get diagnosed. I did the RT route and am going on a year with no progression. I still have problems gripping with my hand, but compared to last year Iwas is pain and could hardly work on a computer. I have BCBS of NC and if I had not had an MRI, I believe my actual cost would have been between $250.00-$500.00. BCBS paid for everything and all I paid was my deductible. That quote also includes several follow up appointments over the past year. I will do RT again because it gave me use of my hand back. RT stopped all of the pain, reduced the nodule and cord. I can hardly see the cord any more. If I try to close my fist, I know all is not normal, because some days it hurts (depends on the humidity).

I would think about using RT for your new nodule and cord and seeing if you could stop the progression before it advances to contracture.

Lori

Mr. Smither,
Feel free to email me if you wish. I live in SoCal, too. Click on my Forum name and go to my profile. You can send a message from there if you would like.