I finished RT for early stage Dupuytrens 3 weeks ago in a distant city. After 2 weeks my hand became red and sore and itchy, so I use hydrocortisone cream. I was given little in the way of rehab advice.

I work as a physiotherapist and my hand hurts if I lift anything heavy, such as someone's leg. I started work last week, but have now stopped as I felt I could be harming my recovery. In my job I can't predict whether my next patient require heavy lifting or what. An aftercare advice sheet I found on this website suggested that I avoid 'mechanical stress'

How will I know when I am better and it is safe for me to resume hard physical work such as lifting and pulling and grasping?
I do not want to set my recovery back and re-start the Dupuytrens contracture again.

I can't open up shop and then turn people away because they require too much physical work. How much time off should I take?

I am self-employed and can choose when I work or don't work

Edited 03/16/15 21:55

I am a massage therapist in northern Ca. I have a busy schedule and specialize in sports and chronic injury rehab, so I work very deeply with many clients.
I had RT done in July 2014 and never missed a beat. Worked before during and after the 5 treatment protocol. I had perhaps some additional tenderness at the treatment site, but nothing significant. I didn't experience any of the skin changes that I've read about either.
Anyway, about 8 months post treatment, the nodules seem pretty much unchanged, so I guess this is a positive result!

The immediate side effects of RT are usually small http://www.dupuytren-online.info/radioth...de_effects.html but your doctor should have informed you about risks when planning the treatment. You might tell him that you will need to work with your hands soon after the treatment. But it ought to be OK I would guess.

Wolfgang

corbomite:

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I am confused. I was told there are no side effects to RT and am getting it a week before starting a new job that requires being at they keyboard all day long.

yosh01:

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I had no side effects from RT and it never occurred to me to curtail activities at all. I played tennis and lifted weights without interruption during and after RT.

wach:

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RT won't improve contractures. At best it can stop progression and shrink nodules but that's pretty good already if you catch the nodule early. If your finger is already contracted it's too late for RT.

corbomite:

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Did you have any contractures that the RT improved.?