| Lost password
784 users onlineYou are not loggend in.  Login
Help with first time DC!
 1
 1
08/01/2016 15:13
dkerr136 
08/01/2016 15:13
dkerr136 
Help with first time DC!

Good day friends,

My name is Drew and I'm located in the U.S. Virgin Islands. First, thanks to each of you whose post I've read this far. There's a lot of helpful information on this site, so I decided to see if describing my situation first hand would help.

Just a little background info, I am 31 years old, no previous cases of DC myself or known within the family (my father passed away and I'm not aware of any previous medical conditions.) I noticed a small lump in my right hand, one inch below the webbing and directly in between my pinky and ring finger. In the last few months I have developed what appears to be a 1/2" cord by the lump. I'm able to lay my hand flat on a table without pain, but I do often experience a sudden pain when I pick things up, or for most cases, when someone shakes my hand. In my line of work I use my hands a lot, typing and writing aren't too painful, but shaking a hand or trying to carry a gallon jug of water can almost bring me to my knees at times. I do believe the cord is continuing to grow in length but at a slow pace. Does this require surgery?

I have yet to see a specialist as I want to cover all my steps before choosing what to do and where to go. All I keep hearing is, "your way too young to have that!" but all pictures and information lead me to believe this is the case. I've read through many of the forum posts and can't wait to hear some feedback.

Many thanks in advance,

Drew

08/01/2016 15:47
Stefan_K. 
08/01/2016 15:47
Stefan_K. 

Re: Help with first time DC!

dkerr136:
Good day friends,

My name is Drew and I'm located in the U.S. Virgin Islands. First, thanks to each of you whose post I've read this far. There's a lot of helpful information on this site, so I decided to see if describing my situation first hand would help.

Just a little background info, I am 31 years old, no previous cases of DC myself or known within the family (my father passed away and I'm not aware of any previous medical conditions.) I noticed a small lump in my right hand, one inch below the webbing and directly in between my pinky and ring finger. In the last few months I have developed what appears to be a 1/2" cord by the lump. I'm able to lay my hand flat on a table without pain, but I do often experience a sudden pain when I pick things up, or for most cases, when someone shakes my hand. In my line of work I use my hands a lot, typing and writing aren't too painful, but shaking a hand or trying to carry a gallon jug of water can almost bring me to my knees at times. I do believe the cord is continuing to grow in length but at a slow pace. Does this require surgery?

I have yet to see a specialist as I want to cover all my steps before choosing what to do and where to go. All I keep hearing is, "your way too young to have that!" but all pictures and information lead me to believe this is the case. I've read through many of the forum posts and can't wait to hear some feedback.

Many thanks in advance,

Drew
Hello Drew. Although it does look and sound like it is Dupuytrens desease first thing you ought to do is get a firm diagnosis from a specialist. 31 years is early onset (average for men is 46) but it is not unheard of. Unfortunately early onset often seem to mean also quick evolution and obviously you have more years ahead of you during which the desease can bother you.

The good news is that for now no surgery is needed, not even recommended, and you may never need it. What you may want to look into is radiotherapy (RT), perhaps later wear a splint at night if the progression cannot be halted and the cord starts to pull on your finger and tries to bend it. And then you can have the cord weakened with a needle (NA procedure) and broken to straighten your finger again if needed. (There's also collagenase as an option but I am not fan of that expensive option doing basically the same a skilled doctor can to just with a needle on an early stage cord). Keep documenting the evolution as you have started to do and see if you find a doctor you thinks it is the right time to do radiotherapy. Stay away from surgery as long as possible. Run from any doctor telling you it is the best or only option. It can make things worse needlessly and should only be a last resort.

You'll find lots of information here and elsewhere.

Stef

[54 year-old male, DD diagnosis 2006, RH contracture and NA/PNF 2014, RT 2015, wearing night splint glove]

08/10/2016 23:45
Candy3 
08/10/2016 23:45
Candy3 
Re: Help with first time DC!

I had my first and only DD nodule for almost three months, but it was growing twice as big each month, red, sore and easily irritated. It was causing me so much discomfort that I had it surgically removed last week. I think that the rate of growth, size and discomfort can play into whether one should get it taken care of early or not. Surgery on a simple nodule with a bit of cord is much easier than full blown DC. I am 61, female.

08/11/2016 05:59
Stefan_K. 
08/11/2016 05:59
Stefan_K. 

Re: Help with first time DC!

Hello Candy, where was your nodule located?

Stef

[54 year-old male, DD diagnosis 2006, RH contracture and NA/PNF 2014, RT 2015, wearing night splint glove]

Edited 08/11/16 09:10

08/11/2016 06:22
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

08/11/2016 06:22
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

Re: Help with first time DC!

Candy3:
I had my first and only DD nodule for almost three months, but it was growing twice as big each month, red, sore and easily irritated. It was causing me so much discomfort that I had it surgically removed last week. I think that the rate of growth, size and discomfort can play into whether one should get it taken care of early or not. Surgery on a simple nodule with a bit of cord is much easier than full blown DC. I am 61, female.
Hi Candy

It's a bit unusual to have surgery for just a nodule, and cord, without contracture, in case the healing promotes a further flare of DD. Do you have a before and after surgery photo? Hopefully if the incision and tissue removal was small all will be well. But I would be vigilant in looking for ongoing or new DD activity in which case seek RT to nip it in the bud. I would love to hear your view on the surgery success in 1 or 2 years time.

Best wishes SB

08/12/2016 01:59
Candy3 
08/12/2016 01:59
Candy3 
Re: Help with first time DC!

Stef, the nodule was located below the middle finger just above the "Head" line. Basically, just above the middle of my palm.

Spanishbuddha, the nodule was growing aggressively and using my hand for anything caused it to grow even faster. Because of this, even though DD was the initial diagnosis and probably cause, I wanted to be sure that it wasn't cancer or some other tumor. The surgery went well and it feels good to have a flat surface instead of a big sore, irritated nodule. I have read that there is at least a 50% chance it will come back, but it feels great to have a break from the pain.

NA is not my first choice due to my medical history.

08/19/2016 11:34
Candy3 
08/19/2016 11:34
Candy3 
Re: Help with first time DC!

I meant RT. What is NA? This is all so new to me. I don't even know who to go to for help.

08/19/2016 12:11
Stefan_K. 
08/19/2016 12:11
Stefan_K. 

Re: Help with first time DC!

Needle aponeurotomy (NA): http://www.dupuytren-online.info/needle_aponeurotomy.html

Stef

[54 year-old male, DD diagnosis 2006, RH contracture and NA/PNF 2014, RT 2015, wearing night splint glove]

 1
 1
diagnosis   background   aggressively   contracture   progression   surgically   collagenase   discomfort   describing   radiotherapy   Unfortunately   Spanishbuddha   aponeurotomy   surgery   specialist   previous   irritated   recommended   dupuytren-online   information