From your description it sounds like DD but it probably requires confirmation from someone who knows DD (probably not your GP). My suggestion is to wait and see how it progresses. For many people, DD progresses slowly or not at all and requires no treatment. There is a lot of debate over the role of trauma, some people are adamant that the disease was triggered by trauma. However, in many development is spontaneous with no clear cause. We all look for triggers but in reality the major predisposing factor is genetic. There is some suggestion that glucosamine etc makes it worse but I am not convinced of the evidence. Incidentally, there is no good evidence that it helps knees either!

Some people seem to keep exercising, rowing, cycling, going to the gym etc with no worsening of the problem. Others find it difficult. I am half way in between; I keep cycling, exercising, gardening etc almost as normal and at times this seems to make my hands ache. However, I believe exercise is very important for overall health and will not give it up.

I have had RT on both hands without any contractions as there is a strong family history (father and 2 brothers with DD). You are correct, if the disease is active and progressing, RT is the only early intervention that seems to work.

I suggest that you get a diagnosis, continue your current lifestyle but monitor your hands closely and if you get increased aching, tingling, itchiness and see cords and more nodules start to appear, consider RT before any contractions.

Good luck

EH577:

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Stephenp, thanks much for your reply. That sounds like a very sensible approach to take. I was a bit stressed out at having this pop up suddenly and thinking I might have brought it on with the weightlifting. Hopefully, it will not progress and if it does, I really appreciate the resources I've found on this site.

Thanks Maddie, that’s very encouraging. I did go out and get some gloves for the gym, which seems to help, but they don’t have gel inserts and that might be good to try. I also garden quite a bit, so I’m looking for good well-fitted padded gloves for both activities. Think I’ll start a new thread on women’s gloves and see what the women here have tried.

Did notice that I had some weird tingling in the affected hand after doing some pruning/weed-pulling this afternoon. I’ve also noticed of late that I’ve had more trouble opening jars than I used to – is loss of hang strength a possible symptom in early stages? (Or maybe my DH is just cranking them on too tight!)

Thanks spanishbuddha, I will ask my GP for a referral. I’m with Kaiser here in the states, and will try to find someone in the system who had experience/expertise with DC. Short of that, would it be good to see an orthopedic surgeon, a hand surgeon, or what type of specialist, at this early stage?

EH577,

I had and still have a loss of hand strength. Actually before I knew I had DD I was beginning to have problems opening jars and loss of grip. I had started dropping things. It was one of the first signs that appeared even before the nodule popped up. After I was diagnosed with DD it began to make sense. I will have tingling and aching if I over use my hand. My entire arm and shoulder will ache for about a day if I do something like using a caulk gun for about an hour. I believe it is the gripping and tightening motion that set it off.

Lori

One of the specialist I've seen along the way said that anything involving trauma to the hands is likely to cause trouble. Eg. Boxing wouldnt't be ideal as a sport with DD. cycling was advised to me as a sport as someone who has LD.
Exercise is a catch 22 - not using you hand is likely to result in conditioning loss, however, it could also be what accelerates the disease. But it's all 'what if'... I say, do what makes you happy.