Happens to me, too. My grip isn't anymore what it used to be.

Wolfgang

EH577:

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Thanks much for your reply Lori. I also had noticed I was dropping things and thought I just wasn't being attentive or not holding on to objects carefully enough. I wonder how common this is? Reading info on the net, there's a lot of descriptions of nodules and cords and contraction, but I haven't come across mention of this type of symptom. Any one else out there experience this early on?

Be wary of surgeons who only have a limited knowledge of Dupuytren's treatments. The first one I saw taught at Standford Medical but only knew how to perform a fasciectomy and is still using a tourniquet so in the dark ages as far as procedures go. He also lied in stating the risks of complications and was completely ignorant of the recovery time or need for physical therapy.

In addition to this surgery there is the NA and Xiaflex injections to relieve the contracted area. For halting the spread and progression of Dupuytren's the only procedure that has years of use and many studies supporting its effectiveness is Xray treatment. XRT has been done for decades in Germany but only in the past couple years in the USA.

My GP gave me bad advice and it delayed by getting XRT in Germany by nearly a year. The treatment was 100% effective on the hand where the disease had progressed the least but marginally effective with the hand that had progressed the most prior to the treatment.

When I checked for doctors approved to perform Xiaflex injections the vast majority were not hand surgeons and none had ever performed a NA procedure and most had performed Xiaflex injections on a handful of patients. I found the best doctor for NA on the west coast and that is who did the NA and who subsequently did the Xiaflex procedures. No silver bullet and you will need to sift through a lot of well meaning but misleading advice and decide what is best for your specific situation.

The splint is mostly for the surrounding structures. If the Dupuytren's decides to contract, a splint won't stop it.

EH577:

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3. Should I d/c lifting weights entirely - is this likely to make this worse? Or just back off on weight/reps? I now have gloves for padding, which I wasn't using before. I hate to quit when I've finally gotten into a routine and am making progress, but don't want to make this worse if it's Dupuytren's.

5. Does stretching/massage of area do any good? Reading info over the net, it's not clear whether it's helpful, harmful, or of no benefit.

Thanks for any insight/suggestions you can provide.