Hi,

I'm new to the forum and would love some advice if possible. I have been reading some threads and can't believe how knowledgeable some of you are.

I'm 34 and about 4 years ago I had what I thought was a callous on my palm. When it became a little tender I mentioned it to the Dr who said it was a nodule due to DD. He said that eventually my finger would contact and that there was nothing that could be done until that happened. The tenderness went and I forgot about it, unless I knocked it to leant on it and it got a bit sore.

The nodule is below the ring finger on the left hand, in the fatty pad just above the line on the palm that runs horizontally from between the index and middle finger to the outside of the palm under the little finger. It also looks a little black, kind of like a bruise under the skin

The skin is thickened and the nodule is very hard and about the size of a pea.

On Thursday it started hurting mid morning. I haven't knocked it or leant on it or done anything different from usual. The pain is relieved with ibuprofen but my ring finger hurts too. The area around the nodule and the ring finger have been swollen.

I can't seem to find answers to the following:

Why would pain come on so suddenly after years for no reason and is that normal or something to be concerned about?

Why does the nodule look bruised and is that normal or something I should worry about?

Should I go back to the Dr, and if so, what can I ask/expect them to do?

Does this sound like a DD nodule? Or could it be something else?

Any advice would be much appreciated, and thank you for reading.

C x

Welcome to the forum cherry

Internet diagnosis is fraught with ill informed opinion, IANAD and most on here are not either.

Your age is young, on average for DD, but it's possible. It could be a DD nodule, or maybe not. It really needs a better diagnosis. Could it be a damaged ganglion or bursitis of the MCP (knuckle) joint present on the palm side only, that is inflamed and swollen? You could easily tell for yourself if the nodule is attached to or part of the joint. DD itself does flare up, and then settle down, without any clear reason.

I would make an appointment again with the Dr and seek a further consultation, for diagnosis, from an experienced hand physician. You are taking painkillers, that's fine, maybe try ice to calm it down.

Are there any other DD related symptoms? Other hand, nodules? Do you have knuckle pads? Family members, parents with a history? DD can come on and progress quickly but usually on reflection there were other missed signs. DD also usually progresses slowly, so there's time to get the expert diagnosis.

Best wishes and let us know.

SB