Only Nodules, Rapid Progression - Preservation of Function required ? I think the only solution is early use of radiation therapy to stopp the proliferation of the bibrous tissue ... I think there is no other Chance !

Just anothert question : do you take chondroitin sulfate / joint protection medication ? If YES, stopp it ! Best regards, Larry

MSK,

I had one nodule and a cord that was from my middle finger to my wrist. Beginning contraction, puckering, and dimpling. I had a lot of pain associated with DD. I had RT 2 years ago, about this time of year and have had no progression, and all pain stopped. You can see before and after pictures by going to my name and looking for the heading "pictures of my hand from MRI to now". The last picture is from almost 1 year ago and my hand has improved since then. Nothing like seeing to believe!! It worked for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Lori

Larry, Lori, Cindy,
Thank you for your replies. Perhaps you can address this issue: Is my DD early stage? I now realize that the last several years of weakened(and painful) grip strength and increasing soreness is attributable to my DD. (I have had my blood tested for arthritis markers and that was negative).
My fingers are still straight, but I can sense a slight pulling/warmth feeling in my palm. The single nodule on each palm is fairly hard to palpitation, it feels like an extra joint, and is quite pressure sensitive and becomes reddened after it is irritated(which happens rather easily).
I do have come chords, but I was told they are not well enough defined for NA...but I am not attaching a great deal of confidence to that because it came from the doctor who dismissed RT and wanted to perform surgery.
I am prepared to proceed with RT, but it is the hardness of the nodules that is causing me a bit of confusion. Can the nodules in the palm be hardened in the early stage?
Thank you very much for your input, I value it greatly.

My nodule was as hard as a rock. My doctor's first reaction was that it felt like a bone, even though a bone in that location would not typically be round. Mine was red and quite noticable in my palm. It was extremely painful to the touch. I realized after I was diagnosed that the weakness in my hand that I had been experiencing for about 6 months was because of the DD (dropping of glasses, plates, extremely clumsy). I too figured it was arthritis. I would say for me that the tenderness, pain, a feeling of tingling, or a crawling sensation in my palm convinced me that mine was active and that I was a candidate for RT. Of course while I was debating the issue, my cord grew from a 2-3 inche cord to to a 4-5 inch cord, I developed the beginning of contraction, and a puckering below my middle finger. The nodule disappeared after RT. The cord regressed a little into my palm, but the puckering at the base of my finger did not disappear. Sounds like your DD is active.

Lori

Edited 07/26/11 20:47

Hello,
I had RT "German Protocol" (but w/ full hand) 3 months ago. I had multiple chords and nodules but no visible contraction. Since then, the nodules just below my fingers have softened considerably, and my grip strength has improved somewhat. Whether or not this is attributable to the RT is impossible to ascertain.

One aspect of my condition has worsened, however. I have no visible contraction(never did), but my middle finger on one hand, where there is a smaller and relatively younger nodule, has a constant sensation of contraction, as if it is being pulled back away from the palm. Has anyone experienced this? I want to emphasize I have no visible contraction, but this particular finger is very tight and often the source of pain, and it limits my ability to hold large objects.

I have seen 2 surgeons(one prior to RT, who said it would be of no help, and one recently who never heard of RT but said "I guess it makes sense".) Needless to say, both are quite eager to get invasive.

Thanks!!!

ps: total cost of rt was roughly $32,000 USD, Aetna pain all but about 4K.