Why can't the surgeon remove the lump in the palm of your hand "before" the roots appear and then they have to cut your fingers? I have 2 lumps in one hand and one in the other

that's such good news. where did you get your figures, randy? i just want to double check them. are you a doctor?

Janet:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2190416&dopt=Abstract

"Dupuytren's disease is an extremely common malady, affecting as many as 3% of the general population.......Treatment is frequently unnecessary"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10760640&dopt=Abstract

(An Icelandic Study)

"Altogether *19.2%* of the males and *4.4%* of the female participants had clinical signs of Dupuytren's disease.... The more severe form of the disease, finger contractures, was found in *5.0%* of the men and *1.4%* had required operation, while this was rarely seen among women" <END>

In this study 1.4 / 19.2 = 7.2%, so you should feel even better.

No, I'm a layman, highly motivated by fairly aggressive bilateral disease brought on by *sever* abuse of my hands. Anyone have a Time Machine I could borrow so I could go back three years warn myself?

Greetings to all! Today I was diagnosed with Dupuytren's syndrome in my left hand. I'll log in with some facts, in case they add weight to some of the patterns reported by others with Dupuytren's. Like many people in this Forum, my first symptoms appeared following my first doses of Glucosamine, which I took about eight months ago in an effort to lessen pain in my knee joints. (The pain is now gone.) I have also been an "abuser" of Vitamin C in large doses for many years, not taken daily our routinely, but in megadoses of 7000 mg at the first sign of cold or flu symptoms. I do believe that the Vitamin C has helped stave off these illnesses, but after reading the letters in this Forum, I am wondering if this protection from viral illnesses did not come with a heavy and hidden cost.

I am 54 years old and of northern European descent, with most ancestors from the British Isles. For the last ten or twelve years I have been hit with severe attacks of gout every six months or so, usually in the my big toe. Formerly these have responsded to doses of Indocid, and anti-inflammatory, but lately the gout seems to have shifted from an occasional acute attack to a running and chronic condition.

Some months ago I noticed that the little finger on my left hand was crooked and could not be straightened. Since there was no pain or discomfort, and no loss of function (I could still type, for instance), I did nothing about it. Then, one month ago, I was hit with extreme pain, inflammation, and swelling in the my left wrist and the palm of my left hand. As the swelling went down, I became aware of a raised tendon crossing my palm from the center of the wrist to the base of the little finger (I am thankful that I am right handed). The degree of crookedness increased to about 45 degrees. There is no particular pain, and I can still type and grip things with my left hand.

I appreciate all the postings in this Forum that document possible causes or triggers for the onset of Dupuytren's, and also the pros and cons of various treatments.

With thanks to all,

John H.

I was just diagnosed with this disease yesterday and so my research is just beginning. The website perked my interest when I was looking up info on the disease (that I'd never heard of). I'm already grateful to it because it was recommended to begin glucosamine to help flexibility so I bought a bottle last night and took a dose this morning. No more for me just to be on the save side. I can't wait to become more informed about this disease and what I can do to prevent surgery which they did not recommend at this point.

I am 53, female, Irish/German descent and my right hand is affected at about 25% contracture in ring finger and a small lump beginnin in palm of left hand. I'm right handed, job involves major computer work and play the piano/organ at church and for pleasure. Obviously, I do not want down time on my right hand so I'll be looking for alternatives. I've always been into taking supplements for better health and I've taken Vit C for years (usually no more than 1,000/day) plus I love fruits and green tea. The gluten and collogen link is of interest to me too. Looking forward to learning and linking up with fellow sufferers.