At about age 60 I started to develop what I later identified as Deputren's. Small "holes" developed on my palm, in line with my little fingers, with what appeared to be callouses adjacent them. My little fingers began to curl inward. I didn't consult a physician, but noted that several men with whom I shook hands had curled fingers. It felt as if the tendons running from my palms to the affected fingers were shrinking in length, so I began some simple therapy.
I cupped one hand with the outer edge of the other hand placed in the cup. I placed the thumb of the cupped hand on the tip of the curved little finger and pressed on it with the fingers of my cupped hand supporting the knuckle of the affected finger. This had the effect of putting tension on the tendon of the curled finger, tending to straighten it. I developed the habit of stretching the tendons while reading, watching TV, or whenever my hands were not in use. It has worked for me, and my fingers are straightened after many months of this exercise, although the "holes" and callouses remain. Hope it works for you.

Bill in Colorado

It'll getcha while you sleep.

Other than a current blind spot when it comes to NA, North American CHS know what they are talking about. They will all tell you that stretching and splints have been tried and, in the long run, the approach does not help. Certainly this approach has not generally been reported as successful here. Given the erratic nature of the disease, one person's positive experience is, unfortunately, not transferable. Other contributing factors may have been more significant.

That said however, if any of us had Bill's experience I'm sure we'd continue stretching. I hope you continue to do well Bill.

I am not convinced that stretching is of benefit with Ledderhoses. I have found walking in sand painful. Walking in bare feet similarly painful. As for dancing, isn't that a variation on the stretching that happens every time you put your foot on the ground (i.e. walk). The least pain comes from stabilising the arch/plantar fascia with orthotics and wearing shoes with heels.

Thank you for your feedback, Ken and Sean! Maybe it depends on whether the nodules are inflamed or not, it might also be possible that patients in an early stage of Ledderhose and with slow or no progression find it beneficial to stretch (or dance).

For both, Dupuytren and Ledderhose, the effect of a specific treatment seems to depend strongly on the specific person, for some people e.g. Vitamin E seems to help, for others it doesn't yield anything. Some people can live for years without problems after a NA, others might have the same contraction after one year, and so on.

Anecdotal evidence can only demonstrate a personal success and, if similar reports appear from other patients, might point to a area of further research. And more often than not there is contrary anecdotal evidence showing that this treatment is useless. An accepted therapy therfore should have sound statistics to prove its chance for success.