I have had dupuytren's in my right hand for some years now. (All four of my brothers have it and my father had it as well). It progressed slowly for years but within the last year or so it has accelerated. The ring finger is now at about 35%. That I am dealing with. My plan is to have NA at some point.
Within the last few months, though, knuckle pads (on my middle and ring finger on my right hand; and on my little finger on my left hand) have emerged and are getting bigger. A hand surgeon xrayed and said that there is no sign of arthritis. I am quite sure that it is the duputren's causing the knuckle pads. They are very painful and depending on how I am using my hands, the pain can be quite intense. I would like any advice readers have to reduce the pain or lessen the size of the pads. I would rather not take medication constantly for the pain but am at a loss for what else to do. From what I have read, surgery is inneffective in the long run. Thank you.
Michael

I was diagnosed with DD today. I sought out a hand specialist because of the painful knots on my PIP joints. I had some for 3 years, caused some pain but manageable - as you say, no more door knocking. Recently I have had another one pop up, and it is painful and sometimes sensitive to touch.
Doctor said they are knuckle pads, and I have DD. He pointed out the cords in both hands, which I had thought were tendons. Also, I have a couple of lumps on the palmar side of PIP joints.
So far, no contractures.
He also said only about 1 out of 300 patients he sees with DD have knuckle pads.
If mine doesn't progress, I think I can deal with the knuckle pads.

Sorry I am a knucklehead - just realized I am on a good website for the info required.

I'm female, 50-something, with Dupuytren's. For right now, the cord has been reduced by PT (stretching, US, etc). When I wake up in the morning, my fingers are stiff. I can't fully close my fist. All of this does not prevent me from my daily chores. I even saw Dupuytren's mentioned on the local news last night! Had I not been sitting down, I would have fallen down! I've never seen this mentioned in any local media form.

Michael,

I have had knuckle pads (on all fingers) since my teenage years (i'm now 57), plus Ledderhose and more recently DD.

I had surgery on one knuckle when it first appeared. The surgery made the lump much larger, reduced movement and made it more sensitive and painful. However, that was a very long time ago and surgery may have improved, so I shouldn't take my experience in isolation as a guide.

However, whilst the pads have been annoying, they have not significantly affected my life. In more recent years the size of the pads has reduced (this happened with my mother as well).

We all have different experiences, but if you are lucky enough not to be have painful knuckles in every day usage of your hands (if you knock them, of course they will be painful), then I would suggest ignoring them!

Good luck, Chris.