I was diagnosed with Dupuytren's nearly four years ago. It appeared quite suddenly and was developing rapidly in my left hand (I'm right-handed). Within a few weeks my ring finger and pinkie were contracting with nodules gradually popping up. I saw two different surgeons and both thought I would need surgery in the very near future as it was progressing so rapidly. I did a lot of research and decided if and when I got any kind of surgery, N.A. was the route for me, not the conventional surgery which is all that was available in my area (Saskatchewan, Canada). I ended up on the online forum at Biospecifics and read a posting a few years old from a woman somewhere in mid-west U.S.A. who had very advanced Dupuytren's almost completely reversed with acupuncture. I decided to try the least invasive ideas first so sought out an acupuncturist. I found a woman who is also a naturopath. I began weekly acupuncture and we also discussed pollen injections. After a few months of acupuncture we noticed that it was no longer advancing. We increased the time between appointments gradually up to about 6 weeks. At that point the Dupuytren's began advancing again. We shortened the time between appointments, gradually settling on about 3 to 4 weeks apart. Over the nearly four years I have been receiving acupuncture, there has been some slight increase in nodules and a very slight contracture of my ring finger when relaxed; nothing else. We did try one shot of bee pollen but I found it extremely painful so stopped it. Upon researching the bee pollen injections futher, she found that her colleagues using this treatment were not having as great success as she was with the acupuncture she was giving me. I don't know if this can work for every situation, but it is certainly worth trying such a low invasive treatment first to see if it works for you.

Wolfgang, Thanks for your comments.

I wonder why, if in most cases acupuncture seems to have no effect on Dupuytrens, as you say, that I cannot find any letters from people trying it and reporting poor results?

The only letter I found a few years ago when mine started, was the one letter I mentioned from the woman who reported beginning acupuncture in stage 4 and has had such great success that it was almost completely reversed. I contacted her a year or more after her original posting. She still receives acupuncture treatments on a monthly basis, the Dupuytren's has not gotten worse again, and she is even playing piano.

My MDs are well aware of my acupuncture treatments, continue to monitor my Dupuytren's and are also impressed with the continuing results.

I suspect that the lack of postings on the subject is due to the lack of people trying it, not the lack of positive results. I would strongly encourage anybody to try this non-invasive treatment plan first. And if their acupuncturist does not have first hand experience treating Dupuytren's, I would be happy to provide their acupuncturist with contact information to mine.

Roger

As a long time student of Chinese techniques I can say that acupuncture is very effective for some things and obviously it works well for some people with Dupuytrens.

I have pretty much halted my Dupuytrens with stretching and diet modification but I think i will add acupuncture to see if it will reverse.

Keep in mind that acupuncture is not just a medical technique but also an art, and a master artist may have better results than a beginner.

Acupuncture crossed my mind the other day, but only for a moment because I thought even if the needle is small its still damaging the fibromatosis and possibly creating more problems.

I have not done any research into Acupuncture as a treatment for DD, but I was happy to see a video story on foxnews.com about collagenase shots; a needle I wouldn't mind.

I am going to try modifying my diet to be more alkaline and see if that helps as it has with others.

Good luck.

I understand your concern about the needle possibly creating even more problems by stirring things up in the area. I was also very concerned about that. but after discussing the results of a few years of acupuncture with the woman I connected with on here and nothing but good news, I decided to try it. The treatment actually is more of a full body acupuncture, with a few of the needles around the affected area, and ocassionally directly into the nodules. After doing this for four years, what was a very rapidly progressing problem has barely advanced at all! I am now looking into radiation as there seems to be really incredibly good results if it is done in the earliest stages. If I qualify, I may be able to stop it in its tracks and not have to continue my monthly acupuncture.
Good Luck!
RogerM

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Acupuncture crossed my mind the other day, but only for a moment because I thought even if the needle is small its still damaging the fibromatosis and possibly creating more problems.

I have not done any research into Acupuncture as a treatment for DD, but I was happy to see a video story on foxnews.com about collagenase shots; a needle I wouldn't mind.

I am going to try modifying my diet to be more alkaline and see if that helps as it has with others.

Good luck.