I am a 65 year old caucasian male and in good general health.

I’m an American. I permanently reside in Japan.

3 weeks ago I notice a small hard round lump on my left palm (off center about 2 o’clock).

During these 3 weeks it has become progressively larger, perhaps double in size to its current 1 cm in diameter.

Next to this larger lump is another smaller lump about a third of the size of the larger one which is located in the direction of my ring finger.

And in addition, there is a 3rd lumping area which radiates out from the larger lump toward my index finger but isn’t round but a sinewy longer lumping.

I don’t notice any pulling on my fingers from muscle contractions nor am I experiencing any pain.

I consulted with my personal physician here in Japan who is European about these lumps and he immediately identified them as Dupuytren's Contracture. He has not prescribed a treatment.

I am looking for some advise from any of you in the Dupuytren Society who might suggest at my early stage of the disease what might be the best next step to treat my condition.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Wolfgang,

Thank you kindly for directing me to the sites that you suggested. I learned a great deal from them.

I read this information on the last link:

"Canadian research suggests that “the involvement of these wound healing-associated proteins in Dupuytren Disease supports the notion that this disease may be an exaggerated form of wound healing“. Cited from Jeffrey C. Howard et al., "Wound Healing-Associated Proteins Hsp47 and Fibronectin Are Elevated in Dupuytren’s Contracture", Journal of Surgical Research 117 (2004) p 232–238. This might explain the observation that damage of the hand, by accident or by surgery, can trigger Dupuytren's disease."

About 4 months ago our two small dogs were fighting and while attempting to stop the scrap, one of the dogs bit into my hand down to the bone. The bite is next to where I now have the Dupuytren lumps. Perhaps it is cause and effect related??