| Lost password
193 users onlineYou are not loggend in.  Login
(Non)diagnosis of early stage Dupuytren's?
 1 2
 1 2
08/02/2010 04:41
Biff 
08/02/2010 04:41
Biff 
Re: (Non)diagnosis of early stage Dupuytren's?

Apologies, for fourth finger please substitute third (ring finger)

08/02/2010 10:10
Larry 
08/02/2010 10:10
Larry 
Re: (Non)diagnosis of early stage Dupuytren's?

Biff:
Hi,
I wanted to insert the original message as a reference but don't know the method.

My left hand is showing early signs of DD and as a result of a search for more advanced cures, I came across this furum. What I can provide in respect to early stage symptons are only my own observations; perhaps they may be of use to you in some way.

I was an amateur pianist and about 6 years ago noticed that I sometimes missed notes when playing a span of nine or ten. This prompted me to make some more detailed observations of my right hand. Here is the sequence of events observed:-

Right Hand
1. For some time I had been getting extremely annoying itching to the palm of the hand.
2. I noticed a small 'v' shaped indentation in the centre of the palm (where the itch was) directly in line with the fourth finger.
3. I started to get tingling in the ring and little finger - as you do when you hit your elbow funny bone - but it lasted for weeks.
4. The tingling then became painful and the affected fingers felt numb and cold.
5. GP inspected the hand and advised that I must have a spur on my elbow that was irritating the nerves to the fingers.
6. The finger pain subsided somewhat.
7. The 'v' indentation deepened noticeably to over 2mm.
8. Large nodule developed in the palm affecting the ring and finger small - diagnosed with DD.
9. By then I could only reach an octave on the piano (8 notes).
10. The area on the back of my fingers started becoming painful and nodules formed in the area above the last joint.
11. The palm of the hand had become painful, arm muscles ached and the skin at the wrist pulled towards the fourth finger.
12. The ring finger is now noticeably constricted and to a much lesser extent the index and little fingers.
13. I no longer feel any pain.
14. Development period - appeoximately 6 years

Left hand
1. Itching palm of the hand.
2. Small 'v' indentation in the palm.
3. Module formed on back of little finger above last joint. (Before the palm nodules this time)
4. Painful tingling to ring and little finger.
5. Nodules developing rapidly on ring and little finger.
6. Development period - less than 6 months; a much more agressive onset than the right hand.

Other information
1. Current age - 63 yo.
2. Maternal grandfarther suffered severely in both hands.
3 Prussian (Germanic) descent.
4. Can no longer play piano - too limited mobility in both hands.
5. No intentions of having surgery.

My thanks to contributors to this forum; the amount of information available has assisted me greatly in my research. I intend to quickly investigate RT for the left hand if it's not too late.

Kind Regards
Biff

I know, that Prof. Seegenschmiedt has made up a list of early symptoms for general practitioners or house doctors
Maybe you contact him about your disease status; as far as I know he is making a "spreading test" for both hands,
especially to find out about the function status for musicians ... Good luck for your situation ! Larry

08/08/2010 16:01
lacasajo 
08/08/2010 16:01
lacasajo 
Re: (Non)diagnosis of early stage Dupuytren's?

There is a possibility during the early stages that it turns out not to be Dupuytren's. I have something called Non-Dupuytren's disease of the Palmar Fascia. This is described by Dr. Ghazi Rayan of Oklahoma, and is tightening of the palmar fascia so that when I try to stretch my fingers out it feels like the skin on the palm of my hand/fingers is too small for my hand! However, it does not go on to develop contractures. It came on after having carpal tunnel surgery. You can read his research by googling the name of the disease above. I am looking to connect with other people who have, or believe they have, this condition. Am wondering if anyone has found any treatment that has helped. Jo

06/17/2015 20:07
LindaD 
06/17/2015 20:07
LindaD 
Re: (Non)diagnosis of early stage Dupuytren's?

cindy850:
You need second opinion. I don't think i would trust any hand surgeon because of the title. Hand surgeon. I read and read and read on the internet and diagnosed myself and then made a appointment with a orthopedic doctor and he took one look at my hands and said you have DD. Even these doctors tell you to wait but not as pushing. He just said when i start getting contractions he will refer me to hand surgeon. And my reply was i will never have surgery on hands. In the end had RT and very glad i did. You owe it to your self to go for second opinion. Take pics and put them on here and that way we can take a look. We are very good at looking at this type of disease.


I just found your forum today and I'm so glad I did!

I went to a hand surgeon who could not figure out why I had extreme pain and swelling in my right middle finger. I was within three weeks of starting the symptoms, so it was very early without visible contracture or nodules. He took an x-ray and all the joints look normal. He gave me a cortisone injection which took down the swelling for about four days. He prescribed Mobic anti-inflammatory and that does not seem to help at all.

Since then, the middle finger has continued to swell and the excruciating pain in my palm shoots into my middle finger and thumb and keeps me awake at night. If I leave my hand where it is the most comfortable (in a relaxed curve C shape), I am unable to straighten my middlefinger. I have faithfully forced through the pain to stretch and straighten it, but already have a slight contracture that I cannot correct. This is after only about six weeks since the swelling and pain started.

My question is if anyone knows a hand surgeon in the Denver area because I kthink I should get a second opinion. If this is Dupuytren's, I'd like to be figuring this out in the early stages and want to treat it before it advances. Is there someone who could recommend a doctor in Denver and/or treatment for me, please?

Edited 06/18/15 13:34

06/17/2015 22:00
Stefan_K. 
06/17/2015 22:00
Stefan_K. 

Re: (Non)diagnosis of early stage Dupuytren's?

Hello Linda. Sorry about your pain. I have not seen you say that you have formally been diagnosed as having Dupuytren desease. If indeed you haven't, that's where I would start before any further treatment.

06/17/2015 23:36
cindy850 
06/17/2015 23:36
cindy850 
Re: (Non)diagnosis of early stage Dupuytren's?

Linda if you need to see a doctor for radiation then you will want to go to a oncologist radiologist or radiologist oncologist. Which ever way you want to say it. Your hand doctor or orthopedic doctor will diagnose. I went to ortho doctor that specializes in hands.

 1 2
 1 2
indentation   information   unquestionable   Seegenschmiedt   recommendation   anti-inflammatory   disease   surgery   fingers   developing   diagnosis   appeoximately   painful   Dupuytren   Development   contracture   observations   nodules   surgeon   progression