After reviewing the study "Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy for early stage Dupuytrens disease" - I decided to try this method myself. I am going to record what I do, and how things go.

I am using brand Yumira in the USA because it is much less expensive. My cost was about 1,500 usd for 6 pens. I know that is still a lot, but it is cheap compared to other brands of Adalimumab.

Step 1 - found an arthritis doctor to prescribe this as it is available in the US for other issues. I am using it for a non approved trial.

Step 2 - nobody wants to inject it so I am doing it myself.

Step 3 - I got iodine swabs, cold spray for pain relief and the syringes included in the study. It is a 1 ml disposable with 1 inch long needle that is 25 gauge. The self injectors do not penetrative the nodules.

May 29th - used 3 syringes. This medicine is meant to be injected in the leg or stomach once every 2 weeks. It help with rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. I decided that I am going to do the subcutaneous shot each 2 weeks in the hope it will stop the advancement of dupuytren's. I dumped the second syringe in my lap while transferring to the new syringe. $250.00 lesson learned. I used the 3rd syringe to inject 3 nodules in my left hand. The big one got .2 ml and the other 2 got .1 ml. The study used .4 ml in the worst nodule, so I am doing less. I have too many nodules in each hand so hoping less at a more frequent pace will work.

In 2 weeks I will take another subcutaneous and then get bloodwork to ensure I am not hurting anything.

I do not recommend this approach, but I have had so many procedures on my hands and feet that I need something long term.

I had successful surgery on my right index finger that was fully curved.

I had successful surgery on my foot that had a huge plantar fibromatosis nodule.

Surgery's were successful, but I fully expect recurrence.

I have had radiation therapy and several bouts of cryo. All have worked to a degree, but just delaying things. I tried high dose vitamin D, but it did nothing for me.

I am very active and am continuing to do activities that impact my hands and feet. I plan to keep hiking and doing yard work until I can't. The idea of staying stagnant does not appeal to me.

While I have had many nodules and many procedures, nothing has hurt super bad so I am thankful for that. I have talked to others with excruciating pain.

My index finger was almost fully contracted so that affected typing at work. It is back straight.

I also have knuckle pads which I am fixing with steroid injections. Steroids work on my knuckle pads, but not on dupuytren's or lederhosen.

More after next procedure. I am reminded of a lawyer statement that probably applies to me. A person who has himself for a doctor, has a fool for a patient.

Agreed. The side effects need to be taken seriously. That is where the blood tests and chest xrays come into play. It also opens you up for a greater risk of infection.

Caveat emptor

2 weeks have gone by and I just injected my next shot in the same 3 areas. The process was faster / simpler this time as I knew what I was doing. The hardest part is getting the needle to penetrate each of the nodules. I did the same doses in each nodule as I indicated in the first shot.

Progression : the biggest nodule has an indention in the middle. I am hoping that the indention was caused by the previous does, but I do not feel comfortable saying for sure. So, I will go with no noticeable improvement so far, but it is very hard to tell. If it is working, then it should be obvious after a few more doses. I have used 4 of my 6 shots. The first time I injected one into my leg, but I decided to bypass that since I am done with 4 of 6 shots.

Reminder : 1 dose in leg, 2 doses in the 3 nodules and one dose squirted on my pants as I did the transfer from the auto injector to a syringe that is easier to use.

That's it for 2 weeks. I am not suggesting anybody else try this, and if you do then I would try to find a doctor to administer the injections. I am doing it myself because I can't find one in the USA.

Your personal experience is quite interesting but doesn't it, at least so far, sound like a lot of money for little improvement? In favourable cases nodules can become stable anyway and without any treatment, not causing much inconvenience. About 80% of patients with signs of Dupuytren's never need any treatment at all https://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuyt...ontracture.html .

A concern is that you are using a pen to needle your hand and fingers. You might accidentially hit and damage a nerve. I recommend having this done by a hand surgeon, that would be much safer.

Wolfgang

Lastest update. I have purchased 12 single shot doses and completed 8. As mentioned prior, one shot was wasted going to a higher gauge needle.

I am injecting nodules directly and the process is much more efficient. I can do the injections in under 5 minutes, which includes dismantling the auto dose pen, moving to another needle and injecting 2 to 3 nodules.

I have 5 areas on my left hand. I am injecting into the nodules that hurt / seem to be in the growth phase. 3 of the 5 are dormant and probably reduced in size. I am convinced that at the very minimum, humira is stopping the growth cycle of nodules.

While I am super happy with my results so far, it is hard to say anything definitively. I never understood what started and stopped module growth when leaving them untreated.

The issues mentioned by others about hurting a nerve or getting and infection have not played out for me. I use disposable needles, iodine and lay off using the hand overnight. More soon.

Edited 09/06/2024 21:19