Hi everyone :)
I'm glad I found this page its been quite informative; I have just been diagnosed with Dupuytrens after a while of just thinking I had bad, but unusually placed calluses on my hand from training, after a few GP visits and seeing a hand specialist they said they are quite sure it is.

The unusual thing is, I am only 24; I did wonder if my sport has anything to do with the speed at which the problem has developed for me as it is very grip-strength intense.
I am at the stage where I have 3 affected parts of the left-hand and it can get rather painful at times.

I was wondering how common it is in people of my age group, as what I read and am told by my gp, it really is not very.

My biggest concern, is that I compete in my sport regionally and was keen on progressing, it is already having some impact as the "stage" I am at, is causing my hand pain, I expect it will, but it is something I am rather displeased about!
I will be seeing a hand-surgeon in the near future to discuss courses of action further.

Thanks for reading :)
Rich

thankyou for those,
I shall have a read, the study on climbers looks particularly interesting

Sennewald, Flojo Wolfgang gave you good advise!!!!

Do you know what surgeons do???? They operate..... You are probably at the beginning of DC, read what your treatment options are NOW.... not down the road.

I knew what I had in my hands, since my dad has had it since he was in his 50's or so. He is now 88. So, I just wanted to diagnose it; so I went to my hand surgeon, which diagnosed it. So, I then asked what are my options TODAY. I knew that my dad had surgery at the time that his fingers were just about closed. I did not want to wait for that, I again, asked the surgeon, what should I do. His answer, I am not ready for anything..... He did give me some cortisone shots, which just calmed it down for about 2 months.

I then came in here and educated myself. Now I see why he said to live it alone until I am ready for his NA. That is his only way of fixing the problem. Well, NA has to be done at the point that your fingers are closed. Which meant, if I do RT, I probably would not see him and he would loose lots of $$$$ from me.

I started reading here and learned that I have an option now, which is RT.... Go and read about it.

What city do you live??? Find yourself a Radiologist Oncologist and they could do it, which is what I did. I am starting my procedure a week from today.... If you need help this site is GREAT!!!! You have a responsibility to yourself. ou do what you think is right. I choose early intervention.

Good Luck...

Betty

Thank-you for the concerns :) its genuinely nice!!

I'm from Worcestershire - England;
Having looked at the options, I feel radiotherapy looks to be the best for me, I believe the hand surgeon will be able to refer if needs be, and I was under the impression, the purpose was to further discuss options, both my GP and the surgeon appear to express a little more concern due to my age and my sport involvement and requiring hand dexterity for work.

Surgery certainly carries too many negatives from what I have read; injections concern me in that they have the potential to weaken my hands further.
Sadly I have no choice but to wait, the NHS here can be a slow old thing and I cannot afford to go privately :)


Richard

I am at the same stage as you are, except I am 70!!! I found that a nephew of mine is a hand surgeon in NM, and I had a long talk with him. Admitting that his expertise was cutting, he did say that "surgery" they do now is a 'release', minimally invasive. He urged that I learn more about RT before committing to it...which I have decided to do.

He also suggested that I see a Hand Specialist...not necessarily a Hand Surgeon (whom I am seeing in 2 days) and get their opinion as they won't be biased towards surgery. Interesting to talk to someone about DC who knows about it...no one here has a clue!!!!!

Carol