Just wanted to add results of a recent study:

Bernd Loos, Valerij Puschkin, and Raymund Horch "50 years experience with Dupuytren's contracture in the Erlangen University Hospital - A retrospective analysis of 2919 operated hands from 1956 to 2006" BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 8 (2007) (page still missing). Link to abstract e.g. http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/e...m_1956_to_2006

Link to full article : http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2474-8-60.pdf

The authors conclude "... we could not confirm a statistically significant correlation of DC with diabetes mellitus, severe alcohol consumption, heavy smoking or epilepsy and the stage of the disease."

If there is any connection between moderate drinking and Dupuytren, it is obviously not a strong one. I guess a glass of red wine (or two) won't hurt Dupuytren. Good news!

Wolfgang

Edited at 08/04/07 18:09

Yea,

My previously operated on and stiff sore left hand has the most mobility and least pain after two glasses of good red wine (well, I suppose a *lot* of things feel a bit better in that condition :-) It's good to know that this temporary relief effort isn't influencing my still good, NA improved, right hand!

I noticed bumps on my right hand about seven years ago and learned from my doctor about DC. Since then the disease has become progressively worse but I stretch my hands/fingers all the time since I'm a professional musician and pianist. So far the stretching has been extremely helpful.

Last January I went to a party and I, typically a non-drinker, had several small drinks, not enough to be drunk on. By the next day and subsequent days I had more bumps in places I'd previously had none, new ones, painful and sore. I didn't think too much about it at the time, just noted it.

A few months ago I had occasion to have two glasses of wine on a Friday evening and then half a glass at a dinner party the next evening. The next day and subsequent days I noticed and felt more bumps in new places.

So while I cannot say that alcohol is factor for everyone with DC, I can definitely say it's a huge factor for me. Thankfully I'm content not to drink, and after these last two events, I know I must stay away from alcohol altogether. I can't imagine how bad my hands would be if I were a regular consumer of alcohol.

RhapsodyDancer,

Thanks for your post! No more occasional glass of wine for me! It is not worth whatever little or great risk of making Dupuytren's more aggressive!



Lori,

Your "bubble wrap" visual is so real! You are funny!

I never drink, but still have nodules and what may be DD. Pat