I can't say enough how happy I am to have found this site! I was told about 10 years ago I "had /mumble mumble/ contracture" that was explained off as a form of arthritis. As it would be, mumble mumble has a name!

This site motivated me to finally start educating myself on how to treat the mumbles, and I'm leaning towards any treatment that isn't surgery. I'd like to hope something else will help me first. My right pointer is severe, it's at a lovely 90 degree angle that gets in the way of everything and a few cords on my left hand have aggressively popped up over the last year.

In calling two hand surgeons in my area, one required xrays first (is that normal? My contractures are clear as day to anyone that it's DC) and the other behaved like I was asking for drug information in an alien language.

Being uninsured, I'm just looking for all the information and experiences, hints, tips and what not that I can gobble up on my journey to better hands on a budget. I'm sure a lot of that info will be here for me to study up on, so thanks in advance!

Any insight for me? Are xrays really necessary? Often enough doctors in my past don't mind spending my money freely, and I'm all for proper care (not trying to play Let's Make a Deal with the future of my hands lol) ... but cmon, healthcare isn't much on scrimping costs if we don't remind them to suck the belly in a little.

Cheers, I really had no idea this was so common, although at my age it isn't - only 33.

Jeni

You are right about being fortunate about finding this website and Forum. I think you are also right on about questioning the need for x-rays. I had NA - no x-rays. I had RT - no x-rays. Don't recall seeing anyone on this site getting x-rays for Dupuytren's diagnosis or treatment planning.

I agree that a hand surgeon would definitely be the route to go. If you send pictures of your hand with your questions via email to Dr. Denkler, he will look at the pics and email you back his opinion about your options. If you have more questions, send another email. He doesn't charge for email consultation. Dr. Denkler's email address, website, phone #, and address are available under the Treatment drop down menu. Lots of good info about all treatments on his website.

There are other good surgeons around, but with my personal experiences, I can recommend Dr, Denkler. I had NA done by Dr. Denkler in early 2009 and again this past July, 2 1/2 years later. My disease is such that I anticipate needing NA again in several years, or I may consider Xiaflex. Dr. Denkler does NA, Xiaflex, and surgery if necessary. He prefers to do early treatments of NA and Xiaflex if viable. He did many surgeries for Dupuytren's before he learned about NA, and he started doing Xiaflex in the last 2 years. NA worked effectively for me with minimal recovery time - 2 days with bandages and keeping my hand elevated, then Bacitracin on the punctures for a couple of weeks and hand out of dish water. Oh, darn!

I think I will extend the time before I need treatment on my right again since I am now wearing a night splint. My hand is not as tight as it was when I first got the splint, and I can tell that it tightens if I forget to wear it for more than one night. When I wear the splint again, it is less tighan after wearing it for a night ot two, consequently I don't forget for a whole night.

Feel free to come back to the Forum with more questions. Lots of caring people who understand what you are going through with this weird disease.