| Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy? |
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10/11/2008 09:56
Feathernot registered
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10/11/2008 09:56
Feathernot registered
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Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
My DC started at 38 in left little finger after a knife wound. I am female with family history. 6 years and 3 NAs later the finger is C-shaped with distal and middle joints affected. The NAs have not been successful resulting only in nerve damage the last two times and no improvement in finger movement or shape. Just had the last NA but finger is still C-shaped. I have been told that the Dup's tissue has been severed and the problem is not the Dups but that both joints are completely blocked frozen. I am having a course of physio in an attempt to gain some movement but have the strongest impression I am just wasting time and money and causing myself more pain.
What are the consequences of doing nothing and leaving the finger to contract fully? Presumably worst case is U-shaped. I can imagine potential hygiene and skin problems in the folds and I have been told to look forward to arthritic pain - how likely is that?
Is doing nothing and crossing my bridges when I come to them a good policy?
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10/12/2008 04:08
diane snot registered
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10/12/2008 04:08
diane snot registered
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Re: Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
Hi Feather
You are the only other person I've seen here who has reported DC in the distal joint. I have heard it is very rare in this country but more common in Scotland. I have it there too as well as in the pip joint. My pinkie was in a "u" shape. I had two open surgeries on the distal and distal/pip respectively. After the first one, the distal came back worse in a year. after the second one, the distal stayed pretty straight to this day but the pip got worse in a year. I was worried about more surgeries so i had NA on the pip. it has stayed within 2o degrees for two years and counting. I also had some cortisone and a "mini" NA to loosen up a couple of little cord/lumps. i can tell you that my finger is much better today than 5 years ago. I fully expect the pip joint to contract again and am hopeful that the xilaflex drug will be helpful when that time comes but in the meantime i would do NA again in a heartbeat if needed and am fortunate to be withing a half days drive of the excellent Dr. Denkler.
Only you and your doctor can decide whats best for you, but i would not let it progress to a u shape. I have heard that the bend can get so bad it can dig into your palm. Mine was not that bad but i couldn't get gloves on, lost gripping abliity, couldn't type normally and a host of things with that bent finger. I will do all i can to keep it from getting that bad again and if i get it in another finger i will get on it more quickly than i did last time.
Hope this helps.
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10/14/2008 15:26
jimh 
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10/14/2008 15:26
jimh
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Re: Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
I have a thoroughly messed-up pinkie as a result of surgery. My impression, based on my experience and what I've read, is that surgery on the pinkie usually doesn't work. Eventually you have to choose between a finger that's bent but somewhat functional, and a finger that's straight but won't bend. Xiaflex may eventually improve this picture.
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10/14/2008 16:36
callie 
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10/14/2008 16:36
callie
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Re: Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
I have had an opposite result, which shows that each case/each person is different. I had surgery six years ago on little finger that was contracted at 90 degrees. The finger now is still as good as prior to Dupuytren's. Full flex and straight.
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10/14/2008 18:18
Randy_H
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10/14/2008 18:18
Randy_H
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Pinkie Correction
It's not just that pinkie is the hardest to correct (because of it's small size), the bigger issue is what joint was corrected. The joint at the palm (MCP) is usually very easy. It's the PIP that is the problem on *any* finger. On the pinkie it becomes the hardest. The data Eaton has suggests that a correction of the PIP is usually only 50%. So the sooner you deal with it the better.
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10/14/2008 20:50
jimh
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10/14/2008 20:50
jimh
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Re: Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
Yes I should have stated that I was referring to PIP joint contractures.
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10/20/2008 14:12
Wolfgangnot registered
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10/20/2008 14:12
Wolfgangnot registered
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Pinkie's PIP
I developed a quickly growing nodule on the PIP of my right pinkie and it is already causing some contraction (Randy has seen it earlier this year). In the mean time it is being radiated and I started wearing a night splint to stop further contracture. This PIP night splint is custom made but very simple and very comfortable and easy to put on and off. You can see it on the bottom of http://www.dupuytren-online.info/NA_side_effects.html .
I will keep you updated on how things work out.
Wolfgang
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10/22/2008 20:06
bstenman
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10/22/2008 20:06
bstenman
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Re: Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
Although I can only speak for myself, I had a very advanced contracture in my left hand and a minor contracture and a nodule in my right hand prior to receiving both a NA and X-Ray treatment about 18 months ago. The contracture in my left hand has returned but my right hand has been stable. I believe the X-Ray treatment arrested the further progression of the disease in my right hand.
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10/30/2008 20:26
dude 
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10/30/2008 20:26
dude
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Re: Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
NA means ______?
this is my first ever post post.WOOT!
Edited 10/30/08 22:48
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10/31/2008 05:45
Wolfgangnot registered
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10/31/2008 05:45
Wolfgangnot registered
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Re: Is doing nothing and letting the DC take its course a good policy?
Just look at the menu on the left side and click on Needle aponeurotomy (NA).
Wolfgang
Quote:
NA means ______?
this is my first ever post post.WOOT!
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