I know there's been a few on here, but I decided to create my own instead of bump an old one.

I was diagnosed with Duputryen's maybe like 4 years ago. I'm almost 48 now. I have some lumpy stuff in my palms, and a couple of crooked fingers. After my diagnosis, I did some research, and decided to quit weightlifting altogether, so I started running instead. In fact, I really went all out, and pretty much quit using my hands as much as possible. Like when I'm carrying grocery bags, I get plastic and put them on my wrists. And my wife is very solicitious toward me; she even opens my twist-off beer bottles.

I got worse fast after my diagnosis, and I have one pinky finger that is completely, permanently bent down to my palm. But in the last 2 years, it seems to have stabilized, and I'm really not doing anything for my duputryn's right now (did NA once in a pointer finger 3 years or so ago).

Anyway, I noticed about 6 months ago that my upper body was really etiolated, whereas I once was pretty ripped for a skinny dude. So I started lifting. Got very padded gloves and use mostly machines, so for pushing exercises I have the bar down on the fatty part of the hand just below the palm. For pulling exercises I look for machines with straps, and I pull with the straps around my wrists.

But several weeks ago I decided to start doing stiff legged deadlifts. No straps, just picking up a barbell with gloves. Not super heavy, but I'm picking up a 185 lb barbell. Just once a week, like 3 sets of 6 or 8. And the weird thing is I feel like my hands actually feel better after these sessions. Or maybe I just want to believe that because I enjoy the lift and haven't got to do that lift for several years.

So no question I guess. Just a story. Weightlifting again has been great. Either with or without the deadlifts. Oh, btw, I wouldn't necessarily advise deadlifting for anybody with Duputryens. Just saying it seems to be OK for me right now.

edgeworth:

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I know there's been a few on here, but I decided to create my own instead of bump an old one.

I was diagnosed with Duputryen's maybe like 4 years ago. I'm almost 48 now. I have some lumpy stuff in my palms, and a couple of crooked fingers. After my diagnosis, I did some research, and decided to quit weightlifting altogether, so I started running instead. In fact, I really went all out, and pretty much quit using my hands as much as possible. Like when I'm carrying grocery bags, I get plastic and put them on my wrists. And my wife is very solicitious toward me; she even opens my twist-off beer bottles.

I got worse fast after my diagnosis, and I have one pinky finger that is completely, permanently bent down to my palm. But in the last 2 years, it seems to have stabilized, and I'm really not doing anything for my duputryn's right now (did NA once in a pointer finger 3 years or so ago).

Anyway, I noticed about 6 months ago that my upper body was really etiolated, whereas I once was pretty ripped for a skinny dude. So I started lifting. Got very padded gloves and use mostly machines, so for pushing exercises I have the bar down on the fatty part of the hand just below the palm. For pulling exercises I look for machines with straps, and I pull with the straps around my wrists.

But several weeks ago I decided to start doing stiff legged deadlifts. No straps, just picking up a barbell with gloves. Not super heavy, but I'm picking up a 185 lb barbell. Just once a week, like 3 sets of 6 or 8. And the weird thing is I feel like my hands actually feel better after these sessions. Or maybe I just want to believe that because I enjoy the lift and haven't got to do that lift for several years.

So no question I guess. Just a story. Weightlifting again has been great. Either with or without the deadlifts. Oh, btw, I wouldn't necessarily advise deadlifting for anybody with Duputryens. Just saying it seems to be OK for me right now.

Thanks for the comments. I did see from a previous search of this forum that several folks played tennis. That is one thing that would really hurt my hand. I can't play basketball either. Dribbling the ball or catching a pass is very painful.

And, again, I would not necessarily recommend deadlifting for DD paitents. I will not go any heavier than where I am now, and if I have any pain I will stop. I do think, however, that weightlifting is something that is very important to do, especially for men over 40. And I was very creative at finding a way to do a total body lifting workout that applies very little trauma to the hands.

I haven't been to my hand doc in about 16 months, but I go later this month. I think she will be surprised at how little the DD has progressed. She talked to me about possible surgery to repair my pinky, a thing called a digit widget followed by a surgery to cut out some scar tissue. My pinky does annoy me. I've adjusted well in terms of typing on the computer, but I can't wash my face without it poking me, and I can't really play piano anymore. I very much enjoyed piano for fun, and I suppose I still could with 9 working fingers, but I just never took the time to adapt.

My two pointer fingers are slightly bent, so probably what I'll ask her about this year is NA on one or both of those. She also wanted to try xiaflex on my pinky, but from what I read, xiaflex would be a waste of time and money on a finger that is bent as badly as my pinky.

I'm not as convinced as some on this board that diet really matters all that much. I have a pretty healthy diet anyway. I did cut way back (almost entirely) on caffeine. But I have 1.5 or 2 glasses of red wine every night, before and during dinner. Never more than that. But I love tasting and smelling wine, and giving that up is a deal breaker for me.

Great forum, I've lurked quite a bit, but never posted before this.

Cherise:

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Nothing wrong with lurking,

Since you have, you may be familiar with my story. I am not recommending anything . This is my experience with DD.

3 years ago slight curve in pinky. After 20 years of nodes in my palms no one knew what they were. Also have psoriasis and there has been studies that psoriasis on palms is connected in 37% of the cases involved that have DD. lucky me!

Went to hand surgeon was diagnosed wih DD. and surgery was performed. This caused a huge flare in all my of fingers.
Surgeon had no other treatment for me and after 2 years my pinky totally contracted to the Palm/180' along wih the other fingers had stopped contracting at a slight curve but very deformed and still useful.

Went to plastic hand surgeon experienced in Xiaflex, after reading a article about the bio drug online. Checked on all the side effects and found a surgeon who was experienced wih the Xiaflex injections. In fact he did the clinical studies in my area using Xiaflex .

I tried NA it had no effect. Rt was not recommended for my existing stage of DD.In fact my hand flared more after NA.The scar tissue from surgery had thickened, and the nodes were the same small size of a small Pearl.

After 3 injections of XIAFLEX in my pinky, then two weeks later back to open finger. Was a great relief to finally have the pinky open, and on the plus side all the scar tissue from surgery was gone as well. Xiaflex is a enzyme which attacks the collagen on the tendons causing the D. contracture. Since scar tissue is also a build up of collagen it was desolved leaving my hand and finger smooth from surgery. In fact, Xiaflex is in a new clinical study for removing scar tissue from burn victims and other applications.

Also the splint made the nodes swell in my Palm & the Xiaflex.The docter injected cortisone in the nodes and they became less painful. Yet the cord to the pinky finger in the Palm area the nodes have increased in size.

I know how difficult just one finger closed to the palm can make small things in life a major task.

Now things are easier & no pain. I wear a splint at night & spring splint during the day hand therapy has helped as I continue to do exercises .

Everyone is different. And the 3 injections in my pinky was not a walk in the park. I had suffered many of the side effects listed by the manufacturer. It's been 4 months now and my hand has done better. Now just resting from any treatment in hands or feet.

Hope RT can help you. It seems to depend on what stage of DD you are in to determine what treatment is applicable.

Kind Regards
Cherise

Cherise:

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Hello,

You have to decide on your own and gathering info as you have done is a big part of the choice you may make. The different stages of DD does make a difference with treatment options. It's not easy and that's the risk we all take. The bigger question is, "Will this proceedure make a difference in our quality of life".

Keep us posted on what you decide and how you are doing. One thing to consider once the finger is contracted then straightened it may not have the same flexibility and dexteriority it had before. It tends to take a toll on the nuckle joints.

Hope your not in harms way the storms there have been unrelenting. I lived in Austin and the torrential rains were bad enough not to mention the huge Texas size mosquitos. YIKES !!!!

Cheers