Hi everyone. I'm a 38-yr-old Caucasian American female with family roots largely in Italy, Russia, and England.

I started to develop what I thought were calluses or maybe scar tissue on a couple of my right hand's knuckles about 2 years ago I think. I do a lot of stuff with my hands like gardening, furniture refinishing, carpentry projects, etc. (let's just say I've never been one of those girls who have nice, manicured fingernails), so I figured it was part and parcel to my lifestyle. Since then though, those "calluses" have not only stuck around but gotten bigger, and gradually appeared on almost all of my fingers, and in the past year I also noticed a thick cord of tissue between my left thumb and index finger.

Throughout this time I have also dealt with a recurrent ganglion cyst in my left wrist, though I have no idea if the symptoms are all related. Recently I was finally moved to get a professional opinion about what I have come to refer to as my "witch knuckles" because I was forced to remove my wedding ring when I realized the knuckle tissue on that finger was getting too large to comfortably remove it, and I was worried that if I waited, it would have to eventually be cut off of my finger.

My primary physician examined me and deduced that the only explanation would be early onset arthritis, but tests came back negative for that and doc seems content with that, advising me to just keep an eye on it and limit strenuous activities with my hands.

I found Dupuytren's Disease while googling other possible explanations for my symptoms and while I don't match the common profile, the photos and descriptions match my symptoms perfectly. I have attached photos of my "witch knuckles" and the thick cording between my left thumb and index finger, which so far do not limit my mobility.

Thanks to anyone who can help me shed light on this problem. So far it does not get in my way at all and I don't really care that it makes my hands ugly, but I'm worried about the long term prognosis and somewhat dismayed to learn that treatment isn't usually recommended until the disease has progressed to the point of pain and limited mobility. Pics below.

Thanks,

Jen in california

Edited 03/26/16 01:22

It sounds like you may have a combination of events going on in your hands due to the many uses and strain to hands wrists and fingers over many years. I also had the same issues. Not until a finger began to slowly contract did I realize it was DD.

I also have arthritis in my hands, carpel tunnel, wrists always in a brace and loss of thumb strength in both hands. At this point it's managing the different issues while treating the combination of issues with both hands. Rest is a great heeling tool, take a break from over use and wear appropiate hand and wrist braces for support while using them. It has made a huge difference in heeling in my case. As for the nuckle callouses have you seen a dermatologist. There are creams that can be prescribed to help eliminate them as well a laser. The swelling can also be treated by a rheumatologist.

Have you thought about seeing a DD specialist in ur area to obtain a correct definitive diagnosis? If indeed it is DD, or any other number of issues that could be a diagnosis. With a diagnosis then you can weigh the options available to treat the disease that may be something other than DD.

Then there is the family test. DD usually, more than not runs in Families. Handed down in the gene pool. Do you have any relatives that had DD.

Even if you were able to post pics it's hard to tell on these forums if it is DD. The pics are not very clear usually when enlarged they become blurry and if I understood you correctly there was no mention of nodes in the palms. In that case it's difficult to think that it is DD. Really best to see a hand specialist. Cysts are another option, I have many bone spurs on my nuckles. An X-Ray will help in that case.

Either way no matter what the diagnosis it is very difficult when our hands loose mobility & strength. Especially when it comes to the many tasks when we loose grip capability or the ability to do small things that normally are taken for granted. It's an adjustment to manage this disease as well as arthritis. Either way the swelling in your hands can be controlled with medication available.

Sometimes minerals and vit B complex , B-12,6&2, Folic acid, fish oil, can be the culprit causing the swelling as in my case it made a huge difference once I began taking supplements after testing showed a deficiency.

I had Xiaflex injections to treat two fingers with DD contracture after surgery made them worse. The experience was a rude awakening as to how this disease is treated by professionals and surgery made DD more active causing total contracture in my case with two fingers. Then I found a DD specialist in my area. Xiaflex did open and straighten them out, yet they are still deformed weak and cannot make a tight fist. All due to surgery. They will never be the same but at least I can use them again.

I am sharing my diagnosis & experiences that I have gone thru over many years of searching for treatment, pain and the frustration to find an appropriate diagnosis and prognosis, hoping that this will help you and others who have been thru the struggles of dealing with all the complexities that seem to come with DD and arthritis diagnosis.

There is a lot of information on this forum that you can take with you on your next appointment to help assess treatment.
Wishing you the best outcome.

Ok this has grown into a long version of explainations, and my hope is that this could help one person not to have surgery for the first treatment then that is my goal. If I could help spare someone a lot of pain and problems in the long run then mabe it's worth the read.

Keep us posted.

Hi Jen

Welcome to the forum. Have you seen photos of Garrods or Knuckle pads, we have one here http://www.dupuytren-online.info/knuckle_pads.html. Are yours like this? This photo is of quite a mild case, compared to mine at least.

You really need to see a hand doc, who can help with diagnosis. If it's DD maybe it won't get much worse, and there are a range of treatments, shown on our site that are effective in managing the condition. If it is DD don't let the knowledge of it being DD make it seem worse to you when you appear to have managed just fine so far.

If you can't put the photos here , can you share them somewhere else. But as already mentioned diagnosis by Internet is fraught and we are not doctors.

Are your hands at the stage where you not only want a diagnosis but want something to help with symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, loss of function, ...etc? If so what?

Best wishes
SB