DC Treatments and hand strength |
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08/03/2007 21:40
Ethan
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08/03/2007 21:40
Ethan
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DC Treatments and hand strength
Hi, I'm 36 and an avid/serious/intense rock climber of 15 years (climb 5.14- or French 8b/+, for those who climb) and have early stage DC in both hands. No contracture, but nodules for ring/pinky and a developing cord in my right hand. I am very passionate about climbing and am concerned (and curious) about what the effects on hand strength/performance are from NA or radiation therapy (RT). RT sounds very attractive in that it stops the disease, but collateral damage is a concern. What kind of post NA recovery do people achieve in terms of hand strength? Are people feeling better about RT after Dr. Seegenschmeidt's 10 year longitudinal study? I have lots of questions as I just discovered the site and just discoverd (after the recent NYT article) that NA and RT even exist, so I'm trying to figure out my next step. I consulted with a Dr. Keith Denkler in Larkspur (I'm in Marin in California) who is a CHS trained in NA in France, and we came up with RT as the best option at this point. Any helpful advice would be welcome.
Thanks,
Ethan
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08/04/2007 00:54
raynora
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08/04/2007 00:54
raynora
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Hey Ethan,
I just finished seven treatments of radiotherapy spread out over two weeks. I have felt no side effects whatsoever, and no alteration of hand strength. I am a string bass player and I have been playing all through the treatment period. If there was any change in my hands, I would know it.
The strength of radiation is much less than they might use to treat a tumor, so the concern about side effects should not stop you from going ahead. As for the effectiveness of the treatment, the numbers look pretty good.
As for myself, I don't feel anything yet, but as my doctor reminded me today - the radiation will continue to cause cell death in the nodules and cords for some time - so it will take awhile to really know what it is doing. Even if it is just stopping or slowing further growth, it is worth trying. Just my two cents.
Good luck with it!
raynora
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08/04/2007 03:15
Ethan
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08/04/2007 03:15
Ethan
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Raynora- Thanks for the feedback. Are you experiencing the "dryness" people talk about in your palm skin? I'd love to hear about any changes you notice over the next few weeks, and I'm glad to hear it sounds like the treatment is going well for you, your hands, and your music. Are you working with someone who is very experienced in RT for Dupuytren's?
Ethan
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08/04/2007 14:13
raynora
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08/04/2007 14:13
raynora
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Ethan,
I have not had any dryness yet, or any skin irritation. It's hot and humid in New York, so it's hard to have dry skin!. I will let you know if I experience anything changing over the next few weeks. I have a very early case of DC - a few nodules in my left palm. There is some thickening of the tissue on the base of my little finger but no cord and no contraction.
From what Dr. Cuttino told me, this procedure might bring about a softening of the affected tissue, but it is more about the prevention of further growth. My hand functions well, so I would be happy with holding just this off.
My doctor in New York had NO experience treating DC with radiation. I was his first patient, but because of this site and the release of his info, he is getting more calls for this treatment. I would have gone down to Virginia to see Dr. Cuttino, but she assured me that it would not be worth the trouble if I could get a local radiologist to do it. She said the procedure was very straightforward and that she would be happy to help.
By the time I arrived for my first consult the doctor had already spoken with Dr. Cuttino, trade e-mails with her and had read some of the studies about radiation therapy for DC. He took a lot of care to do just what she does and I have no concern that what I received in New York is similar to what I could have gotten in Virginia, or Germany. My doctor was fairly open minded after talking to Dr. Cuttino and I guess that is what is key for you if you want to find a local radiologist: finding someone who is open and willing to follow a protocol established by other doctors.
Wishing you good luck... Dr. Cuttino's info is on this site and I hoping she would lend a hand to share specifics.
raynora
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08/21/2007 19:12
sjohn317
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08/21/2007 19:12
sjohn317
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Hi ethan, I just got diagnosed myself and have some contracture in the pinky finger. I also enjoy rock climbing, not nearly as avid as you, mostly indoor walls 5.10 type stuff. Have you had anyone relate the disease to the rock climbing have you heard of anyone making a correlation between the disease and the sport.
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08/21/2007 19:34
Wolfgangnot registered
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08/21/2007 19:34
Wolfgangnot registered
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Dupuytren's and rock climbing
Just re-posting a comment from the POST OP thread:
Logan AJ, Mason G, Dias J, Makwana N. "Can rock climbing lead to Dupuytren's disease?" Br J Sports Med. 39 (2005) p 639-44 . They find nearly 20 percent of rock climbers with Dupuytren. This is based on a questionnaire and it might well be that predominantly those with Duputyren's returned the questionnaire but still a high percentage, at least for an UK average.
You can slo search in this forum: click on Search in the tool bar at the top. Search in topics and answers.
Wolfgang
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08/22/2007 03:40
Ethan
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08/22/2007 03:40
Ethan
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Thanks for the reference, Wolfgang, I think I've seen that before. sjohn-- as I understand it there is a theory that some kind of hand trauma can be the start of the onset of dupuytren's syndrome, but you have to have the genetic predisposition to having the syndrom, which is possibly an over-active wound healing response with the fascia in your hand. I've run into other climbers who have it too. It's hard to know whether it was brought on early from the climbing or was going to happen anyway. I still hope to continue climbing, but I am seriously considering radiation therapy as a way to slow the progression down. It's possible that climbing exacerbates it I suppose, but it becomes a quality of life issue to just give climbing.
Hope the info helps.
Ethan
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08/22/2007 15:25
sjohn317
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08/22/2007 15:25
sjohn317
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Thanks ethan and wolfgang, I recieved the diagnosis on my hand about a month ago now. Since being on the internet and this site I have increased my knowledge base quite a bit (from absolutely nothing). I am going back to the Doctor who diagnosed my hand for a follow up in two weeks. One thing I have noticed is that rock climbing does not cause pain.
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08/23/2007 10:20
Craggynot registered
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08/23/2007 10:20
Craggynot registered
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Quote:
I've run into other climbers who have it too. It's hard to know whether it was brought on early from the climbing or was going to happen anyway. I still hope to continue climbing, but I am seriously considering radiation therapy as a way to slow the progression down. It's possible that climbing exacerbates it I suppose, but it becomes a quality of life issue to just give climbing....
.... up? Climbing at your quoted level, that doesn't seem likely. I've been a climber, off and on, for 40 years. At 60 I climb upto US 5.10c and French 6b+. As I have probably pointed out before, DC has only affected my jamming ability (I live in UK close to gritstone -jams needed) but on continental sports climbs even a last-year contracture of 90deg+ on the little finger gave no problem. After surgery (January) on that finger (earlier NA treatment didn't help too much) I can now stick a hand in a crack, and expect to take it out again (at 90deg it worked like a Friend, only more difficult to remove). In my case DC is hereditary, and neither my dad or sister were/are climbers. I've met a few climbers with it, and what little research there is might suggest a linking, but that's tentative. I don't know about US, but over here there are increasing numbers of older climbers now, so Its perhaps likely that more will exhibit DC. Have the treatment, keep climbing. You KNOW it makes sense
Cheers
Richard
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08/23/2007 11:55
Wolfgangnot registered
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08/23/2007 11:55
Wolfgangnot registered
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Re: DC Treatments and hand strength
Yeah, never let Dupuyten spoil your life, that would be the worst case scenario!
Wolfgang
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