I know just how you feel. My nodule developed and was extremely painful over a few short weeks. Anything that touched it hurt. I also had pain in my shoulder and arm from it. My cord developed in about 2 months. Total time from a sore spot to a 3 inch cord and puckering was under 6 months. Keep an eye out on it and take pictures weekly to chart the progression. You will lose track of time and what it looks like.

I have posted about my RT and how successful it was. I was diagnosed in March 2009 and told to wait until contracture had occured. I was losing my grip, my ability to play golf and tennis, chopping vegetables, etc.. I also wear fingerless biking gloves with a padded palm and it still helps. All the doctors I saw said to wait. It is easy for them to say wait, but it was seriously interfering in my work and life. I feel that if I had waited even 6 more months I would have missed the opportunity for radiation treatment and would have had to had NA, because of the speed my cord was developing and showiing signs of puckering and drawing in my middle finger.

After RT I have regained the use of my hand back without pain. I will be attemtping golf and tennis this spring. I will be wearing a padded glove so it should be interesting to see my golf score. I am nervous about starting to play again but feel I can start slowly. If I find more golf balls than I lose I will consider the game a success!!

Lori

Edited 05/04/10 00:00

Bronco,

while your family stories might indicate Dupuytren's the fast development of your nodule is very unusual and might point to some other disease. You might consider a second opinion on the cause of your nodule before starting treatment. You might also have a look at this web site, specifically at the section "First rule out other causes" on http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytr..._therapies.html.

Wolfgang

Bronco:

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Hi,
.. Also contrary to what I've read, it developed rather quickly, over the course of a few days.

... 2 brothers 1 sister. Both brothers have relayed stories of lumps on their hands, near the finger joints but not on the palm. Those have not become troublesome for them. They are both older than me. I'm the baby of the family.

Edited 05/04/10 17:55

Hi,

Thank you for your words of support. I'm just feeling kind of lost with this thing. Usually you go to your doctor and leave with some sort of treatment or advice on how to improve the condition. I've never been faced with being sent on my way with nothing more than making another appointment 6 months down the road.

My doctor's first and only diagnosis was Dupuytren's. I don't recall him thinking it was a cyst or infection of some sort.

I'm not waiting until October to go back to him. I actually have an appointment for a biopsy on an unrelated matter involving removal of a spot that's changed colour recently. I will press him for further treatment options, introduce the ganglion cyst possibility, and ask where I can go for a second opinion.

The weightlifting glove is the best thing I could have done for my condition and would recommend it for anyone else who feels pain or discomfort from a palm nodule.

Thanks again for your support.

I'm new here and can't offer much in the way of treatment options but what I can do is keep all of you in my thoughts and wish everyone here all the best in seeking treatments and managing your Dupuytren's.

Bronco,

If after a second opinion you are diagnosed with Dupuytrens, keep a close watch on your hand and look for signs of activity, i.e. burning, itching, dimpling on the palm or fingers, cords, additional nodules or bumps. If there is activity, consider RT before you get any contractures. Don't let any Drs. or surgeons tell you to wait until your fingers are contracted. RT can be very effective in stopping the progression of Dupuytrens.