That is the frustrating issue... no two people are alike... it helps to read everyone's experiences, but you never know if it will apply to you !

I am not even sure what to do with my left pinkie. I had NA twice on my right pinkie, PIP joint, and both times it came back to the same degree of contraction as before NA within 6 months... Now the left pinkie is starting to bend at the PIP joint... should I assume NA will not last more than 6 months like the right pinkie, or hope that results will be different? what to do?

Edited 03/31/13 20:26

I also believe trauma is part of the dups...with genetic component. Now 72 was diagnosed ten Years ago one hand....left hand and right handed. I bought a condo ten years ago and a lot of work I did myself. Also rose garden...thorns!
Hand surgeon claimed os only choice. Glad I found this forum! Slow growing but now large nodule under ring finger and thumb. Contraction at 20 . To stall this treatment that I haven't decided...use Scar Away tape on nodules...especially when active irritated or inflamed. A nurse had reccomended this and it is tedious but effective. I also feel the nodules cause the contracture...so must treat nodules quickly.I fear any kind of treatment and dread the day of decision!

Dnafan,

Re: your comment "use Scar Away tape on nodules...especially when active irritated or inflamed". What do you mean?

I agree with Callie, it seems that the only thing that helps nodules is RT.

Edited 04/01/13 01:27

dnafan, I have also used adhesive silicone gel sheet products (similar to the product you used). I have used them off and on over the last 1 1/2 years. The only affect I can attest to is a calming affect on the nodules. It isn't supposed to help reduce contractures but, theoretically, might help soften/flatten nodules before contracture begins. This is the product I used http://www.amazon.com/Pedifix-Dexterity-...t/dp/B004G8L3D0

I got the idea from Dr. Eaton's blog here, see #2 http://dupuytrenfoundation.blogspot.com/...les-but-no.html

There is a lot of evidence out there with silicone working to prevent or lessen scarring. Silicone sheets are pretty common after certain types of surgery. So I suppose the angle with DD is the scarring type process going on with the disease. Anyway it can't hurt, it's cheap and fairly easy to use. I just have't used them for more than a month or two at a time.

Also Eaton talks about night time splinting in conjunction with silicone treatment.

Unfortunately, I haven't stuck with it long enough to say it has done anything. I would wear the sheets at night, mostly in the palms. I wore a lightweight, half glove over them to keep them in place while sleeping. After removing them in the morning, the nodules did feel better. Calmer is a good way to describe it. The longest I've worn them might be a month. Then on and off for a while. Then not used them for a couple months, and so forth. Not a good system to get clear results. I did get the feeling the nodules were less tender but other than that I couldn't really say.

I didn't wear the silicone sheets on the fingers. So not much help for you or anyone with this topic but I did want to point out that there was some medical legitimacy to dnafan's scar sheets.