I THINK I noticed that my hand ached when I went for over a week without my night splint. It even ached up into my wrist and arm. I hadn't noticed it before and it hasn't ached again. I'm now alert to watching for patterns, but I'm not going to deliberately not wear my night splint to see if my hand will start aching. Anything like this that we can see patterns, maybe it will help us to develop treatment plans or ways to beat back DD.

I am positive that RT stopped progression of my DD and that was my goal. No new nodules have formed in the irradiated area, cords continue to tighten across my palm but it took about 2 years for it to tighten/contract after RT the same amount as it did the 4 months before RT. I'll take that. What drove me nuts was the crawly sensations just about all of the time. After RT, no more of that.

I can open most plastic water bottles now and I couldn't before RT. (Note: I almost use plastic water bottles because of the pollution it causes.) While my grip has improved, I'm sure it will never be as strong as it was before DD. Just like my hand will never be without the little puckers and bumps.

My only pain has been the slight aches and each time a new nodule forms, the first thing I noticed is a little soreness. Now I am able to think, "Oh, a new nodule is introducing itself." It stops being sore within about a week.

The splint will not stop contraction.

After NA last July, I got a prescription for a night splint from Dr. Denkler. It was custom made by a local prosthetic office. He was excellent. Medicare paid for it and the prostheticist said it was because it prevents contracture.

My experience was that by the time I got it, my hand was getting tighter and it really stretched my hand quite tightly at first. After I wore it a couple of weeks, I realized that it wasn't tight on my hand anymore. I went back twice to have it adjusted. One time to tweak the way it felt on my little finger. The second time was to get it bent backwards rather than flat to stretch my naturally hyperextended fingers. The flat splint would be fine for most people. He was more than happy to make the adjustments.

I recently realized that my hyperextension is an advantage with DD. I also have to make sure that when they measure the degree of contracture, they need to calculate the 5-10 degrees of hyperextension, because if my fingers lie flat, there is contracture.

I now have pictures of my splint on my computer and in an email. I'm getting closer to getting them posted on this site.

It is my understanding that the splint is influential for the support formations (muscles, tendons and scar tissue) to maintain proper position. The contracture from Dupuytren's might be delayed somewhat (by a splint), but it is not sustainable for preventing the cell structure causing contracture.

If I had worn a splint on my right hand for the last fifteen years I might have been convinced that the splint prevented contracture. But, I didn't wear a splint and the fingers stayed straight for fifteen years without a splint, even though dermal pits/nodules were present.

Edited 06/06/12 17:06

Wolfgang,
I agree that using a splint after a procedure might be very helpful. The helpful part (I believe) is that the splint helps retrain/maintain the adjacent tissues/structures that have been influenced by the previous long term contracture. The quick release of the contracture is probably a mild shock to adjacent structures. But, that advantage of the splint is totally different than the use of a splint to prevent contracture (again, just my opinion).

Then there is the recent study that you cited that shows no material positive effects from using a splint following a procedure. My point would be that if an individual would like to use a splint, go for it. But, I don't think the splint should be presented as a cure/remedy for stopping contracture.