I had surgery for trigger finger on my right hand in December, and shortly thereafter got very large amounts of scar tissue beneath the incision site which my surgeon diagnosed as Dupuytren's. I guess it is presenting atypically - progressing more sideways than up and down. It's beneath the ring and middle in the right hand. I also have a small bump on the left, beneath the ring, which is also Dupuytren's.

I am only 30 years old, and I am rather scared about what I am hearing about this disease. I am concerned about my ability to work as the disease progresses and the effectiveness of treatments.

Right now, I am really struggling with whether or not to have surgery to correct the trigger on the left hand. I am currently thinking that I should do physical therapy on the right and see if I can increase the extension - learn exercises to try and help keep the Dupuytren's tissue flexible and extended as best I can - before I go on to have it on the left. I used to be able to flex my palm backwards about 40 degrees - now it hurts in the ring to make it flat.

Many people in the forum seem to have had adverse reactions to surgery, so I am wondering if I should put off the trigger surgery as long as possible to avoid exacerbating the Dupuytren's on my left. I think it can get much worse before I decide that it really needs to be fixed.

I know that you are all not my doctor - I'm not looking for medical advice, just patient opinions.

Thanks so much!

Thanks! To clarify, my problem is, I will need to have the surgery for the trigger finger, at some point - it will be unavoidable. I am very interested in the radiation; I have only had DD for about a month, but on my right hand, I have nodules 1.4" long and about the diameter of a pencil.

My concern is that the surgery for the trigger will worsen the DD by a lot. And so I have been thinking I should put the trigger surgery off for as long as I can - until I really need it, to be able to use my hand. It sounds like that would be the best idea? And perhaps I can pursue the RT in the meantime - the only US docs I know about who do it (I live in the US) are a bit far from me, but if I can save up enough money to pay for it in another state, I am willing to travel.

Thanks for your input!

mccn:

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Thanks! To clarify, my problem is, I will need to have the surgery for the trigger finger, at some point -

My concern is that the surgery for the trigger will worsen the DD by a lot. And so I have been thinking I should put the trigger surgery off for as long as I can - until I really need it, to be able to use my hand. It sounds like that would be the best idea? And perhaps I can pursue the RT in the meantime - Thanks for your input!

Thank you for your discussion. I have Dupuytrends develped in my right hand at the ring finger and beginning at the middle finger. It is also just beginning at the ring finger of my left hand. Additionally, on the right hand my middle finger and thumb have just become trigger fingers.

I understand there are shots that are used to relax trigger fingers, but I have not heard of radiotherapy for this. Is surgery the only 'fix' for Dupuytrends? (At 72, I wouldn't want to have multiple surgeries as has had by Newman.)

Hi Australia Calling. I had RT for the treatment of Dupuytrens and not Trigger Finger. I have a feeling that the Radiotherapy treatment softened the surrounding tissue and possibly allowed a bit more movement, which prevented the tendon from moving out of alignment. I was informed by an Upper limb surgeon that many patients with Dupuytren can develope Trigger Finger. NA is the way to go . From the reading I've done I believe the treatment of trigger finger is a simple procedure. Do a google search on Trigger Finger -it is interesting.

Edited 04/24/10 11:36