Hello everyone,

I am new and I was wondering if there is a "General" time frame to when fingers begin to contract from DD. I have four nodules on my left palm, and a fifth one comming. I have swelling in the palm, and the nodules seem to grow upward towards the fingers, following the swelling. It feels very puffy, like there is fluid beneath the skin, and it acts as if it is somehow "Feeding" the scar tissue. I am also getting a new lump comming on the bottom side of my middle finger. My right hand is becomming loaded with "Puckered dents" that are becomming deep enough to hold water. I have 3 Ortho Surgeons lined up for later this month & next. One for my feet (I also have Ledderhose), one for my hands, and one for my torn rotor cuff of my right shoulder. My fingers are not bent yet, however, the left middle finger doesn't straighten out as much as the rest on that hand does. Does anyone on here know if I'm heading for contracture soon?, or will this take a very long time to happen?.....Thank you all for any response to my question, Metzie.

Metzie,
Callie is absolutely correct...no way to predict. Every person is different and even left hand and right hand can be different in the same person. Read all you can on this Forum and come back with questions...many will answer. It is good that you are consulting with surgeons in the next months, but don't let anyone tell you that you can't do anything for your Dupuytren's before you have a contracture. There is a possibility of Radiation Therapy (RT) to stop the progression of the disease, especially for your Ledderhose.

Back in November 2009 I decided to have RT on my left hand (for multiple dimples and nodules) and on my left foot (for two marble size hard nodules in the middle of the arch). At that time the nodules on my left hand and left foot were growing and I knew the disease was active because I had constant itching and burning. I believe the RT was very successful, because there has been a decrease in the size of the nodules, the itching and burning completely stopped and I am able to open my left hand and have a bigger span between small finger and thumb. There are a few new nodules on my left hand, but these are definitely outside the area treated by RT. The nodules in my foot are 90% gone.

I agree with Callie, surgery for your Ledderhose should be the last resort.

Larry:

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Really no easy answer: neither for the horoscope nor the horror-scopiest specialist ...

If you see a radiation therapy specialist the fingers start to curl immediately ... If you see a hand surgeon specialist the fingers appear very normal and are hopefully curling soon ... If you see your wife she starts to say, please sratch my back more you are really getting better ... So don't see anybody, but ask this forum; the priests will tell you the Oracle of Dupy, oops Delphi ...



But seriously, do something before they start to curl ... e.g. radiation therapy !

Edited 07/07/12 16:44

Metzie--As others have said, there is no timetable for contracture after the cords and nodules appear. However, almost everyone agrees, the time to have RT is BEFORE contracture begins. That is when it is most effective. Go to personal experiences on this site, and read "John's Story". He has some very good advice.