34year old male, active hard climber for 15 years, upright bass player for ~10, watchmaker for even longer. These hands are so important to me. For a long time I thought this was callous, but early Feb I noticed some pain in the palm and what I thought was callous was now very big nodules. They really seemed to grow immensely overnight to the point where it's actually painful. Pics included. I've read so many articles and peoples stories. I even talked to a Dr. about it online and he is convinced its early sign of DD. No contraction yet... Hand specialist all around the states aren't available until August and September! I can't believe this. I just want to get those darn steroid shots and relieve this so I can continue my career. Any advice? Will putting the early treatment off 6 month cause more damage? I haven't been diagnosed yet but I am fairly certain giving my lifestyle. Plus my dad had it and my body also synthesis collagen in excess (I have to get steroid shots to prevent scars from turning to keloids). Can someone give me some solace? The bumps are tender to the touch and I am afraid climbing and playing the upright bass isn't helping this case. Thanks!
Bumps tender to touch are a sign, if it is DD, that it's at an active and inflamed phase. A steroid triamcinolone shot might help and calm things down, but you could also be a candidate for RT although relatively young. Given you state you are an active hard climber, I do think that despite describing clear indication of DD you need to get a a confirmed diagnosis from an experienced hand specialist, experienced in treating DD or climbers injuries, and pretty quickly since you also state the lumps have grown quite recently. You don't say where in the states you are, but there are leading specialists on the east coast and on west coast, who I would reach out to by phone, even it's just for an early video consultation, then see if you can get an appointment to see them before September for that diagnosis, advice and maybe even recommendations for treatment. I would use this list even though its listed under NA practitioners. https://www.dupuytren-online.info/na-list-north-america/
Thank you very much for the quick response. Yes the bumps are quite tender when in contact--I have to get this diagnosed as soon as I can because it's very distracting. I am currently living in CO (I see there's a specialist in Denver!) however I grew up in the central coast of CA so West coast could be an option as well. I'm going to reach out to one of these clinics. I appreciate the link you have provided. I am so grateful of this forum and community--it has been such a resourceful outlet. I'll keep this page updated and document this scenario for anyone else that is in need
Thank you very much for the quick response. Yes the bumps are quite tender when in contact--I have to get this diagnosed as soon as I can because it's very distracting. I am currently living in CO (I see there's a specialist in Denver!) however I grew up in the central coast of CA so West coast could be an option as well. I'm going to reach out to one of these clinics. I appreciate the link you have provided. I am so grateful of this forum and community--it has been such a resourceful outlet. I'll keep this page updated and document this scenario for anyone else that is in need
Hi again
Looked at the photo's and imho could be indeed early DD. But IANAD and you need an experienced doc to palpate that hand. If it is hopefully you can gain some years by calming it down with the steroid shot(s), but that does not always help everyone. For many people it goes in cycles, active, calm, and this may be the case for you too. But if it continues to progress such that it might affect your sport or activities, start looking into who, where , could be someone to consult for RT, although they may consider you to be too young. I would keep an objective track by taking, say, monthly photos, and record any symptoms looking for associations with other things, but don't obsess over it. There are some risk factors, mainly genetics, see here and see if any apply to you https://dupuytrens-society.org.uk/information/risk-factors/ You can search the forum for links with climbing or other activities such as weightlifting. The view seems to be carry on but with some caution or hand protection (for weights). There are active FB groups that may be useful, for DD and climbers maybe on reddit too. But be cautioned about all the anecdotal 'cures' especially where you have to spend lots of money. I wrote this on another thread: "There are lots of other unproven remedies that people report help them in the early stages including forms of massage, magnesium, oils, vitamin E, cbd for pain, DMSO, splinting, hot/cold soaks, etc. They are described or discussed in the forum, and if you try them have an open mind that they are mostly anecdotal and keep a firm grip on your spending on 'snake oil' cures. " and the list of things people try has grown. See the treatment tab on our website for a more considered view. https://www.dupuytren-online.info/
Hi, I would also suggest to look into eating healthy, unprocessed food. Even though it is impossible to link this to preventing the DD progress, I would highly advise a well balanced, if possible Vegan or Vegetarian Diet. Eating meat is increasing inflammation in our body, which obviously might increase the inflammatory of the DD.
I had a surgery around 2 years ago which straightend my left pinkie. So far I have no reoccurrence, though I have small phases of pain in my hand. I have been Vegan for 5 years now and think it might help keeping the DD in check, even though this is highly anecdotal of course, as everyone's DD is different.
But I think the benefits of eating healthy will benefits you in even more ways, so it might be something for you to consider. Oh yeah and 2-3 prunes every day.
Good luck and I wish you all the best and hope it won't get any more severe than what we can see on the pictures.
Thanks for the solace--I'll give an update since it's been several weeks since my initial post. The nodules are still present and very dense feeling. I haven't been doing my normal climbing routine or practicing on the upright bass as much because it seems to irritate my hand afterward. Consequently there isn't as much pain when my hand makes contact with doors, steering wheel, etc, but it still feels very uncomfortable and distracting.
I did confirm that my dad had Dupuytren's and a successful surgery for it several years ago. Unlike my case, he mentioned he never noticed nodules forming. Instead he noticed the cords in his palm but mentioned it was very slow forming and that it never caused him any pain.
I was able to get on a cancellation list and swooped into an earlier orthopedic/hand surgeon specialist appointment in Denver. This is now going to be in a couple weeks vs September so I am very thankful ! Hoping I can get more answers and a plan of action. In either case, I will update this thread in the following weeks, thanks everybody.
The orthopedic confirmed Dupuytren’s. He seemed knowledgeable and experienced with Dupuytren’s, however he did not want to give me steroid shots to the nodules as he is afraid it will cause issues elsewhere during the early stages. He mentioned the nodules could continue to grow in other areas of my hand. He also mentioned there’s not much I can do now until contracture.. the nodules are really uncomfortable, I need to find another doctor but I’m afraid it’ll take many months again. This has been a disheartening experience. Maybe I will have to travel to see a specialist outside Colorado? I’m on Medicaid here, is there a way I can pay out of pocket for someone to treat this ?
As someone who has had 3 surgeries for Dupuytren's contracture and has experienced quite a lot of discomfort with the nodules in the palm of the hand before and during the contracture of the fingers, and of course the more acute discomfort after each surgery, can I recommend the use of a cycling glove when driving or doing any work where you have to grip things?
I always found those nodules uncomfortable but a cycling glove has padding in the palm and I found them a great help.
Even 7 weeks after a dermofasciectomy for DC in my right hand, I still need a cycling glove to drive comfortably and I insert a bit more padding inside the palm of the glove as well and will continue to use it as long as necessary.
I hope you might be one of the lucky ones whose nodules in the palm never progress to finger contraction!
I am happy with my straight pinkie but it sure is a tiresome journey to get there and I hope I never have a 4th episode of this.
In my experience, no treatment is really offered at the early stage of palm nodules so I've just had to put up with it and I've definitely found them uncomfortable like you and sometimes itchy as well!
I appreciate the responses and shared sentiment. I thought I’d share another update. I’m going to try another orthopedic doctor who mentions experience with Dupuytren’s. Thankfully my appointment is mid-June. I’m hoping it goes much better than my previous doctor who claimed nothing could be done in the early stages. After reading some success with early stages, I’m keeping my hopes up. I’ve continued to play upright bass, that doesn’t seem to aggravate it. However I’ve had to step away from specific climbing projects because the compression moves on my left hand is really uncomfortable on the nodules. Crimping seems to be okay as there is no direct surface contact. Will attach photos, the bumps are pretty large now. Potential chord present as well. No contracture. Getting used to this but still very down about it all.
My husband, a trumpet player, had Xiaflex w/maniupulation on his right hand a year ago. Extremely painful and no success. Recently, he had Softwave tissue regeneration therapy along with Graston technique and has had fabulous results. He has also started wearing a brace as much as possible to keep working his fingers into the right position.
Our daughter is a Radiation Therapist, so he consulted doctors that did not provide a lot of encouragement for that option. I have not seen Softwave therapy receive a lot of attention, so have decided to find places to share his experience in hopes of helping others.
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