You both make valid points: Collagenase; if and when approved should be our prime method of relief since it causes virtually no trauma and performs well. As pointed out by me on previous occasions, Collagenase must be administered by carefully trained individuals. Surgeons that have used the enzyme have provided the aforementioned warning.

I've followed the postings on this site for a long time, and have seen remarkably little about Kennalog injections. The pros and cons have not been fully debated here. For those of us who have a long history of nodules, but no further progression, NA or surgery are not solutions. Any of you who have had experience with this treatment, please post comments.

Hi PS and Tom,
Apparently the web site we recently posted re: nodule
injections has been difficult to reach. Try :
http://answers.google.com/answers then click onto health
and then type in dupuytrens and search. Also on Dr. Ketchum's website he references actually using the inject-
ions to prolong surgery for many patients. (Apparently w/
good results) We asked an Ortho Surgeon about injections
and he said that he has performed them for some patients,
but said he "didn't know if they would help or not." When
pressed he made no offer to do these. We found a Derm-
otogist who was willing to do the injections. She posted
to a dermo forum and got some suggestions. The majority
recommended the use of kennalog which is what she had used.
Also called Triamcinolone Acetonide. Dr. Ketchum published
an article on these same injections in the Journal of Hand
Surgery Nov. 25, 2000. Also the European Dr. who just
did Richard's NA said this is what he used for Ledderhose
in feet. At any rate, for Richard the injections have
accomplished exactly what we had hoped for. His nodules
have decreased and /or gone away. Two that had 3-4 inject-
ions went away, some had 1-2 injections and flattened and
softened, but he then had NA and has yet to resume his
scheduled injections. All of these were done 3-4 wks apart
and each nodule would get 2 or 3 injections each time.
One of the advantages he had was his skin stopped itching.
He had intense itching before. (Apparently the nodules stretched the skin). Good luck,
Mary Beth

Wow! In last few days our insurance agent, attorney and
cardiologist have thought that NA made sense. They all
asked, "Why can't you get it in the US?" Cardiologist
added verapamil to Richard's program. We
explained the topical version that he's using for Ledderhose to him and we felt an oral
version couldn't hurt. As mentioned in previous post, have
only been using topical for a few months and plan to give
it awhile and then post results.

Kenny,
You are right, Richard does have dupuytrens to the
degree that everyone prays they won't. The 4 previous
surgeries are a factor in that. You posted that you have had
two previous surgeries, one to hand, one to foot, and are
worse. Since you are considering injections in
the future, it was interesting to us that in Europe, the
doctors treat Ledderhose w/ injections of IL kennalog. In-
stead of surgery they inject the nodules. This may be an
avenue for you to look into. Good luck,
Richard & Mary Beth