I should think, from first principles of anatomy and where the affected tendons are anchored, that it is rather unlikely that shoulder pain is a direct effect of DC.

It's reassuring to meet you all. I hope for all our sakes that relief comes soon. I have been newly diagnosed with D with an icky lump in my hand and tightness to my elbow. But I've had a dull pain behind my shoulder blade for years, and now it all seems to make sense. Has anyone heard of a NA treatment for the shoulder too? I have decided to avoid the surgery at all costs. Thanks for sharing, Susan

I injured my shoulder 6 months ago skiing. Made the mistake of not getting immediate physical therapy. After 2 months, I was in more pain then the day of the accident. Physical Therapy in month 3 and month 4 helped, but only returned about 25% of lost motion. Have seen Ortho, and he recommends operation where the tissue is physically torn while I am "under". More physical therapy does not seem to be the answer. They pushed me to tears every time I went in. Is there another option other than surgery? Is collagen only available in clinical trials for frozen shoulder?

I've had mild DC for several years. A few years ago I mysteriously developed severe pain in my shoulder. The pain was so intense I thought I might pass out a couple times. Pain pills were useless, including narcotics. Doctors took x-rays but could find nothing wrong. I had to sleep sitting up, if I could sleep. This went on for weeks with little improvement.

Then one day I remembered an old remedy for pain ... the heating pad. After a couple days heating pad therapy, the pain left as quickly and mysteriously as it came, and never returned. Maybe this had something to do with Dupytrens, and maybe it didn't.

In the mid ninties I tore a rotator cuff. At the time I was very involved in theater working mostly as a fly-master. [For those who don't know, this is the person in charge of the crew who moves sets vertically on the stage. It involves a very good grip, strong shoulders, and a lot of activity - as it is all brute muscle.]

At about the same time I developed very bad Dupuytrens in my left hand which required surgery on two fingers as well as Carpal Tunnel in the same hand which also required surgery.

Could the bad grip and weak wrist caused shoulder problems? Quite possibly in the opinion of my surgeon and my neurologist. However neither implied and direct connection.

Since then I have been a lot more careful about that type of physical activity when my grip is weak, and have developed no further problems.