Dr Eaton's "Dupuytren's FAQs and facts" page has links to two studies which show a link between frozen shoulder and Dupuytren's. In one of these studies, carried out at a hospital in Exeter, England, out of 58 patients with frozen shoulder, more than half had Dupuytren's too.

In my case, the frozen shoulder appeared at a stressful time when my mother was dying. Four visits to a chiropractor had no effect on my shoulder except to make it worse. But surprisingly, a visit to a spiritual healer had a remarkable effect - not the first couple of times, it is true, but the third time when I was seen by an experienced healer.

I'm a 55 year old male and have Dupuytren’s in the little finger of my left hand. It developed about 3 – 5 years ago. In September 2005, I started with my second frozen shoulder (left one this time). I had a right frozen shoulder about 10 years ago. My experience is that rigorous physical therapy does restore range of motion. It can be challenging due to the discomfort (pain) when it's being manipulated but it works.

Hamstrings: I have an extremely tight right hamstring now (cannot claim a correlation with Dupuytren's or frozen shoulder) but attribute it to reduced time doing yoga. My physical therapist for my shoulder tells me that I just need to stretch the hamstring typically after exercising.

Well, I have been diagnosed with Dupuytren's, but am remaining a bit sceptical of that diagnosis. I do also have problems such as those that have been related here with my feet, and my shoulders (but not 'frozen shoulder.'

Anyway - the Dupuytren part:
The 'pinky' finger of my left hand is bent about 45-50 degrees at the PIP. The finger is not bent at all at the knuckle joint. There is a lump on that finger in-between those two joints. A plastic/hand surgeon I saw did not think the lump was related to the DC.

I can detect no pronounced 'bands' of thickend fascia in my palms. The surgeon I consulted suggested I have the surgery sooner rather than later, and that I was not a candidate for (NA or) percutaneous fasciotomy, or whatever he called it.

I had seen another hand surgeon, and had actually scheduled surgery (he would have cut my hand in a zig-zag pattern from the 'heel' of the hand up into the pinky finger, and removed the palmar facsia. That surgury was cancelled due to other events on my part.

A question I have is how can a contraction in the Palmar Fascia (SP?) bend my finger at the PIP without bending it at the knuckle?

Also, I read somewhere (online, I think) that the fascia in a person with DC is chemically different than normal. If that is the case shouldn't there be a test to see if DC is actually present?

Regarding my feet: I have lumps on the arches of both feet. When I saw a podiatrist about it, he believed it was caused by scarring after tears in the ligaments (or tendons?) He said it could be addressed surgically, but didn't recommend that. He suggested arch supports. I now wonder if it is something related to DC.

I also have pain in my shoulders, and obvious limited mobility in one shoulder, but I can lift both arms over my head with no problem. If I try to touch my fingertips behind my back by reaching over one shoulder, and up behind my back with the other hand, I can do it on one side, but not the other.

I know I have mentioned a number of problems here. This was prompted by the current discussion. I welcome any knowledgable insight from the reader/posters of this list.

Thank you,
Steve

PS I am also questioning the wisdom of continuing my alchohol consumption, and use of Glucosamine.

Don:

Don: sorry about first two posts. Anyway, were you equally satisfied with both surgeons for NA? Thanks, Jey..