When you send pictures of your hands to an NA practitioner, take different colored sharpies and draw lines and circles where the cords and nodules are and where the scars are from any prior surgeries. That seems to help

well -I just got back from my PT appt. (for my wrist surgery rehab)My phystherapist confirmed that since she first saw my hand *2 weeks* ago (with 1 nodule only), I have now 11 nodules and 6 developing cords....no contracture so far, but can you measure the thumb being pulled in towards the pinkie? As I was finishing up at PT, a lady came in with a recent fasciotomy (her 2nd on ring and pinkie fingers). It was really gruesome looking.

I tried to get in to see my CHS this week instead of waiting until my appt. on the 20th, but he was overbooked.

I will call Dr. Eaton's office after I post this.

I am amazed and appalled at the pace of the damage to my hand.

Thanks for letting me vent :)

cat

Tommy:

Please forgive this Newbie question, but what exactly are Nodules?

Are they the beginings of DD cords, or are they something else?

Mark

Well, it looks like everyone is in consensus! I spoke with Eaton's office yesterday and was told to wait for contracture. I also went ahead and emailed Dr. Denkler directly. I was soo impressed that he responded within an hour or so - wow - cool doc. He also does not usually do NA without contracture but found the swiftness of my DC to be "unusual". He suggests looking in the Kennalog injections and/or Aldara cream. I have been reading up on the forum on both...
Patience in not my strongest attribute (HA), but it looks like I will have to just wait and see. At the speed this is moving, it probably won't be too long until contracture... Both doc's also wanted my recent radius and ulna fractures/surgery to have time to "calm down".

-one side note - since my diagnosis - I have learned that there is DC on my side of the family and on my husband's - hope my kid's don't ever break their arms...

thanks everyone
cat :)

cat:

Yes, we are fortunate indeed to have these great MD's on our side (noninvasive).

cat, as a young woman your profile is not the best for this disease going to sleep any time soon. My Dups was triggered by injury as well and it just keeps rolling along. I would do "whatever it takes" to slow this down. The Kenalog injections have been known to work for some. If I were in your shoes I'd look into radiation therapy as well. Read the thread "Radiotherapy".

While this is mostly done in Germany, there are some places in the US. This would be inconvenient as heck, but statistically a young woman's prognosis with Dups is not the best. I'm not trying to upset you, but I think this is info you should have. (Please confirm this with Denkler/Eaton.)

That's why I'd be proactive as an angry Rhinoceros. Don't just wait for the contractions.