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Just Diagnosed Seeking Advice
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01/04/2006 23:58
Steve

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01/04/2006 23:58
Steve

not registered

Just Diagnosed Seeking Advice

About 8 weeks ago I noticed a small lump in my left palm alighned with my middle finger. Yesterday I was diagnosed with Dupuytren's disease.

So far I still seem to have full range of motion. The doctors examine didn't find any other signs in my right hand or feet. The Dr. expalined the "flat palm" test and said that, when I fail it, to come back and see him. He breifly explained the condition to me and I've surfed the Internet and now have some understanding.

I am seeking advice from those who have experience. Is there anything I should be doing? Anything I should know?

BTW, I'm a 57 yr. old male in good physical condition. I knew all my grandparents and none had the condition. I am of Russian decent, not quite a Viking!

Thanks in advance for educating a newbie!

01/04/2006 23:30
jimh 
01/04/2006 23:30
jimh 
Steve Seeking Info.

The Vikings were all through Russia. The "Rus" people, from which the name "Russian" is derrived, are generally described as Vikings. Welcome to the club!

There is nothing you can or should be doing about Dupuytren's disease. It may never turn into anything serious; it's progression is unpredictable. Read up on it but don't start losing sleep.

01/04/2006 23:37
SusieQ 
01/04/2006 23:37
SusieQ 
Steve Seeking Info.

Hi Steve,

I think the most important thing you can do is familiarize yourself with a procedure called Needle Aponeurotomy (N.A.) Or perhaps by now you already have.

N.A. is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure for Dupuytrens which effectively breaks the cords which cause contraction of the fingers, thereby releasing them. The procedure has been available in France for many years with an excellent safety record and was introduced in the U.S. in 2003 by Dr. Charles Eaton. Since then a number of other doctors have begun offering N.A. to their patients as an alternative to open hand surgery.

There's a list of doctors who offer N.A. under the Forum topic: ABOUT NEEDLE APONEUROTOMY FOR DC.

There you'll find websites from many of the doctors with a wealth of information.

You may not require treatment for a long time, or ever. By the time you might, N.A. will probably be much more widely available in the U.S. than it is now, because it is proving to be a superior choice for many with Dupuytrens.

With info. about N.A. under your belt, I hope you will be able to relax about your Dupuytrens until/unless it becomes a problem for you, and then you can make an informed choice about treatment.

Best of luck!
Susan

01/04/2006 23:12
BCB

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01/04/2006 23:12
BCB

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Just Diagnosed Seeking Advice

Hi Steve - I just posted my very successful procedure with Dr. Denkler in Larkspur, CA.....I had the hospital operation two years ago and the Needle Aponevrotomy last week. The first took six months plus to recover at a cost of about $15,000.....with the NA procedure I was back playing golf in 3 days and the cost was $350.....you can read my full report under "Just had NA with Dr. Denkler"....there are two reports under that topic. Best to you......BCB

01/06/2006 23:04
Steve

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01/06/2006 23:04
Steve

not registered

Thanks, and....

Thank you for your posts. I have read a lot on DC and I AM sleeping well!!

I do have a couple more questions:

I recently started working out on a rowing machine. Are there any thoghts on if that could worsen the prospects?

For the past year or so I have had some pain in the DIP and PIP of the same finger as the DC. I had attributed it to minor arthritic pain. Is it related?



01/07/2006 23:31
J Ann

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01/07/2006 23:31
J Ann

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Exactly

Steve,

You will find conflicting reports on gripping exercise
and how it effects your hands. I am a 37 year old very active person. When I was recently diagnosed I to was worried about exercise and diet and how it effected the DC. I stopped all gripping exercise and changed to a vegan diet and my DC came back 2 months after surgery and I was hungry and out of shape. So I decided to start eating a little meat and exercise and run. The health issues that non exercise will cause for me did more damage. My doctor said it can't hurt anything. I just try to grip with my good hand and the 3 good fingers I have left on the other hand. best of luck!!!
J Ann

01/07/2006 23:21
JERRY 
01/07/2006 23:21
JERRY 
Exactly

Just a bit of advice. I have continued with a strenuous regimen of exercise and do not care about the consequences. I have had to have NA performed on my hand 4 years after my first procedure. So what; there is no trauma from NA and I would rather have the procedure year after year then curtail my lifestyle.

01/08/2006 23:41
Frances

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01/08/2006 23:41
Frances

not registered

Exactly

Jerry,

You've expessed in plain language what many of us feel. It is this change in patient attitude that is helping to sway opinion about NA within the medical community. I think surgeons will feel more comfortable learning/performing NA if they know that their patients are accepting of the fact that the curvature will return and treatment will need to be performed again in the future. Like someone said, treating DC will become like going to the dentist regularly - and that's just fine.

Frances

01/08/2006 23:33
Randy H.

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01/08/2006 23:33
Randy H.

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Exactly

JERRY, Francis,

*Exactly*. Recurrence has always been seen as such a big problem that about 50 years ago the CHS community settled in on fasciectomy, and then added skin graphs, as the procedure most likely to stop/slow the disease. Unfortunately, fasciectomy has failed to live up to it's promise, as recurrence is *still* a problem. For many, it hasn't worked. I can't speak for others, but personally having had *both* OS and NA, I'd much rather go though 20 NAs than the trauma of a single OS. This is a no brainer.

Most important is that now, I have become *far* less concerned about *my* bilateral disease. I don't stress. I'm now more concerned about those who are still in the dark about NA. Plus, no one should have to get on a *airplane* to have such a simple procedure.

01/10/2006 23:38
stev

not registered

01/10/2006 23:38
stev

not registered

searching for NA surgeon

Any advice regarding how to contact the French surgeons who perform the NA procedure or is there anyone yet who is carrying out the NA in England or Scotland? Has anyone travelled from UK to France for the procedure and has anyone had both hands treated at the same time there. Any comments/suggestions gratefully received.

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