I was wondering if anyone has tried Laser treatment for Dupuytren's. I'm in Southern California and was diagnosed with Dupuytren's about 6 months ago. A friend of mine has been getting laser treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, and suggested I call her doctor to see if they treated for Dupuytren's. I was surprised to learn that they did. However, I am sure my insurance (Kaiser) will not cover the consultation fee of $225 as they already have referred me to another doctor, who diagnosed DD and told me to do nothing until it got worse and then consider surgery. I would like to hear from anyone who has had laser treatment, or looked into it, before spending $225 on a consultation. Treatments are $50, but I have no idea how many treatments would be involved until I went for a consultation.

I am in the beginning stages with 2 small nodules. I have been reading the forum for a few months now and am considering radiotherapy in Germany sometime next year. However, it would certainly be easier to be treated in CA if I could expect good results.

How long have you had Dupuytrens disease and how aggressive has it been in the past?

"Knuckle pads on both ring fingers between 1988 and 1992. Chronic problem for years, then went away after a couple rounds of cortisone. Lump in right palm appeared in 2000, ring finger curled within six months. At the same time, left pinky began to thicken and curl - no lumps in palm. Extremely aggressive since 2000."

Have you had previous surgery or N.A. for Dups (if so, how often and results)?

"I started going to France for NA in 2001. I have had it performed 8 times now, generally about every six months. I have been to Lermusiaux, Badois, Lellouche, Eaton and Zidel. I gave up on the pinky about 2 years ago because NA didn't work due to a frozen PIP joint. I have OS scheduled for Feb. 23rd. I'm not happy about it, but it is curled almost back to my palm. It's this or amputate the little beast."


Do you have a family history of Dups that you know of? "No - though I know little of my father's family due to early divorce. I'm French, German, English, Irish with ancestry on both sides loaded with diabetics and alcoholics - though no one in my family currently has either affliction"

Approximately when did you begin taking A-l-C? "
"Early 2005"

What dosage level? "500 mg. morning and night"

How long did you continue to take it? Did you change dosage levels during this time? "6 months on 1000 per day"

Have you been trying any other therapies or drugs during this time that you feel might be affecting your Dups disease? "No - I take no drugs at all - just a multivitamin and calcium pills."

What (if any) changes have you noted in your condition during the time you have been taking A-l-C?
"Zip, nada, zilch - it recurred within 6 months as it always had.
I'm also a colchicine and allopurinol failure. So far, nothing seems to slow it down. Sorry I don't have anything positive to report - on the up side, the A-L-C produced no side effects, positive or negative."

Linda, the cold laser that you describe sounds pretty much like the laser that was recently used on a Swiss patient for treating Ledderhose. Her nodules decreased in size and the inflamation went away. She is quite satisfied with this treatment. Unfortunately the doctor who resides in Hamburg, Germany, for whatever reason, does not want his name to be published and did not share any statistics.

How did you experience your laser therapy? Did it help?

Wolfgang

Hi, Linda!

That sounds promising and confirms what our Swiss patient had written, she also reported that her nodules shrank considerably and became painless. If you could find out what laser has been used that would be really great because we then could look for such lasers also elsewhere (obviously you have to use this therapy repetitively, thus you better live close by). Long term effects of this treatment are also very interesting, so please keep in touch!

If you want to also post your experience also in our forum on www.dupuytren-online.info you are very welcome! I started there under "Other therapies" a thread on laser therapy and plan to collect experience. There is very little literature and personal experience available, therefore collecting it makes sense.

Wolfgang

Michael, I whole heartedly agree with you that the vast claims of cold laser to cure all sorts of diseases are very suspicious, if not disgusting. Some web sites sure make fools of patients.

But some people report that the laser treatment helped shrinking their nodules. That might just mean that the swollen tissue around the Dupuytren nodule has been reduced and the actual nodule is still untouched. It certainly requires further research and far better statistics.

But if laser therapy makes Ledderhose less painful, at least for some people, it might find its place. For the time being laser therapy for Ledderhose or Dupuytren is far from being a reliable and established therapy and it is certainly not miraculous. But the anecdotal evidence is interesting, maybe important and worth collecting.

Wolfgang