Hello to everyone,

As a recently diagnosed suffer of the condition (all of 2 days) this forum is providing some interesting and thought provoking comments.

I have a dilemma, my wife is due to give birth in October this year and I planned a job switch from currently desk bound computer work in the city of London, to working more locally (I live in north London), doing garden maintenance, grass cutting, weeding and pruning etc, no extreme physical labour but moderate, mostly with my hands. This way I could plan my working days more easily around a new born baby, becoming more flexible etc.

After my doctor diagnosed DD, I told him my work plan and he advised against quite strongly, saying that it would quite probably accelerate the condition and make it much worse over the next 10-15 years. I am 39 years old and have moderate swelling in my left hand only at the moment,in the palm of my hand and it is starting to appear on my little and ring fingers, plus I am left handed! I have very little contractur of the two digits so far. I also work out at a gym 2 times a week and run once a week. My parents both have the condition, my father has had two lots of surgery.

I'm looking for advice and comments. Should I look for a sedentary job more local to me? Should I stop training at my gym, is this aggrevating the condition? I am a bit concerned as to how aggressive this condition will become as I am 39 years old.

Many thanks,

Paul

Dave,

Thanks for this, food for thought. I do wonder though about taking up a fairly full time manual occupation. After working out in the gym and when I do some gardening at home, I can 'feel' my left hand, not exactly pain but some discomfort, I am in the very early stages of DD. Not sure if this is a good idea on a daily basis.

Paul

Thanks for your comments Wolfgang. Just wondered if there is anyone out there working fulltime with DD in a moderately physical job, and if so how do they get on?

Dirk,

Thanks for your thoughts and comments too, I've got plenty to think about.

Paul