I have just learned that Depuytren's is a problem in my father's family. I have not met my biological father but I have met two of his brothers, both of whom are sufferers and one of whom has had corrective surgery. I'm 35 and have no sign of DC as yet but I understand that it generally doesn't come on until middle age. I do have a sense of persepctive (rather than this than heart disease, for example) but I am concerned becasue I am a very keen guitarist. How is DC likely to affect this, and what kind of receovery can one expect from the fingers after surgery?
Any advice gratefully received...

Tony: I had a dupuytren removed Friday Sept. 24, 2004. I had the lump in the palm of my right hand. It has only been three days and I am at work typing, there is no pain to this surgery other than the shots to deaden the hand. I had no pain in the surgery site at all. I am right handed and do not want to lose the use of my hand. I would have the surgery again if I have to.

Barbara, you mention you had "surgery" Do you mean NA?? I can't imagine such a low rehab period with actual surgery. If you do mean NA, who did you go to? Dr. Eaton??

First, I'm sure your surgeon means well, but frankly, what does he know about NA? He has neither seen it done, much less done it himself. If he had, we would all know about it. My guess is that what he knows about NA he has learned from other surgeons, which at this point in time is unfortunately a very poor source of information.

A better word than "appropriate" would be "effective". NA is *not* effective when the cord(s) are not pronounced (diffused) and not easily found by the inserted needle. However, the issue of how long or how far the cord(s) travel into the palm has no bearing on NA's effectiveness. See the before and after pictures in Eaton's sight and you'll see what I mean. The "before" shots show the blue dots where Eaton intends to sever the cord(s). There are certainly blue dots in the palms.

http://www.e-hand.com/needledup/index.htm

If you have NA done, be sure and send your doc the "after" pictures and a picture of you tightly gripping a golf club or something abut a week after the procedure:) I'm sure he'll enjoy seeing that. (You get to skip the hand therapy)

I have two biological uncles both with DC, they are from 11 siblings. One of the uncles has children in their 40s who are hsowing no signs, yet at least. They don't know if my biological father has it or not as he hasn't been seen in years (that's a whole other story). What is the *likelihood* of it being passed on? If, as is likely, my father has it, is it a dead cert that I will have it? Or is it possible that it won't be passed on to me even if he does have it?