Hello J Ann,
I was just diagnosed last week with DC. I'm a 39 year-old female. The doctor provided stats on how many women under 40 get DC, and it was relatively low. As you most likely know, it typically occurs in men (10 to 1). Right now, the only issue that I have is a lump that is one inch below my ring finger of my right hand. When I stretch my hand out, I can definately feel a tightening of the skin. Just like you, there is no family history, and I'm very healthy. I'm worried about the unknown -- how or if this disease will progress. I'm an instructional designer and use a keyboard and mouse ALL DAY, EVERY DAY for my job. The doctor didn't seem to indicate that I would have any issues typing or doing my job. He explained that there is nothing that I can do about DC. He stated that there is no cure, offered no suggestions on exercise, no options for therapy. Nothing!
Please share with me your experience and insight. When were you diagnosed? What symptoms do you have? What information did your doctor share with you?
Looking forward to hearing more. Thank you. Angela

Angela,

Sorry it has taken so long to respond to your post, I was beginning to give up hope I was going to find another women like me on this forum. I did however e-mail you directly a couple of days ago and hope that you have received that mail. I know when I found out I was very shocked, first I was glad it was not arthritis due to my active life style. But wow ignorance was bliss for about the ride home from the doctors office until I reached the internet!!! I am now over the shock and have accepted my condition. There is so many degrees of progression to this disease, you many not have any other problems for 20 years! I however received my first pit in my skin right where my wedding ring was. The pit was the size of a pin prick and right below that was
a fleshy raised soft lump. I was 25 years old and when I asked my doctor during a reg. check-up they told me it was from wearing my ring when I worked-out. I did not show signs again until I was 34.(surgery in Feb of this year on pinky) Now it is progressing fast. I have 2 contracted fingers on my left hand with small lumps on my ring finger cord that started in March. I have already sent in my photos to Dr Eaton and am waiting on their call. I will run to the airport as soon as I get the o.k.and if need be I would travel overseas. Hopefully your case will not progress rapidly. My only prayer is that it will stay away from my feet!!! Running is so important to me, but I will deal with that as well if need be. God Bless...J Ann

Angela,

Sorry I just posted the wrong e-mail address!! Hope to hear from you soon....J Ann

Hi J Ann,

I'm now 48, but I started having symptoms of Dupuytren's and Lederhosen's in my early 20s. Like you, I was pretty active back then - did a lot of running, hiking and aerobics. The Lederhosen's got bad enough in my left foot that I had it operated on to remove a large lump in my arch. At the time, I had no idea what the "disease" was called; my foot surgeon referred to it as a fibroma. Since then, two smaller lumps have grown slowly near the incision. But, since they're not right in my arch, I can live with it. I don't run anymore, but it's mainly because my knees started to go after 20 years of jogging.

I was diagnosed with Dupuytren's a few years ago, though I had probably had it for many years. Mostly, I just noticed that if I ever banged a knuckle, it would swell and never go back to normal. Then, a few years ago, I started to get the bands in my right hand, and my pinkie curling inward. I saw two doctors, who both recommended surgery. I did research on the Internet, found this forum, and learned about NA.

I was considering going to France to get the procedure done, but then found out about Dr. Eaton in Florida. He did NA on my right hand last September. It straightened my finger for awhile, but now it's back to where it was before NA. So, unfortunately, it does seem to be more aggressive if you start getting symptoms while you're young.

The thing I keep telling myself is this: If I have to have some kind of disease, this is certainly not the worst thing to have. I'm grateful that it's merely annoying and inconvenient, not life-threatening or even that painful. I feel lucky that it's only occurred in one finger on one hand - some people are really debilitated. I've learned to adjust my typing to accommodate it. (I work on a computer all day.)

Yes, it was a shock when I discovered I had this weird disease, but it's not the end of the world. NA works for many, many people and more doctors will be doing it in this country as time goes on. If your disease progresses aggressively, I wouldn't recommend surgery. As you'll see if you read other posts on this website, it's pretty nasty and doesn't solve the problem. NA doesn't either, but at least it's much less invasive.

Hope this helps - good luck.

Just had surgery on my left ring finger on 2/3 and it had been contracting for 15 years.

I finally had enough when I was having such difficulty putting gloves on. I knew when it was diagnosed, that eventually it would need surgery. My left middle and my right middle fingers both have bands that were left alone. One nodule in the right index and one small one in my left foot.

The cast was removed 2 weeks ago and I have a splint that was made by a professional therapist as opposed to the first one which made me want to chop my hand off from the pain. Therapy began last week and so far the finger is completely straight again which both doctors I saw thought would be impossible. The school of thought was that the ligaments would not go back to normal from being atrofied for so many years. The surgery was not a big deal and I see 2-3 more in my future at 49. DC is strange and in so many people that don't know whatt it is I am surprised that more people don't know about it. Hang in there and maybe we can start a foundation, make lot's of maoney and hold a convention once a year in the tropics. Get more than one opinion and find a doctor that you are comfortable with. The follow up is important as well.