hi newman many thanks for your reply , i am 37 next month. if i can get the treatment i think i will as there are not too many alternatives,

"The key, according to my radiologist, is that it works on active Dupuytren's"

This is pure conjecture and not based on science. When Dupuytren's is evident, through visible cords and contracture, clearly the Dupytren's is "active" and XRT is advised. I have read nothing to indicate that Dupuytren's goes active and then inactive and therefore during this inactive phase XRT will not provide benefits. Or that one can detect Dupuytren's before it is "active" and therefore should wait for it to become "active".

I also would not look to a radiologist, particularly in the USA, for an informed opinion on Dupuytren's. I can only go along with the advice of Dr. Seegenschmiedt that XRT is most effective at the early stages of the disease.

Bruce

I came across this as I was searching the web for this exact topic.

I have suffered with Dupytrens on my feet since I was 20 years old although it wasn't really diagnosed until it hit may hands after I broke my wrists when I was about 40 yrs old. It's only impacting one hand and I too have heard that it's bad to stretch it out as it might make it worse.

Well given that the surgery on my feet wasn't really required coupled with the painful scars it left, I will do anything to avoid surgery. I have considered NA but plan on waiting given my level of contraction.

Right now my ring finger has contracted to the point where I have not been able to get my hand flat and getting it into my pants pocket isn't easy. It has been slowly getting worse even though I work out regularly and in fact I believe the slow progression (5 yrs or so) is a result of me hitting the gym hard.

So to the point. I have started stretching my fingers out by putting my palm on a table and using my body weight to flatten out my hand. When I first did this a few weeks ago it hurt quite a bit and I could only take the pain for about a minute. I kept up with it regardless. After doing it every other day for a few weeks I've noticed two things. First, the puckering of my skin is far less and second the pain level when I do it gets less as each week goes on.

Not sure what this means long term but I plan on doing it every other day and will report back periodically.

To make it easier I'm going to build something that will "clamp" my hand flat so I can do it while I'm watching TV without the need to use my body weight as it's really not comfortable.

I'll keep you posted.

Eddie

callie:

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Good luck. Be sure to let us know how it works. From my experience, it will do damage to your hand and increase the activity of Dupuytren's disease, but let us know.

I have had Dupuytren's in both hands and the arches of my feet for probably 20 years. I had surgery on one hand 10 years ago. The other hand has remained dormant for about 15 years.

Especially in my arches, I have had trouble with the nodules whenever I did anything that was outside of normal activity that would stretch the arch such as going up stairs barefooted.

For my hands I have always felt I was doing damage that seemed to stimulate activity when doing strenuous or repetitive activity. It just seems that stretching or stressing the Dupuytren's disease is stimulative. I have read about many other people with similar feelings. That is why I am interested in your results. I would be very hesitant, but I could be wrong. Hopefully others will chime in.