Hopefully you are only dealing with the hand version. My friend has it. Look up needle aponeurotomy. There is a good dupuytren forum, almost as entertaining as slowtwitch too.

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[pink]I don’t use pink font[/pink]

How old are you? Why are you worried about this? I'm 65 and when I first noticed it in my left pinky, I thought it was a callous. My pinky is now kind of deformed and I can feel the thickening of the tendon. On my right hand I can feel the thickening of the tendon for my ring finger. It really doesn't affect anything right now. Last year I went to a hand specialist and he told me that when it gets bad enough that it bothers me, he would treat it. But for now it's not a problem.

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Thanks for the response.

Will be 62 next month. Nodule in my right palm with the pinky starting to stiffen. Just got diagnosed last week. Was out-of-the-blue, so trying work along the learning curve. Lots of conflicting info on the 'net. I've got some sensitivity/burning sensation in my palm and my doc is suggesting a cortisone shot every few months, plus some gentle stretching and massage. Just looking to compare notes with others for now. Seems like more of an annoyance or inconvenience than anything else.

Mark

Right now, it doesn't affect anything. The arthritis that is starting in my knuckles is going to be a problem before this will.

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Red - interestingly, I have a red Vette in my garage as well. If your contracture(s) are not interfering with life, forget 'em. If they are a real issue, your options are put up with it, inject it with a collagenase enzyme called Xiaflex, or undergo release via a number of methods. Why not research each and see what's bet for you. There's no penalty for moving slowly, very slowly, here.

John

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John H. Post, III, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Charlottesville, VA

Thanks, John.
Think my strategy for the time being is to do some gentle stretching and wait and see what happens.
Mark

i had a Xiaflex injection about 3 months ago and it has worked wonders. I swam an hour after the injection and the finger released about 6 hours later. I returned a week later for a manipulation which completed the procedure. I am scheduled for another injection for my pinkie finger on Friday which should take care of my right hand. Good advice on doing your research. For me the Xiaflex was simple and effective and aside from the injection not at all invasive.

I'm 41 and have Dupuytren's (and I just found out that my Dad in his 60's has it as well). I started with a nodule below my left ring finger in my early 30's. I never really thought about it as it didn't bother me. About 1.5 years ago the nodule started turning into a cord. It took 6 month's to get into a hand doctor who would confirm Dupuytren's. The cord isn't very restrictive yet but it is sensitive so I get mild pain when it is pressed on (driving, am on a road bike) or when extended (pull phase of swimming). I also have a small Ledderhose nodule on the arch of my left foot. Since I am relatively young I had both irradiated during the 4th quarter of 2014 to see if I could halt the progression. I am not sure it actually did anything but it was worth a try.

As noted from a triathlon perspective it just bugs me when on my road bike and a bit during and after swimming. I have to do pushups with a closed fist now and for chin-ups I often wear a cycling glove (same thing when mowing the lawn, driving etc).

The general consensus from everyone is that besides irradiation (which works best during the nodule phase) it is really a wait and see game. The disease generally progresses slowly and often does not become a big problem until much later in life when it usually isn't really a big problem afterall. If you are going to do any stretching I'd advise you to do it very gently as it could promote progression (as the body steps up trying to 'heal' the problem).

Dupuytren's contracture runs in my family down from my scottish grandmother. My father's case was bad enough to require release surgery when he was in his 80's. At age 67 mine is still just an annoyance. The biggest problem is finding a pain-free hand position on the hoods. As other(s) have pointed out, arthritis in the fingers is a bigger issue. Just keep active and keep everything stretched out.

Some reading for you since not always offered at medical specialists:

http://www.pdlabs.net/dupuytrens/whatisTvGel_dupuytrens.html

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Fatigue is biochemical, not biomechanical.
- Andrew Coggan, PhD