I have Dupuytren's contracture

[2Bits]

@BrotherCadfael

If and when it gets to the point where you have to have something done about it, please look into Collagenase injection. This treatment involves injections of an enzyme into the affected areas, which acts like a solvent to break up the adhesions between the tendons and the surrounding tissue.

In my case it took a half-hour visit to the doctor to receive four injections into the palm of my hand, and a return visit forty-eight hours later, by which time my fingers were correctly aligned and had regained full movement. As of this writing some five years later, the contracture shows no sign of recurring.

When we originally looked into treatment, the only option was surgical intervention, which would require months of recovery. We instead waited two and a half years for FDA approval of the collagenase therapy, and it was well worth the wait.

I had this procedure over two years ago to “release” my 90 degree-angled right pinky. Recurrence began within months then appeared to stop. Recently, however, it’s been “bending” slowly but quite notably.

[swampspruce]

My wife has had to deal with a nasty case of this two years ago that required surgery. She has a rather nasty scar as a result of it on her palm but no recurrence so far.

[Kent_Clark]

@2Bits

Dupuytren's contracture - Wikipedia

Today I was told by a fellow Dupuytren’s contracture “sufferer” (who is otherwise a complete stranger) that it means I am 100% Aryan!

Yippee!

@ftg

My right hand started first and has only slowly progressed over the years but my left hand has decided to catch up.

I don’t mean to make light of your situation, but did anyone else think of this?

[TruCelt]

@2Bits

Dupuytren's contracture - Wikipedia

Today I was told by a fellow Dupuytren’s contracture “sufferer” (who is otherwise a complete stranger) that it means I am 100% Aryan!

Yippee!

Mmmm, no. It is sometimes referred to a “Viking’s Disease” but also as “The Celtic Hand.” And anyone with even partial ancestry has a chance of developing it.

I knew a black gentleman with an Irish Catholic Grandfather who developed it in his 40’s.

[ftg]

@kunilou

I don’t mean to make light of your situation, but did anyone else think of this?

There really aren’t spasms with DC AFAIK. OTOH I do have a PhD and did a minor in Physics.

But we also have running thru our family a condition where first the fingers start to spasm while writing, etc. and later spreading to the whole arm. Develops fairly early and progresses. Ergo I think it skipped me.

So, about this 10 to 1 male to female ratio …

[Dr.Drake]

My mother has this, but only in one hand. Surgery seems to have done the trick, for now anyway.

Just looking up the genetics, it appears to be bad news if your mother has it: either autosomally dominant, or mitochrondrial (https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/dupuytren-contracture grade 8 science was a long time ago: I didn’t know diseases could be included in mtDNA).