Dupuytren's Disease

Does anyone suffer from it?

If, how are you coping and did you have surgery and if, did it help? What about coping with cramps and the pain and gradually loosing the use of your fingers and hands?

[Happyrosie]

my husband - and several members of his family , it tends to be an inherited condition - has had dupuytren’s contracture in both hands. The left hand started about about 35 years ago and ten years ago had it operated on as he could no longer use the hand. The operation needs to be performed before the hand closes up entirely. No pain.

On the other, right, hand the surgeon was able to inject something into the ligament that was causing the problem, and then straightened the hand - all done as an outpatient. This procedure lasted for several years but eventually had to be operated upon later.

Several outpatient visits with physios after the op, to remove stitches and introduce exercises, followed. My husband also had to wear a splint at night for some weeks - otherwise the hand would have closed up again.

All well since!

[Hidden in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you very much. That was very detailed and the procedure to go back to some form of normality sounds extensive and long. I have heard there are certain risks regarding infections when doing tge operation. I am immunocomptomised. My left hand is closing quickly. The right a bit slower but I am struggling already to use either since I have RA.

[Happyrosie in reply to Hidden]

I imagine as you’re immunocompromised then yes there would be some risks with surgery. Please as a matter of urgency explore the “injection into the ligament” route with your surgery team. I don’t know what it’s called, and if I remember correctly it can only be done at an earlier rather than later stage. It did mean for my husband that surgery was delayed for several years x as far as I can recall.

[Hidden in reply to Happyrosie]

You are being very helpful. I had an initial consultation triaged as urgent planned two months ago but due to unforeseen circumstances I had to cancel on short notice and now of course I have been pushed back if not taken off altogether. Either way, my hands are getting worse quickly, bending and often cramping so it be too late for injections. I have to see. Since I have leukaemia, I am obviously anxious but the idea loosing the ability to use my hands is causing me immense stress.