anyone any experience with this? Is this. Is it part of RA. Started last summer couldn’t open hand when to physio rather than gp who massaged it. I basically had to stretch it open. I have a tiny lump I was able to get it a bit smaller from massage. Talking to consultant on phone suggested ra nodule as I was having issues with knee which I have problems with the back. but I think it’s Dupuytrens.
Lastly I have an appointment today to see a consultant but I’m sick of hospitals. I’m not on meds and managing fine but want disease tracked. Don’t want to be medicated. Love some support on this.
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MrsWoman
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I have Dupuytrens in the little finger of my left hand. I can feel little nodules on the cords under the palm of my hand.
I was offered an operation about eight years ago but didn’t have it for several reasons. It is a big operation, massive bandage etc, but everyone I know who’s had it done has eventually needed it doing again.
I saw the consultants sidekick - right at the time when the new intake of doctors come on the ward. The young chap examined me etc then said he was off to get Mr X to come and see me. The poor boy arrived a little while later looking very embarrassed and said Mr X doesn’t need to see you - so in a fit of pique as well as being terrified to have a general anaesthetic, knowing that my son was coming back on holiday from overseas at the time my op was scheduled and feeling worried about someone messing with my hand when it was working perfectly well apart from a bent little finger I decided not to have the operation.
Over the years it has curled more. I’ve seen a method called WALANT which stands for wide awake, local anaesthetic, no tourniquet which I would consider if I thought I could sit and let someone sit next to me and cut up my hand. That would also be better as I ended up with CRPS when the plaster came off after I broke my wrist in 2020 and for that reason alone WALANT would be better.
You can also have it done by needle aponeurotomy but I’d say unless you are prepared to live with it - and to be honest it does get a bit awkward - don’t be like me - do something sooner than later.
I suspect I should have had the courage to do something many, many years ago when I first read and article about someone who visited a surgeon in Paris, had it done privately, then had a coffee in a cafe on the Champs Elysee before he went home. However I didn’t and I think it will be a bigger job now.
I have repeated bouts of trigger finger, which are extremely similar to Dupuytrens, and have nodules in palm of hand. When a finger starts I can usually massage it back into functioning for a while, using a NSAID cream. However most times I give in and get steroid injections into the palm of my hand which are a bit ouch’y but work. (Although last time didn! Get rid of nodule but did allow finger to open amd close).
I too thought I had Dupuytrens as my GP suggested but mine too was diagnosed as trigger finger due to RA nodules by Rheumatology and Orthopaedics. My middle finger on both hand curls and eventually sticks. It was first managed with steroid injections but kept coming back too quickly even with physio. So I have had surgery on my right hand which was the worst. It was done under local anaesthetic and although a painful few weeks recovery it’s all healed lovely. My grip with it isn’t great but never was with RA. Since the op I’ve had my medication changed to manage my flare ups from Rituximab to Humira and touch wood so far I’ve not had as many. I’ve been diagnosed with RA for 12 years and I’m 49 and feel the older I’m getting the faster RA Is progressing so continue to have faith that the medication will slow things down. At the moment I’m coping with my left hand trigger finger but the surgeon says I will probably end up having surgery on that too. Hope that’s some help.
My partner has it in both hands. She doesn't have RA, but my understanding is that dupuytrens is caused by an autoimmune reaction.She had it in three fingers in one hand and had surgery two years ago. The index and middle finger are much improved, virtually straight now, but her little finger was the worse and isn't much better. Without the surgery her ability to use her hands and fingers would have been seriously impared.
She has it badly in the little finger in her other hand and after a 14 month wait finally saw a consultant. She'll be having surgery on that hand in the next 3 months. She definitely thinks it's worth it. She also paints so it's important to her its improved.
She does have bumps along the tendons in her palm but obviously this isn't related to RA. Hope this helps you decide what to do. Cheers.
Hi, I have psoriatic arthritis which is another inflammatory arthritis and I also have Dupuytren's in both hands. However, I know a couple of people who have it quite badly but they don't have any autoimmune diseases. When it hurts, rest your hands. Don't play games on your phone or tablet. You can rub the inside of your hands with anti inflammatory gel.
Yes, I have Dupuytrens in both hands and was diagnosed by a hand surgeon, who operated on my hand for severe carpal tunnel syndrome. I’ve had both hands operated on (carpal tunnel) but the Dupuytrens is at the nodules and chords stage. I did wonder if it might be linked to the RA as all my hand issues began about 3 years ago, when all the other symptoms started.
I’ve seen photos of the surgery they do for Dupuytrens and looks rather savage! So I will stick with what I have for now.
I had both carpal tunnel operations done with local anaesthetic and a tourniquet and they have turned out okay, although the first hand has started to come back a little 🙄🙄🙄.
Until I had all these hand issues, I took them for granted as you don’t realise how difficult it is to manage with only one hand!!
Thank you for all the information as it puts it into context for me to know what I’m facing.
I went to my appointment with my RA consultant. She confirms that it is Dupuytrens. It started last year. Since then I’ve had three attacks. First one been the worst. My hand was completely closed and unable to open it. I went to Physio and she massaged the lump in the middle of my palm since then when and happens I massage my palm and I pull open my fingers and keep doing that until they get straight. Usually takes a couple of days. It seems to have begun on the other hand.
I also have carpal tunnel which generally gets put on when I carry heavy loads by hand. Maybe it’s linked? I’m also have an underactive thyroid and I’m Irish which may increase my chances of having it.
Also an issue with a hot spot in the middle of my calf, which I also believed to be tendons. I’m not on any medication. I was on hydroxychloroquine for over 10 years I stopped and I’ve been managing ever since. I intend to keep going for checkups but not take RA medication until I have to. Consultant otherwise is happy with all the X-rays and blood tests for RA. Although I have managed to reduce the size of the limp in the palm of my hand. I was offered an injection into the lump. I just wonder will this help knock the disease on the head? As I am fine for the moment and don’t really need it.
My own experience with carpal tunnel and Dupuytrens was that my claw hands were part of the carpal tunnel. After I had both surgeries (2021 and 2022), I’ve not had the claw hands at all. I used heat pads that you can buy to warm your hands in the cold, the ones you put in gloves. These helped release the claw. When at home in the evenings, I used a microwave heated teddy to wrap my hands over.
Dupuytrens is linked to Scandinavian heritage and my dad was a Viking!! 😂😂😂. So that’s my link to why I got it.
sorry to hear that. My husband suffers with this and he had surgery on the 3 fingers affected and it was successful . It’s called a fascietomy operation , it basically removes the thick tight tissue which develops in the fingers causing the hand to stay in a claw like position , ( Bill Nighy also suffers from it) He has now got it in his other hand but has opted to try a new procedure, which is an injection into the affected fingers think he’s had 2 now and it appears to be working , so that’s something you could ask about as it’s available on NHS it’s called Xiaflex. Hope you get sorted .
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