My GP has just rung (7.45) , he has diagnosed Dupuytrens syndrome and is going to refer me to have the fingers cut to loosen them. He says it is not related to PMR.
Feeling quite worried about the procedure, will try to research as much as possible.
Problems with hands/fingers: My GP has just rung (... - PMRGCAuk
Problems with hands/fingers
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Rachmaninov2
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Really do your homework - surgery was a waste of time for my husband, He wouldn't do it again I don't think.
But both it and PMR are blamed on the Vikings 
Thank you for responding PMRpro, I have just looked up Dupuytren’s and it seems that it takes months to recover from surgery (not what the GP suggested)
Apparently there are other ways of dealing with it one of which is by using a needle.
Did your husband have this condition, and did he manage to resolve it? If so, how?
Dupuytrens? Yes - his little finger. The biggest problem was trying to get his wallet out of his pocket! Not sure it was months but it did seem to be a longish time for almost no difference at the end. OTOH - I don't think it has progressed since the surgery.
Is he Scottish or a Yorkshireman?
Lincolnshire ...
Lived there for 3 years also.. know a few Lincolnites!
Don't laugh - Cleethorpes ...
I had read somewhere that the NHS was going to stop doing the Dupuytrens syndrome procedure and it would have to be done privately. I am not sure if that is correct though. Mind you they seem to have stopped doing all procedures including replacement hips!!
I know someone about to have a new knee!!!! Pre-op tomorrow, op Wednesday! He got a call today ...
I wonder how they managed that, were they booked in before lockdown? I am going to go private with my hip I decided, that is a problem as they rented out the private hospitals to the NHS for Covid in case they ran out of beds. I think there is going to be an almighty problem coming up.
Thank you for that information piglette, I may look into the procedure involving the needle too.
My husband has had it done 3 times, twice on one hand & once on the other. The first which had to be redone about 3 years later was done by a plastic surgeon. The subsequent 2 were done by a hand surgeon. It takes about a month to recover & he had to go to a specialist hand physio afterwards. The specialist discussed the injection someone else here mentioned, but said it isn’t as effective So far the last 2 ops have worked really well.
Yes I read that Janstr but it seems that the other procedures may be preferable depending on which of my conditions Are dealt with first, ie auto immune disease or Dupuytrens.
How did your husband Cope before the treatment? I am finding that arnica muscle soak in warm water helps.
I’m glad he has had success with his last two ops, it is another very difficult condition to live with.
His finger was getting more & more bent over. He was coping ok, but it certainly wasn’t getting any better
Hi there. I have Dupuytren’s. I once heard that ops for it and Carpel tunnel (I’ve got/had both) are amongst the most common surgeries performed.
I believe there is a strong genetic link with Dupuytren’s. Certainly both my parents, and both aunt and uncle have/had it.
I was referred this time last year as it was making life and work very awkward. Surgeon said two types of op he could do (but I’ve forgotten the difference other than fact that one is less invasive but doesn’t last as long for some people - I was going to try that in first instance).
I had an initial op on my hand end 2019. It didn’t work as sturgeon wanted so I was due to have a second op. But then COVID happened. As lockdown restrictions eased I got a call to book me in for the op. But then when they heard I was now on pred they decided not to do it ftb.
I would speak to your surgeon and see what they say.
Hello DogAgilityObsessed, I’m sorry you have Carpal tunnel as well!
I hadn’t heard of Dupuytrens no one I know has had it.
How are you coping day to day, as I have it in both hands am finding daily living difficult.
I should think it will be some time before I get an appointment.
I don’t have carpel tunnel any more. The op one one wrist cured both!
Dupuytren’s in right hand quite bad but it could be worse. I can still hold a glass but not a bottle. Typing properly isn’t possible and I cannot put hand flat on the floor eg when doing Pilates. Left hand it’s just the little finger and I’m not sure if that is Dupuytren’s or not.
I’ve developed coping strategies but do want to get it sorted when I can.
If you ever see/watch Bill Nighy have a look at his hands. He’s got it!
Great about the carpal tunnel.
Yes I have begun to find ways around doing things, I try to remember which fingers hurt most and use the others for switching plugs on and off for example. Having difficulty now opening ring pull cans, opening doors etc.
I will look out for Bill Nighy, it seems as if it is more common than I thought at first.
Has it been suggested you get wrist supports to wear at night, that often helps considerably.
Hello PMRpro, no that hasn’t been suggested but I have ordered 2 supports which will be delivered today. I was going to wear them during the night and day.
I had Dupuytren’s operation a few months ago on my little finger and it has been fine. I would just say make sure you do your hand exercise's to stretch the finger. Took about 6 weeks to be discharged.
Hello Sampete, did you have a local anaesthetic and was it very painful. I’ve also read that there can be several complications involved after the operation.
I had an injection that makes your arm and hand numb I was awake all the time, Never felt a thing ,can be a bit sore when the dressing comes off but nothing drastic and they give you a finger splint to wear at night for about six weeks .Would definately have it done again in fact I'm waiting to have my thumb straightened as I had a trapeziectomy a couple of years ago which left my thumb bent . I know some people say it can go back again but I think if you follow the execises and keep it moisturised to stop scaring it will be ok.
Arhhh they just made my hand numb. Next time it’s the whole arm.
I've got that as well. But early stages
Hello Suet3942, sorry to hear you have it too. What symptoms do you have, and are you just waiting to see if it gets worse or not?
I've had it for about 6 years but at the moment it's no worse. Mine is lumps on my palm. Dr said eventually my hand will claw. My daughter has it too.
I have developed lumps on both my palms in a short period of time and also pain and bruising.
Is there anything you can do to prevent clawing?
Yours is another case of it being genetic, I’m wondering if mine is too but I just don’t know about it.
Hi, I was told there is nothing that can be done until the hand is completely clawed and they may operate. I pray mine won’t get that bad.
Fingers crossed! Maybe try hand exercises if you don’t already.
I had Dupuytrens syndrome for almost 30 years and all I am doing is daily stretching to stop the progress. Usually I submerge hands in the warm/hot water (~40-42C) and then do stretching by pushing hands/fingers against each other. I also stretch each finger one at the time.
BTW, no connection to Vikings, as far as I know ( southern EU). It is genetic, because my father had it too.
Hello nickm001, how have you managed to live with this for so long, did you consider any medical treatment?
I am finding that trying to stretch my left hand which is a bit like a claw is quite painful, although easier when submerged in warm water, as you say. I read somewhere that it helps to splay the fingers and clench the fingers into a fist.
Again, it is genetic in your case, as in several others who have responded.
These Northern Europeans have a lot to answer for!!
I have been doing stretching I described as soon as I noticed the tightening in my hands. It basically kept the condition the same thus far. I am reluctant to surgery option because I had some other "elective" surgeries that did not work, thus prefer alternative treatment.
I agree with you about trying alternative treatment first, very frustrating to say the least to have surgery only to find it hasn’t worked.
I should clarify my previous comments... Stretching does not improve the condition, it only prevents it from becoming worse. Even after 30 years, I still can (almost) keep my fingers straight ( all but one).
I understand that stretching just prevents it from getting worse, I will make sure that I remember to do it on a regular basis.
My dad had a severe case of it in both hands. I have a mild case in one hand with a thickened tendon but no contracture. He had surgery in one hand but never went for rehab so he couldn’t close his hand. After seeing him, make sure you go for rehab after and don’t wait too long before you get it treated. My dad became unable to play golf because he left the surgery way too long. All the best to you and make sure you follow through on rehab.
Hello Kath567, sorry to hear about you and your dad.
This has been a very rapid development for me, I hadn’t even noticed it until about two or three weeks ago.
I thought it was connected in some way to the autoimmune disease.
Thank you for your good wishes, I will definitely follow through on rehab.
I hd the op. done on my left hand about 2 years ago. I still can't straighten my fingers properly. They do look better but my main reason for finally deciding to have it done as that I couldn't put my palm flat on the floor for pilates and yoga..... and I still can't.
My surgeon said they don't necessarily claw right over and the contraction could stop at any time which is why I delayed and maybe I shouldn't have. Do all you can to keep the scar tissue soft because I think with me it's the scar being so tight that stops my fingers straightening properly.
My Dad had this on both hands and had the op. done on both. One hand is back to normal, the other one his little finger is permanently quite badly
bent still.
Hello scrambledegg, do you think you made the right decision to have the op. are you still experiencing pain ?
What did you do to keep the scar tissue soft, did the hospital give you any information? I guess keeping it moisturised would be important.
Going by what you say about both you and your dad the outcome of the operation can be hit and miss.
Yes I made the right decision despite being a little disappointed with the outcome. No pain inside the hand but the tight scar pulls badly if I try and flatten that palm.
I had some great aftercare at the hospital including physiotherapy and the application of silicon scar repair strips once the scar had healed. This together with lots of moisturiser helped a lot I think. I have a tendancy to keloid scarring so that may be my problem.
Yes, even my surgeon said the op. can be hit and miss. Sometimes it's a permanent fix, sometimes it needs redoing, and if you leave it too long it may not work at all.
Hope this helps😊
Thank you scrambledegg it does.
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