[Tim Broughtonshaw]

Hi,
  I have got a mild or early form of DC. I got it a few years back and the initial growth (from none existant to a noticeable nodule (attached) to right tendon in palm) seemed to be overnight and was painful initially when grasping jugs. After than the pain and increase in size subsided and now its pretty much a permanant static size. 

I have had a few finger tweaks which mostly seem or could be seen to centre around the right ring finger. and was wondering if this DC nodule could be guilty for a a weakness these tendons. I saw a hand specialist early on and he said it was DC but they dont operate until you cannot straighten the palm of your hand against a table.

Now normally with fingers i often almost absentmindedly massage the injury and stretch it out.  I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts about the worth (positive or negative) of massaging the DC and stretching the tendon?

Cheers
Tiim

[Paul B]

I read quite a bit of conflicting advice on stretching and massage on the DC forums. From what I understand (and from Bonjoy perhaps?), stretching is advised to the general public but for us lot who hang off our hands all the time, that's enough and any additional stretching (anecdotal) seems to cause aggravation.

[ali k]

I had the same as you Tim - a pretty much overnight appearance of a lump, but in the palm on the tendon of my left ring finger. Not painful at all when climbing unless I stretch it out too much without being warmed up or bash it on the edge of a jug or something. I haven't noticed it increasing in size since then though and I'm hoping it'll stay like that for as long as possible. Would be interested to hear if there's anything you can do to slow its growth, though that seems unlikely given how quickly the initial lump appeared.

Interesting the number of people that seem to be having problems with this now - any figures on the proportion of climbers that suffer? Despite what the Docs told POD, I have to agree that it seems unlikely not to have a link with climbing.

[Dexter]

try this http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,4609.msg61755.html#msg61755

[Probes]

I too have the same. Very rapid appearance 2/3 yr ago, but no increase in size since. I do though stretch it out for maybe 20 secs every morning, which initially appears to reduce the size and put my little finger straight again. Touch wood this stays the same as it doesnt affect my climbing.
A possible thought for the injuries/tweaks is that the DC is in effect shortening the tendon and slightly changing the alignment/mechanics of your finger, different to how it has been used for years.

[wMickey]

I had DP diagnosed around a year ago in my left hand and I have since noticed it in my right also. Reading the online articles and as advised by my doctor that there's not much can be done (on the NHS anyway) to help I forgot about it and it very rarely impacts on my climbing. It does seem scary though that it could suddenly get worse and stop me climbing without much warning. Has anyone gone with the private early stages treatments and how did it go?

[amsump]

Not really to do with improving this with stretches but... my dad had this a few years ago and was told by the GP that nothing (apart from the operation) can be done, he did some research and found that in Switzerland (I think) they treat it with radiotherapy and then he found a surgeon in a hospital in Poole who was doing the same thing. After contacting the Surgeon and getting a referral from the GP he went to Poole for three separate weeks of daily radiotherapy on his left hand (the earlier you treat it the better). At the second session the doctor noticed that it was starting to develop on his right hand so they treated this too. The left hand has stayed the same since then (about two years ago, the growth was still small so his hand still works fine) and the right hand lump has gone completely. This either means that it works and that the earlier you catch and treat it the better, or it could mean that it would have stopped naturally anyway and the treatment had no effect… I've seen what can happen if you leave this so I don't think I'd take the risk!
Hope that's usefull..

[slackline]

There is some literature out there on this treatment, Google Scholar will find it (briefly the few I looked at lacked a Control group so its far from conclusive).

[amsump]

"Contrary to natural instinct, the act of stretching the skin of the palm appears to aggravate or provoke Dupuytren's contracture"

Found at             http://www.handcenter.org/newfile38.htm

Lots of good info.

[Oldmanmatt]

Hmmm, two lumps.....
One on the palm tendon of the left mid and one on the same of the left ring finger.
Just appeared around two weeks ago.
Not painful, just there.
Guess I've joined the club...

Is it even worth trying the GP?
Is there much chance of it being something worse?
(and would I really want to know, right now, if it is....?)
 

[Bonjoy]

Sounds like classic DC. Highly unlikely to be anything worse IMO (but I'm no medic).

[moodyboy]

It would appear that I have now  joined the nobbly hand club, lump and indentation on palm below left ring finger.........Going to see the GP. If it is confirmed will investigate getting radiotherapy.

Google has revealed that someone in London offers it

http://www.dupuytren-online.info/radiotherapy_clinics.html

I will update if anything of interest comes from it

[SA Chris]

I noticed this on the Athlon site the other day, not came across it before;

http://www.athlon.com.au/articles/dupuytrens70.pdf

[chillax]

Where about do the lumps from DC usually occur? I've had a small bump on the tendon at the base of my LH ring finger for about a year and a half. Initially thought it was some kind of A2 damage as I tweaked this finger pretty badly about 2 years ago (still can't crimp hard on it as it always feels like its going to pop. I say "hard".....its all relative. I could never crimp hard). I've found that I occasionally wake up with that finger slightly seized up and need to stretch/massage it out for a minute of two. It hasn't affected my climbing so far.

Does this sound like the onset of DC to seasoned sufferers?

[SA Chris]

Certainly does.