[ww]

while stretching my hands and forearms last night, I felt a small twinge in the palm of my hand. I then  found a small lump under the skin,  it is the exact size of a bb.   The lump is at the top of my palm about 2cm from the base of my ring finger and is quite tender to the touch.  Climbing causes no extra pain and I have full strength in my hand.  I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar or if anyone has any idea wtf this could be. cheers
                                 

[GCW]

Anything like this?

Are you sure it isn't just your metacarpal head being tender?

[SA Chris]

Sounds like Dupuytren's Contracture.

Join the club.

[ww]

thanks,   
 

[neil h]

Sounds like Dupuytren's Contracture.

Join the club.

yep your right, 90% of the climbers i know all have one, I have one too

I have had mine for a few years now, It is really starting to hamper my climbing now, i find it very hard to palm down now as it is painfull, My litle finger has started to curl in aswell, which is what will happen eventually, You can have it removed on the NHS which i was going to do untill i found out the statistics of actaully being able to use your hand correctly afterwards.

In most cases though it can take up to 15 years for this lump to start causing any pain, so Ignore it untill the day you cant.

There is a doctor in paris that is meant to be one of the best in the world for this procedure. He treats atheletes from all round the world. I myself am going to pay him and get it done, but it will mean 6 months of climbing

[SA Chris]

I assume you mean "6 months of no climbing". If you meant 6 months of climbing, it would be less than you do now!

[richdraws]

I have had duputryens for atleast 10 years, it begun from using a false grip on the gym rings. It worsened when I started climbing 3 years ago as indoor jugs seem to really irritate it. Since I have been climbing outside mostly or on smaller holds I get little grief from it.
Things that irritate mine are;
Jugs that take the full hand
Pull up bars
bench pressing
muscle ups and dips on rings

There is a more effective treatment than the NHS offer. I am considering booking an appointment next time I am over in font.

http://www.handcenter.org/newfile14.htm

[SA Chris]

Big incut (indoor) jugs are the only thing that irritate mine too.

I don't think it can "begin" from anything, but is hereditary. Something to with Viking genes. Are you a beserker?

[slackline]

I don't think it can "begin" from anything, but is hereditary. Something to with Viking genes.

It certainly has a genetic component to it as it tends to cluster in families (its estimated that 60-70% of people who develop the disease have a relative with the same affliction), but its not the only contributing factor to the aetiology (since there are sporadic cases with no known affected relative), and certain environmental factors will contribute as well (although they are as yet unidentified, as are the specific genes involved, although one region on chromosome 16q has been identified through linkage analysis).  The Online Mendelian Inherithance in Man page on the trait is here.

I used to have a colleague in Manchester who is/was a plastic surgeon who rectified Duputyren's contracture, and he was looking at getting a study going to use micro-array analysis to look for genes that are differentially expressed in the tissue around the affected joints in the aim of helping identify genes, don't think he got funding for that though.  Surgery is usually only a temporary resolution if I remember correctly.

Are you a beserker?

You mean like this?

[SA Chris]

Can't get youtube at work, but i hope its' Sven the Berserker from "Erik the Viking".

[slackline]

Can't get youtube at work, but i hope its' Sven the Berserker from "Erik the Viking".

No, its Jay & Silent Bob in the original Clerk's....

My love for you is like a truck, Berserker
Would you like some making fuck, Berserker
My love for you is like a rock, Berserker

The Berserker is just so obscene
Likes evil people you know what I mean
He takes your soul and then just rips you apart
He'll steal your heart

Would you like to smoke some pot, Berserker
My love for you is ticking clock, Berserker
Would you like to suck my cock, Berserker
Would you like some making fuck, Berserker

[duncan]

It is not consistently found but there does seem to be an association between heavy manual work and Dupuytren's, http://tinyurl.com/2nawyr, so it's not a big leap to suggest that climbing might predispose.  Possibly worse news for some, so does being a bloke, over 40, alcohol and tobacco. http://tinyurl.com/5uadyv

Joining the bearded Whillans harness wearers and Adam Lincoln in the CC also seems to be a risk factor: http://tinyurl.com/55bzor

 

[BD]

I also found a lump in my hand identical to the description in the first post. I have it for 6 months now but never thought it was so "serious" until i noticed this post. will visit a doctor this afternoon to hear what he says about it but i certainly don't like it. let's just hope it's something else or that it will magically disappear.

While searching the net for more info i came across this:
People with Dupuytren's contracture may experience other connective tissue disorders, including:

Peyronie's disease. This rare tissue disease affects the penis. Scar tissue forms under the skin of the penis, causing a bend in an erect penis. This complication is rare and may also be a risk for people with Dupuytren's diathesis.
If so many climbers have dupuytren's, go figure...