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mpandy
Trad climber
Jackson Hole, WY
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 2, 2007 - 08:16pm PT
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Anyone out there have this on their hands?
If so, how has your experience been? How long have you had it? Progression rate? Eventual treatment, if any?
I'm 38, and look to be just starting this journey.
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Prod
Social climber
Charlevoix, MI
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Hey Mpandy,
I have a older friend who had it a few years back. He is now 70, I have known him since he was 58. His condition came on in his early 60's and he had it operated on when he was 68. I golfed with him 2 days prior to the operation. I think he had to take a long (3 months) break afterwards. Other than that I do not know too much. Send me an email if you want me to get more info from him.
Good luck,
Guy
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rradakovits
climber
san diego
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I'm not a doctor and so far I don't have any signs of Dupuytrens (I'm 31), however, both my sister and father has it.
My dad has had it for many years, he's 68 and has had the surgery 2 or 3 times during the last 20 years or so. The surgery has worked pretty well for him, no complications and pretty decent finger dexterity, he's still active in martial arts (iaido and jodo) but I know that the surgery has some risks, including possible nerve injuries.
I met an older climber at Mt Woodson who also suffers from Dupuytrens, he told me about an alternative way of treating Dupuytrens that he claims is prefferable since it is much less invasive, costs less, has less risk of complications and allows you to return to activity much faster.
The method is called Needle Aponeurotomy, check out www.handcenter.org for more information.
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rradakovits
climber
san diego
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Forgot to mention that I've heard that the outcome is best if you get treatment sooner rather than later.
With both Needle aponeurotomy and surgery it seems that you may have to repeat the procedure every 5-10 years.
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David Nelson
climber
San Francisco
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I am a hand surgeon and a climber (jugged up the Nose and HD behind Ken Yager, known on this list as Chicken Skinner). I also treat Dupuytren's and have it in both hands.
You can learn more about Duputyren's in an essay I wrote, here: http://www.davidlnelson.md/Dupuytrens.htm
The website you refer to, handcenter.org, is the website of my friend, Charlie Eaton. (I know him fairly well, nominated him to join me on the Board of the Internet Society for Orthopedic Surgery and Trauma). He is the main proponent for needle aponeurotomy in the US.
Proceed carefully, read between the lines, and study the literature before you start equating needle aponeurotomy with open fasciectomy (the standard procedure). On my webpage, you can read about the standard care, needle aponeurotomy, as well as bacterial collagenase, which is an enzyme that is injected and dissolves the cords. There is a reason it has taken years to get through the FDA. I had dinner last week with the lead investigator for the enzyme, proceed slowly. It is still investigational.
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slobmonster
Trad climber
berkeley, ca
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I have three contractures, two in my left hand, one in my right.
I'm 32, and these have been present for ~8 years. Only the right pinkie has a "permanent" bend, and won't flatten out.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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It hit me about 15 years ago at around age 45. First in the pinky of my left hand, then a few years later in the pinky of my right. I just climbed a lot, and did (and still do) a ton of stretching of the affected fingers backwards. That seems to have done the trick for me.
It also hit my then wife at about the same time. She had surgery, which worked for her.
No idea what will work for you. Sit down with a good hand surgeion and talk about it. Maybe David Nelson's website would be a good place to start.
D
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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gnar surgical pic on the site.
stretching now, even if I don't have it.
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mpandy
Trad climber
Jackson Hole, WY
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 3, 2007 - 06:54pm PT
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Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. It is encouraging to see that it can be managed.
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Brian Hench
Trad climber
Anaheim, CA
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Oct 14, 2009 - 12:17pm PT
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I just wanted to update folks on the status of Dupuytren's Contracture treatment research. There is a treatment that is similar to needle fasciotomy, but less invasive, that uses an enzyme collagenase to break up the scar tissue that causes Dupuytren's.
The company Auxilium has licensed its collagenase product to another company, Biospecifics Technology Corp. under the trade name of Xiaflex. Phase III clinical trials have been completed and the data has been submitted to the FDA as a BLA, the equivelent to an NDA for biologics.
http://www.dupuytren-online.info/dupuytren_collagenase.html
http://www.auxilium.com/ProductPipeline/DuputrensContracture.aspx
http://www.biospecifics.com/pipeline/
I am afflicted in the early stages. There is not significant contracture in my case but rather bothersome nodules that become irritated under certain conditions. It may be borlderline off-label use in my case, but I am interested nonetheless.
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Roman
Trad climber
Bostonia
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Oct 14, 2009 - 12:36pm PT
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I did not know what this was so I looked it up. It looks to be caused by ill-behaved palmar facia. All I can say is that I hope to god its not as painful as inflamed plantar facia and I hope you get well soon. Looks to be quite treatable though. Best of luck.
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Brian Hench
Trad climber
Anaheim, CA
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Oct 14, 2009 - 12:47pm PT
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For most people it's not painful, but as it progresses it begins to limit extension of the fingers. This could be a problem for a crack climber.
What it comes down to is deciding when the inconvenience of the condition exceeds the trauma of the treatment. I'm hoping that this less invasive treatment becomes generally available by the time I need it.
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ydpl8s
Trad climber
Santa Monica, California
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Oct 14, 2009 - 12:50pm PT
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I'm 55 and mine came on about 2 years ago. First my left hand with nodules below the 3rd finger and then the cord below sticking out and the "hole" above the nodules. I've got just a minor bit of lack of range on that hand. About 6mnths later, 2 nodules showed up on my right hand below the 2nd and 3rd finger, with a cord and hole on the 2nd finger. At the same time I developed a similar nodule on the arch of my right foot.
The doctor told me to stay away from surgical procedures until the range of motion made it imperative. He said that often when you have surgery, it comes back worse than before. He also said that stretching made it worse in the long run....what gives? This seems to disagree with some of the stuff written here. I am currently just appying vitamin E cream liberally daily. I've sort of convinced myself that it is slowing down the onset, but I may just be fooling myself. I'm mostly afraid it is going to screw up my guitar playing.
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FeelioBabar
climber
Just leaving your mom's house...what a gal.
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Oct 14, 2009 - 12:54pm PT
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Cool thread! My father and grandfather have suffered from this...so I imagine I will also given time, though at 35...no signs yet.
One thing I find interesting about it, is "they" say it's positive proof of a Viking lineage.
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Brian Hench
Trad climber
Anaheim, CA
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Jan 11, 2010 - 04:50pm PT
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My sister is 4 years younger than I and doesn't climb. She and I were hanging out with my brother, who is a doctor. She shows him this lump on her palm and asked him what it was. Dupuytren's! Looks like we have a genetic link here. I thought it was supposed to be much less common in women though.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jan 11, 2010 - 05:23pm PT
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I wonder if that's what's going on with my hand?
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Jimmy S
climber
Granite State
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Jan 11, 2010 - 06:34pm PT
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Thanks for starting this thread mpandy, I wanted to do the same. I first noticed this in my hands in 1992. Although it freaked me out at the time, I have continued to climb with out too much distraction. I got a cortisone shot to try to break it up. That didn't seem to help much. I have it on three fingers. In the last year my "good" hand has started to hurt more and more. Seems to be growing faster than the others right now. I know two climbers that also have it. They are in their 50's. One doesn't notice it too much. One had the surgery, got nerve damage and lost feeling in his finger, or was it hand?, for over a year. So far I pretty much stretch it and deal. Very curious to hear from other climbers that are perhaps further into it.
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chez
Social climber
chicago ill
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slobmonster.
Thats nothing compared to what i have, what you have shouldn't slow you down a bit. I will have to post some pics later. I was at your stage more than a year ago.
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