Dupuytren's contraction in the left hand and fingers

April 15, 2010 at 11:24 AM ·

I'm a professional violin maker with a medical background.  The course of Dupuytren's contracture is pretty variable so no one can tell you exactly what will happen in your case.  I suggest you read up on it at the excellent summary on the Mayo Clinic site here:  www.mayoclinic.com/health/dupuytrens-contracture/ds00732/dsection=treatments-and-drugs

April 15, 2010 at 04:31 PM ·

My medical background is that of a patient.  Taking the most conservative road possible is often the best course of action, and that can include doing nothing.  A bass-playing friend of mine developed a tendon issue in his left hand.  The hand surgeon he consulted said, "You know, there isn't a hand in the world we can't make worse with surgery."

Obviously, there are things that must be dealt with, but a frank conversation about risks, percentages, rewards, recuperation, risk of waiting, is always a good discussion to have.  It's also a good conversation to have with more than one doctor.  There's too much at stake to just take the what-the-heck path.

April 15, 2010 at 11:20 PM ·

 I know what you mean by wondering if it affects your playing or not.  I have enough contraction in my left hand that I can't lay my hand flat, it's very tender, and there are things I can't do very well, but so far playing violin seems unaffected.  But who knows?  Maybe it slows me down,  I do know for sure that surgery will prevent me from playing for months, and if anything goes wrong maybe forever.  The prevailing wisdom seems to be take the conservative route which is doing nothing at first.  Needle aponeurotomy and the new Xiaflex enzyme treatments are much safer and if they don't work, you can still do surgery.

Check out www.dupuytrens.org.  It's a good source of information.

Good luck with your DC.  It's one of those odd diseases that you've never heard about until you get it.

April 17, 2010 at 02:26 AM ·

There are a few acupuncturists associated with the Nationa Institutes of Health in an alternative medicine program. So far as I am aware, acupuncure is unlikely to cause harm, and who knows? it may do some good. As you're in the area, you might give them a call.

April 19, 2010 at 01:11 PM ·

Dupytren's:   I cannot lay my hand flat on a table but there is not soreness.  All of it is in my ring finger.   The effect on playing is a limited ability to lift the ring finger,  and consequently it is not so quick and nimble.    I have recently experience some soreness in the effected finger after playing the viola but not the violin.  I think it is from stretching to reach some notes in some awkward passages.  I have now an appointment with a third hand surgeon (each at different institutions).

Doing nothing may be my best choice for now, but so far I have been told that if the second joint starts to be significantly bent beyond 30 degrees, it does not come back after surgery like the first joint can.  That is, when the second joint starts to be significantly involved, I'll have to do something.

I was told by the first two surgeons that the enzyme injection has a sever problem in that if it gets into the tendon, it destroys the tendon and you will never be able to move that finger again.

Thanks for all the replies.   I was just curious if anyone knows someone who has tried some form of surgery.

June 29, 2016 at 10:58 PM · I have Dupuytren's and plan to try radiation therapy. Update: I was able to receive radiation treatment locally. It is far preferable to surgery. If you are still in the early stages of Dupuytren's, radiation can halt the progress of the disease so that you will never need surgery.

July 5, 2016 at 04:23 PM · Thank you for your input here, what do the doctors tell you about radiation?

July 5, 2016 at 05:55 PM · I suffer from the same problem in my left hand. It's hard to tell if it is creating much of a problem since the onset is so gradual and it doesn't prevent me from lowering my fingers.

I've had both NA and RT and recommend both. Surgery is an absolute last option.

After my NA, about five years ago, I could straighten my hand for the first time in years but noticed that it affected by intonation. I would place my fingers where muscle memory told them to go, but things were different mechanically and they ended up in the wrong spot. It didn't take long to relearn.

If you haven't visited it yet, the best resource for Dupuytren's is http://www.dupuytren-online.info

Good luck.

Tom