UKC

I just wonder if any of you has had similarly looking lumps on the base of the ring finger and how they have evolved.

In reply to sabagnon:

Hi. I really don't know much about this but remebered seeing somthing similar on here a few months back so did a quick search. Hope the following links are of some use:

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=236183&v=1#3473073
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=221109&v=1#3247853
http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=219369&v=1#3223644

In reply to sabagnon:

http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,4609.0.html

In reply to sabagnon:

I have them and they evolve slowly and in spurts. Eight years in and no adverse affects to my climbing.

In reply to andi turner: Do you often have spurts in your hand?

I have one on my right hand that has grown longer in the last year, possibly due to a lot of mountain biking. No pain, but a bit uncomfortable on certain holds.

In reply to sabagnon:
Hi I have it on the third (ring) finger of both hands. Apparently it's hereditary. Had to have an operation to staighten the right one out a few years ago. Its not a real problem unless like me it contracts to a right angle.
It can make hand jamming quite interesting

In reply to sabagnon: My Dad has this and has had two operations to straighten fingers out. He's 70 and still climbing just fine. Before he had the first operation, he found that it became difficult to handjam but this was only relatively recently and many, many years after his finger first began to claw. He has been told, though, that with one of his fingers, it would have been better if it had been straightened sooner - perhaps worth bearing in mind?

In reply to cathsullivan: Oh, and the other thing I meant to say was that he wasn't out of action for especially long when he had the surgery to straighten fingers either. Couple of months maybe - although I forget exactly how long. In general Dupuytren's has been an inconvenience to him but nothing too major and certainly hasn't substantially impacted on him climbing over the years.

In reply to sabagnon: when/if your fingers begin to contract, and it becomes a nuisance, be aware that your GP's recommendation to have an operation is NOT the only option! Check out the alternatives. Use the website www.dupuytren-online.info and learn lots to (perhaps) your advantage (as I did/do)

In reply to sabagnon:

What do the lumps look like? I have a lump on the palm of my hand - between the two lines (heart and head line?). It's not directly below the ring finger, sort of between ring and little finger. My GP diagnosed it as a ganglyon and said not to worry about it and that it would go away. It hasn't, and now, reading this, I wonder if it may be Dupuytren's.

In reply to El Greyo: Certainly sounds like one. Same as mine. I think ganglions are deeper in the hand, or on the back?

In reply to Chris F: agreed, it sounds like one. if the centre of your hand was a watch face, it'd lie around 1-2pm. mine is about 8mm across, is easily felt if you run a finger over it.

my father has it, so look for hereditary links. i have started to carry that hand (left) with pinky and ring finger crooked, involuntarily. my gp suggested splaying the entire hand outward a few times a day to put a counter-stretch in and when i do it i do feel a resistance.

if you look at the site mentioned above (dup info site) you'll see theres a list of 8-10 other things it could be tho.

at 38, my fingers are pretty straight tho. not likely to kick in heavily till middle aged, i think.
ahunter

In reply to Chris F: Thanks Chris, I guess mine is at an early stage. From reading about it in http://www.dupuytren-online.info/ it seems that radiation therapy might be useful at this stage but it doesn't sound like it's available in this country. I think I'll go back to my GP and see what he says.

In reply to sabagnon:

Just been to a specialist to look into my early onset Dupuytren's. Appears mine is too early on to do anything with. They start looking into it when you cannot straighten your hand on a desk. Then they can do the needles or operate to remove. The enzyme treatment is apparently very expensive and difficult to obtain. And equally logically speaking since it breaks down collegen and your tendons are made of collegen it does make you think that this treatment may not be ideal for climbers.

Since specialist confirmed i indeed do have Dupuytren's i can now go and buy a double horned hat with impunity.

Cheers
Tim

In reply to El Greyo:

I had one of those in exactly the same place as yours, it was about 12 years before it disappeared but it did go eventually.

In reply to tbertenshaw:

If you have NA (needle aponevrotomy) you don't have to wait so long. NA is quick and non-invasive, and can be carried out any number of times - so it's something to consider, when the DC becomes a nuisance (hand-jamming definitely a problem-in-the-making) Wear your hat with pride!

In reply to sabagnon: I have one on each hand, ring finger position, had one about 8 years, the other about 4. I remember the second one grew very quickly. No problem except slopers on grit, when they become very sore as they get ground into the rock.
I am also told it is indeed hereditary, my mother (and my brother) have them, neither climb but play piano!
Tim

In reply to RP1: Well my specialist wasn't prepared to offer it as a treatment until the condition is worse.

Cheers
Tim

In reply to jonathan shepherd:

Thanks Jonathan, looks like I have to get a definite diagnosis and it may not be Dupuytren's.

The Dupuytren's Society website mentions that radiation therapy is very effective in the early stages, but from responses here, it doesn't sound like it is available from the NHS. Anyone know more about it?