The ring finger does not straighten.
Kensington, Maryland, December 23, 2015 — This is going to be short because I’m typing with one hand. Apologies to my Facebook friends. You already know this, but you’ll see it again because my blog automatically posts to Facebook and Twitter.
I won’t be involved in much outdoor activity for awhile and there’s a good reason.
I inherited a recessive gene that causes Dupeytren’s Contracture. This is sometimes called “trigger finger.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupuytren’s_contracture. Dupeytren’s is common to people of northern European heritage.
I like to say that the Vikings married their sisters back in the fiords, then spread the love while raiding and pillaging the British isles and the north coast of the continent.
Unfortunately I have a aggressive case and it exists in both hands. The disadvantage as a hiker, backpacker and trail maintainer is this: I can’t get a glove or mitten on my right hand. That could mean a quick trip to frostbite city in cold weather. This condition specifically kept me from hiking the Long Trail this month with my friend Max and his dad.
Dupeytren’s (named by a pioneering French anatomist) can be treated in two ways.
The traditional approach is surgical where they slice away the collagen that grows around the affected tendons. The much newer alternative is to inject a solution that dissolves the culprit collagen.
I’ve previously had two surgeries on my right hand, and I had one injection procedure immediately before starting the winter portion of my AT thru hike..
This week I had another injection, this time into my right ring finger. The next day the doc straightened it out using a technique that I am certain came right out of the CIA’s torture handbook. Trust me. You’d cough up your secrets!
Novocaine is used both prior to the Xiaflex injection and subsequently when the orthopod unbends the affected finger.
The injection of bacteria-derived proteins (marketed as Xiaflex) is quick and done in the physician’s office. The procedure itself is more unpleasant than surgery – I mean they stick needles into the palm of your hand – albeit numbed with Novocaine, but even with the magic of numbness, it’s not nearly as fun as going to the dentist.
Post manipulation. The bruising gets more pronounced the second day.
The Xiaflex advantage is a blessedly quick recovery. I expect to return to the gym after two weeks. I should be able to run on Christmas Day.
A brace is fashioned to help keep the fingers straight. Physical therapists work about every other day to return the finger as close to normal as possible. After a week, the brace is worn only at night – for four weeks.
Later in January I’ll have surgery to clean up the Dupeytren’s affecting my left thumb because I can barely open a large peanut butter jar.
The FDA has not approved Xiaflex for use on thumbs. Fingers only. Surgical recovery is a full six weeks. The PT is similar for either procedure.
Does not sound fun, but at least good when it’s over. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Thanks.
That is informative. I’m glad I don’t have the condition. Needles into the hand would hurt. I would be visiting the Jameson bottle a lot prior to the procedure.
I will admit to a little nip of single malt.
Good choice. 🍷
Wow…..not a fun thing to experience!! Hope the treatments work for you! Wishing you fast healing and a Merry Christmas!
Thanks and to you as well.
You could change your blog title from “Fork in the Road” to “Needle in the Finger”!!! :-0 !!!
How about a needle in the wallet. The drug costs $3,800 per finger! That’s cheaper than the OR, but still horribly expensive.
Hating about your hand, sure hope you are well and have the greatest Christmas you have ever had……..
You too Larry.
Holy cow!!! This had better work !!!! Thank you Viking ancestors!! How did they grip the oars of their ships?????
It tends to show up for most later in life, so I suspect the didn’t live long enough. Me. I was 38 when diagnosed.
Bob says it could be worse. You could have Peyronie’s Disease. That’s the same as Dupeytren’s (i.e., build-up of collagen to bend the finger in half) except it affects a certain other part of the body.
I am both aware and thankful. Can’t say more in a family blog.
I am from Scots, Vikings, and other far-northerners. I never heard of this before you mentioned it before. Hope you’re feeling better soon and the surgery to come provides more improvement.
(I had novocaine into my finger a few years ago, several shots because IT WOULDN’T NUMB! A lotta shots for nothing. Like Jim said, shots of a different nature would work better.)
Sadly there is a correlation between Dupeytren’s virulence and alcohol. :-O
🙁
I get it. I should say I’ve got it. My DC is still early and only shows as the hard line across my palms toward the ring finger of both hands. Hope it doesn’t get to the C part for a long time yet. Not looking forward to the cure.
I have a particularly aggressive case. Most people don’t have to undergo the extensive treatment that I do. For example, the Xyaflex therapy for most patients is far less complicated. Good luck. You’ll know when it’s time to deal with it.
I have this condition in 3 of my fingers on my right hand ( middle to little) and 4 fingers on my left hand nose picker to little finger. The only problem I have is shaking hands, washing my hair, grabbing a BIG GULP and trying to fish my change out of the coke machine change bin. I have had the hypodermic needle whittle, but that was a flop. I would like to try this procedure with the xiaflex and hopefully I will have good results. I think the needle whittling was about 45,000 dollars , so 7 fingers @ 3500 is by far cheaper. Thank you for your blog, if I could get a picture of my fingers on here I would post them. I have good insurance, so that won’t be a problem, I just want my hands back
In my case, it’s not 100 percent, but the improvement is worth it.