Dupuytren's Disease
16 December 2008 - 4:51pm
After reading some of the articles here : http://www.athlon.com.au/articles.htm i got paranoid about having the begginnings of Dupuytren's Disease.
Has anyone suffered from this? How did it start and do you have any tips on prevention?
I doubt that this would be covered by ACC so I am putting off going to a physio, especially if my tendons are crying wolf.
I am hoping that this is just hypochondria. I got was a wreck after reading "One Move Too Many".
5 September 2009 - 3:51am
#2
Has anyone suffered from this?
Yes I badly tweaked one finger. It was the result of working a route, and repentantly pulling on the same small pocket. When I damaged my finger I felt a sharp pain, but nothing over the top, and decided to have another go at it. The second time it hurt a little more. It's hard to describe but a sharper pain than what you would want, but at the time I thought that I'd rest up and try again in 2 days time, but the pain didn't fade like I would of expected.
After several attempts of resting, up to 1 - 2 months I decided to go to a doctor. My grandmother has Dupuytren's Disease and the doctor (who is also a climber) told me this is what I had.
The result is I needed over 1 years total rest, but I'm climbing again now and every thing is fine.
When I hurt my finger I had been climbing full time for 3 months solid, 2 days on 1 off. I had jumped about 4 grades in this time and I was working a route which was overhung with pockets. If I'd slowed down when I first tweaked my finger, I'm sure 1 weeks rest, or just dropping down some grades would of been all that was required.
Do the normal things like warm up and stretch before doing harder climbs. And take a rest day if you are feeling tired. But like sally said, I have a family history, so it's more likely to effect me.
I also take deer velvet now, I think it is supposed to help tendon strength.
Anyway, I hope this goes some way to answering your question.
30 September 2009 - 5:11pm
#3
I got Dupuytrens Contracture in my mid to late 30's. It was triggered by a decade of serious rockclimbing. I had scottish ancestors but have blue eyes so there is some viking in there too. 90% of Icelandic men have the disease.
I worked on ladders and roofs but had to give up my job because i couldn't put my palm flat to stabiilize myself. Even basic things like yoga/ pilates floor exercises I had to give up, or do them on my fists. I also couldn't clap my hands.
I was on a waiting list for an operation but in the end the hospital told me they were too busy with skin cancer operations and couldn't treat me.
I got it done privately, for about $4500 when I was about 44. It's incurable and will grow back eventually. If untreated it eventually requires amputation of the affecred fingers.
I stay off crimpy holds as much as possible, bouldering is definitely out, but alpine climbing and endurance climbing is fine. Don't take glucosamine supplements because this is the major ingredient that makes up the excess growth in the pad on the palm of the hand.
It's somewhat genetic..Any family history?
I have a friend with it I'll ask him how it started.