I finally went to confirm my self diagnosis of the strange nodules and cords in my hands. I am not a doctor, but it is really not too hard to plug in the symptoms and see what Mr. Google tells you you have. I was correct. The hand specialist with 12 years of med school and specialized training confirmed what I, with no med school and no specialized training, had already determined. I do indeed have Dupuytren's Contractures. This is hereditary, though I don't know anyone else in my family that has it. It is usually milder in women, and sometimes associated with hand trauma. (I really hurt my hand about 3 years ago catching a frisbee and that seemed to be what precipitated the beginning of the nodules developing.) There is no cure, but there are promising new treatments of injections that are like meat tenderizer and basically dissolve the thick cords that start to grow over the tendons. The disease progresses, usually slowly, but sometimes, if hand trauma is kept at a minimum, the progression stops altogether. This would be nice since at this point, I am not at all affected by the cords, except in slight reduction of full thumb range.
I had gone to the doctor because I feared that waiting to have it diagnosed could compromise treatment. While I had correctly diagnosed myself, I didn't know what would be the best treatment. The surgery that is suggested on the internet search sounded gruesome. So I put off seeing the doctor and feared the worst. I am a writer and an artist. I need my hands. And a 6 month or longer rehab seemed out of the question....
The doctor told me that for now, there was no need to do anything! He said I should be careful not to hurt and abuse my hands (e.g. no yard work..
.yay...or really, anything that is repetitive pounding, vibration, or stress to my hands...)
"Like housework?" I begged.
"Yes," he said, "You could probably make a case for no cooking either."
"Deal!" I said.
"Typing, or drawing -- your work, will not hurt you," he added.
Well happy day! This just gets better and better!
I waltzed to the check-out counter and handed her my chart.
"No charge," she said, "Have a nice day."
So, I had been so worried and concerned and need not have been. Down the road, I may need the injections, but maybe not for ten years. Who knows what wonderful less invasive procedures might be available in ten years? God tells us repeatedly that we are to be anxious for nothing, that tomorrow has enough worries of its own, and that we are to deal today only with the struggles before us that day. What a lovely validation that this is truly a good plan.
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you
will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put
on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at
the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than
they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his
span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I
tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the
day is its own trouble.
Wonderful news! So glad to hear it!
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