Dupuytren's Contracture

As you can see by my hand photos I’ve been away from

painting and making art for a little bit of time. Some

of you who follow my blog know that I have Dupuytren's

Contracture . I’m in an experimental program at UCLA

to find a resolution for the problem. So – one of my

finger joints was injected with something that is suppose

to dissolve the something in my finger joint that is

causing the contracture. Here you can see the result

of the injection –swelling of the hand and fingers. My

fingers are curled under or inward on my hand

because of the contractures. There was not a whole

lot of pain with the injection or when they stretch

and pop the contracture the next day. I’ve read other

accounts on the internet speaking about the pain but

in my case and in the case of others in the study with

me at UCLA there doesn’t seem to be to be as much

as I expected. It has been a few days now and I’m

thrilled with the result. The one joint that was

injected has opened up quite a bit – not a full

extension – but I can use that hand a lot better than

I could before. The experimental program runs

through November and I have four more injections

and physical therapy over that time so hopefully I

will get a lot of the hand repaired. The other hand

and thumbs gets left to future hopes.

Dupuytren’s Contractures guinea pig

Yesterday I went in for my second review to become a
lab rat at UCLA Medical. It looks like they are going to
experiment on me to help resolve the Dupuytren’s
Contractures I have in my hands. I always wanted to
be a guinea pig. The UCLA Medical clinical trials is a year
study where I have to go in quite regularly. I’m hoping this
process will not hamper me painting.They will be injecting
me with an enzyme that is to treat Dupuytren's contracture,
a disabling and recurring condition in which the joints in
the hand contract. I can’t straighten and move some of
my fingers in both hands, and it has caused some of
my fingers to curl. The current treatment for the
condition is surgery but the main problem with that
is there are the significant chance for the condition
to come back and the risk of damaging certain nerves
during surgery.

You can see a piece of art I made addressing the
disease on this blog.
Click on this link : Assemblage

Dupuytren's Contracture Hand Art Assembledge

Artist’s Hand.
Rubber Painting glove, Glass bottle necks, clay
(see below for description of
Dupuytren's Contracture hands)

People have asked about this art and what it means.

It relates directly to my hands. I have limited and have
what is called Dupuytren's Contracture. In the photos
of my hands they are extended or opened as far as I can.
(Difficult to shake hands or try on gloves) Two fingers
on both hands have curled in and will continue to curl in.
The same is happening with the thumbs. (I can only hold
a beer bottle by the neck) At this time this is as open as I
can make them. My hands will continue to close and may
spread to other fingers. Doctors do not know what causes
the disease. (But people with alcoholics, diabetics, epilepsy
and Vikings in the family are candidates) I like theViking part
but the alcoholics and epilepsy is too close to home. I can
also throw in a couple of Paranoid Schizoids from the family
and some have said I’m a “mental”. So I am a prime
candidate for the Dupuytren's

There is no cure but operations can temporary resolve some

of the problems. Some risks are involved (nerve damage and,
mostly likely, return of the Dupuytren's) that I am not willing
to take. (What’s the point if they can be damaged more
and return) They are still useful to me but I do a lot of fumbling.

For those of you that may have Dupuytren's Contracture and
want to ask questions please feel free to ask. As I have been
dealing with this for over twelve years I know a lot about it.
I have also been interviewed and may get to be “lab rat”
in a year-long clinical study at UCLA Medical. (no cutting involved)