Dupuytren's Disease - Treatment in LOS?

I am afflicted with this weird ailment, causing progressive contracture of the fingers. While not life threatening, it is an annoyance. I was wondering if anyone who has this ailment has investigated treatment methods here in Thailand, either conventional or alternative. I have already consulted with the staff at AEK Udon and was told that I would have to go to Bangkok for conventional surgery, and of course they didn't want to comment on alternative treatments. No surprise there.

I am particularly interested in collagenase injection which has shown success in clinical trials, and is now in the throes of US FDA approval, which could take years. I was hoping against hope that this method, (or any other) might have made its way to LOS. Four years ago I was told by a specialist in the US about the collagenase injection and he thought it would be available in about two years. Well, he was accurate, it's still said to be two years away. And I'm sure that four years from now it will still be two years away.

So if anyone has had any experiences with this, I would love to hear it. Particularly if you or someone you know has had the surgery or better yet, experienced the alternatives. By the way please don't direct me to google, I've already researched and found much info available. I'm now looking for someone with actual local experience, or has any thoughts on the issue.

Just as a side note, and in keeping with the general tone of posts on here, I once consulted a "Chinese Herbal Medicine Doctor" in the US. She turned out to be a very beautiful Chinese lady who turned out to basically be a hooker, who suggested a nude massage was the answer. I still have the problem.

jimboLV wrote:I am afflicted with this weird ailment, causing progressive contracture of the fingers. While not life threatening, it is an annoyance. I was wondering if anyone who has this ailment has investigated treatment methods here in Thailand, either conventional or alternative. I have already consulted with the staff at AEK Udon and was told that I would have to go to Bangkok for conventional surgery, and of course they didn't want to comment on alternative treatments. No surprise there.

I am particularly interested in collagenase injection which has shown success in clinical trials, and is now in the throes of US FDA approval, which could take years. I was hoping against hope that this method, (or any other) might have made its way to LOS. Four years ago I was told by a specialist in the US about the collagenase injection and he thought it would be available in about two years. Well, he was accurate, it's still said to be two years away. And I'm sure that four years from now it will still be two years away.

So if anyone has had any experiences with this, I would love to hear it. Particularly if you or someone you know has had the surgery or better yet, experienced the alternatives. By the way please don't direct me to google, I've already researched and found much info available. I'm now looking for someone with actual local experience, or has any thoughts on the issue.

Just as a side note, and in keeping with the general tone of posts on here, I once consulted a "Chinese Herbal Medicine Doctor" in the US. She turned out to be a very beautiful Chinese lady who turned out to basically be a hooker, who suggested a nude massage was the answer. I still have the problem.

I suggest you go back and give that Chinese lady another try, just to be sure

Fox News plugged this 1 day ago also.

Also wasnt Botox suggested as a trial as well ??

Aardvark wrote:I suggest you go back and give that Chinese lady another try, just to be sure

Actually she did propose a continuing program of "treatment", but at the equivalent of 3400 Baht plus airfare, I think I could do better with one of the local girls, if I was so inclined, which I'm not, since I'm now married.

I started developing Dupuytren's Contractures around 20 years ago along with the similar condition in my feet, sometimes called Lederhose's disease. When I had it diagnosed the only treatment I was offered was surgery if the symptoms got too bad. There was a little pain involved but only with direct pressure on my palms like when I pulled hard on a rope. For what ever reason the disease never progressed very far. I still have full extension of all my fingers and no contraction in my feet. I no longer have any pain associated with the contractures but still have some hard places in my hands and feet and a little "dimpling" of my palms. It hasn't caused me any disability and, in fact, I hadn't even thought about my Dupuytren's Contractures for several years until I saw your post.

So, I can't offer you any help with local treatment but can only tell you that sometimes it does stop on its own. But I imagine the docs have already told you this.

An interesting aside is that the doctor who diagnosed me said that Dupuytren's Contracture was why the Catholic Pope just extends 2 fingers when giving a blessing. Seems one of the early Popes had it and could only extend 2 fingers but he was so popular that that way of doing it caught on. Don't know if that's true or not but if so I guess we're in good company.