14 Typical Signs of Dupuytren’s Contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that leads to immobility of the hands and fingers as well as difficulty performing everyday tasks including writing, typing, and shaking hands with your associates. There is no clear answer to what exactly causes this disease — through various risk factors have already been identified. There are many signs that you might have Dupuytren’s contracture.

As with any other disease, it’s important that you get yourself officially diagnosed with your physician rather than gauging the symptoms for yourself and Googling to find an answer. Nonetheless, identifying what the symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture are can still be beneficial as it might give you some context on the disease. If you notice yourself with any of these symptoms, don’t panic. There is considerable overlap in many diseases, so what might appear to be Dupuytren’s contracture symptoms could actually be caused by something else. Never jump to a conclusion before first consulting with your doctor.

1. Thickening of the skin

It’s important to understand that Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition that progresses rather slowly. You won’t just wake up one morning and be unable to move any of your fingers. This is why doctors categorize it as a chronic condition as opposed to an acute one. Many people trip over this medical jargon, but the truth is that chronic just means over a longer period of time while acute means suddenly occurring and/or rapidly progressing. In the early stages of Dupuytren’s contracture, you might find your skin becoming thicker. This could be caused by various other types of dermal conditions, but it can also be a result of early-onset Dupuytren’s syndrome.

While you should never panic if you find your skin thickening, it would still be worth running a few tests with your physician so that you can pinpoint the cause and verify whether or not it is, in fact, Dupuytren’s contracture.