Patient series - Patient 6 Introduction

Introduction to the sixth patient that I am going to follow on a monthly basis.

Please state your age, gender, country of origin and where you live (if different to origin) and how long you have had the condition?

54, Female, UK, 2 years 8months.

Do you have it in both feet or any hands?

Both feet

Please detail any family history or common risk factors which apply to you:

2 paternal Aunties and 1 paternal Uncle have Dupuytren’s

Please list any treatments you have had, the time since you had them, the progress (or lack of) after treatment and any side effects:

No treatment to date

Please detail any other information from your past which you think may be relevant and not covered in the monthly questions:

Nothing that I think could be relevant although I have had a raised TSH level for the same length of time as I’ve had the fibromas in my feet.

Monthly Questions:

In the last month have you noticed any changes in the pain or size of the nodules? Or have any new nodules have developed?

Increased pain

Please list a) The maximum pain b) the average pain c) the minimum pain you experienced this month and anything that improved or worsened the pain.

This month I have noticed an increase in pain due to returning back to work, following sick leave. Sitting at a desk all day and not exercising regularly

In the last month what medication or treatments have you had, please describe in as much detail as possible including whether prescribed or home treatment, if applicable where the treatment was administered, by whom, cost (if happy to share) and how this has impacted the condition

To enable me to return to work I have been prescribed Amitriptyline 20mg a day and codeine to take as an when to help with pain. In the last month I have started taking Levothyroxine 50 mg a day due to a raised TSH.

Please describe how the condition has impacted you on a daily basis in the last month and any new steps (not treatments) that you have taken to try and alleviate this impact.

I think feet first and avoid situations such as queues, shopping centres and walking any distance on flat surfaces. If I do, the pain worsens, I have used a wheelchair to avoid aggravating the lumps, so as a preventative measure.

During the summer months I was on sick leave and managed my feet by elevated rest and exercising, which gave me great relief.

Please describe the level of exercise that you have been able to achieve this month and any specific diets you have used if you think they have impacted the condition.

Very little exercise this month and this has impacted on the pain, which has increased.

Please list any other information that you think would be useful

I have had a raised TSH thyroid level for the same length of time as I have had the fibromas in my feet.