Description
For Pat Torvestad, music and movement are essential parts of life. When Dupuytren’s disease began affecting her hands, simple things like playing the piano, doing yoga, and everyday tasks became a challenge. In this uplifting story, Pat shares how treatment at UAMS Health—with Dr. Wyrick and the dedicated hand therapy team—helped her regain mobility and return to the activities she loves. Whether you’re an artist, athlete, or just want to feel like yourself again, this story shows the power of expert care and perseverance.
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Transcript
My name is Pat Torvestad. The piano is the main reason that I sought out help from Dr. Wyrick. I’ve known Pat for quite a long time. She’s had different issues involving her hands and wrists that I’ve had the opportunity to take care of over the years. In particular most recently she came with a condition called Dupuytren’s disease. The main thing that happens is it starts to draw the fingers down over time such that initially you can get your hand flat but as this condition develops the fingers can start to draw down and you can’t actually straighten them and so this affects your function. In particular with Pat she’s a pianist and she’s also very active um doing yoga and other sort of activities and so this was really affecting her ability to play her ability to work out and stay fit but just also her day-to-day life and function when people play the
piano they need to be able to spread their hand and if you can’t spread your hand you have to play little baby pieces you can’t play big boy music and so I asked her one time if there was anything that could be done and she said “We have an injection and I think you’re a good candidate for it.” Well when I got both hands that I could open them out I resumed playing some of the music um that I really have enjoyed and the hand therapy people are marvelous they really know their business. If you have a finger that prevents you from playing the cello or golfing or in like I do yoga. The down dog position requires it. If you’ve got this finger that’s drawing in you need to go get a consult and make an appointment at UAMS.
