Tag Archives: dupuytren contracture

Can’t Straighten Finger

Posted on by Dr. Herazy

Is Dupuytren contracture the reason I can’t straighten my finger?

Plus put in link below the titles for testimonials etc.

Dupuytren's contracture cord can't straighten finger.Knowing a finger can’t straighten is not enough information to answer this question. However, the most likely reason a person can’t straighten their finger is Dupuytren contracture.  Other, less likely possibilities are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trigger finger (tenosynovitis) and diabetes.  It is important to see your doctor to investigate these possibilities, and others, if there are good reasons to do so.     

Get help when a bent finger won’t straighten with safe natural treatment

Great news!  Surgery is not always necessary when a bent finger won’t straighten because of Dupuytren’s contracture.  Since 2002 the Dupuytren Contracture Institute has helped people who struggle with a bent finger won’t straighten at all.  People who closely follow the DCI treatment strategy early can do rather well.  We hear from 8-10 people who use our large treatment plan reporting they see moderate to marked reduction of their signs and symptoms of Dupuytren, for every one report of failure.

The larger the treatment plan, and the closer a person follows DCI treatment suggestions, the better the Dupuytren self-heals. When a person can’t straighten a finger from a bent position, it is time to act. For information about DCI treatment plans.

Regardless, it is important for people with Dupuytren to understand that self-repair and self-healing happen every day. People heal an unknown percent of early Dupuytren disease, and even reduce later, larger palm nodules and cords of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Our position has always been that while hand surgery is always an option, it makes sense to first attempt non-surgical treatment and therefore possibly avoid the inherent risks of surgery.

>> Dupuytren Contracture Treatment – FAQs

>> Testimonials from Dupuytren Contracture Institute

How do use natural therapy for Dupuytren’s disease?
► It’s easy.  Click on Start Dupuytren’s Treatment

Let’s explore this problem through a few questions commonly asked by people who when a finger hurts to straighten.

Is Dupuytren contracture the reason I can’t straighten my finger?

As discussed in the first paragraph, there are many reasons to explain why a finger can’t straighten.  Even so, the reader can be fairly confident the finger won’t straighten due to Dupuytren contracture when several of these risk factors are present:

  • Age 50+
  • Family descended from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or a Scandinavian country
  • One or more family members have Dupuytren contracture
  • Musician
  • Diabetic
  • History of recent injury or surgery to upper extremities
  • History of alcohol abuse or liver disease
  • History of diabetes
  • History of heavy manual labor

Dupuytren’s disease and trigger finger

Let’s also consider in a little more detail another reason why it hurts to straighten finger stiffness:  trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis).

Trigger finger happens when the tendon that controls a finger can’t glide smoothly in the sheath that surrounds it. Two situations can cause this to happen.  One, a swollen tendon in the palm gets stuck on a narrowed part of the tendon sheath that surrounds that tendon.  Two, when the sheath becomes narrowed for some reason, like pressure caused by an abnormal DC palm lump that should not be in the palm. Any finger can display a trigger finger that suddenly locks up while in a bent position and just as          suddenly releases the hold – like pulling a trigger and it suddenly snaps free. Trigger finger can be occasional or frequent, mild or severe, locked in a bent position for a short or prolonged time, and mildly or severely painful.

It is rather common for trigger finger to develop in one or more fingers that also have Dupuytren’s contracture going on.  To say it another way, trigger finger is a common complication and can occur at the same time a finger won’t straighten due to Dupuytren’s contracture. This happens because of tissue irritation caused by the expanding palm lump and finger cord. Of course, this leads to inflammation and swelling (narrowing) of the tendon sheath.

There are a few important differences between trigger finger and Dupuytren contracture. Trigger finger has a very sudden onset.  Plus, it has a popping sound with the sudden release of the swollen tendon within the sheath covering it. In these cases, a trigger finger is normal between episodes. However, the stuck finger of Dupuytren contracture has a very slow onset. Likewise, there is no popping sound because there is no tendon release.  Lastly, the locked finger of Dupuytren contracture is constant.

>> Natural Dupuytren Contracture Treatment – FAQs

Are the Dupuytren nodules or cords a type of tumor of the hand?

No, Dupuytren’s contracture is not a cancerous tumor.   However, certain serious hand cancers can also cause hand pain, reduced finger movement and swelling.  For example, giant cell tumor and epithelioid sarcoma. For this reason, if there is a history of cancer in your family, or something about your current problem make you suspect cancer, it is wise to have your doctor evaluate your hand complaints. The true cause of a finger can’t straighten without great pain must be determined, cancer or not.

What keeps my fingers bent all the time?

Dupuytren contracture begins as a thickening of the deep tissue of the palm (palmar fascia).  This tissue is located below the skin and above the bones and tendons of the palm.  This thickened palm lump grows slowly.  Sometimes, very slowly, like many years. Eventually it develops a cord of dense tissue that attaches to a finger.  Over time, this cord shortens or contracts, causing that finger to curl down toward the palm. This reduces movement of the involved fingers. At this stage, the finger hurts to straighten.  Sooner or later, the hand takes on the appearance of a modified fist or claw.

How do use natural therapy for Dupuytren’s disease?
► It’s easy.  Click on Start Dupuytren’s Treatment

Is this why my finger can’t straighten?

Exactly.  People comment that when their Dupuytren contracture started up, they can’t straighten finger without pain. This resulted in great clumsiness.  Slowly and gradually, this changes.  Soon the involved  won’t straighten out completely, eventually constricting finger movement completely.

Is this the reason my finger is bent and won’t straighten without pain?

Pain is a fairly common complaint when Dupuytren contracture begins, often described as constant stinging or burning pain wherever there are lumps on the palm of the hand.  Over time, as each finger gets stuck in a constant bent position, pain becomes less frequent and less intense.

Generally, Dupuytren contracture is not a very painful condition.  Dupuytren’s contracture is known mostly for their bent finger won’t straighten s, (slug-here), inability to fully open the hand, as well as the palm lumps. When pain is a major issue with Dupuytren’s contracture it is because the growing and contracting collagen tissue is pressing on, or wrapping around, nerve tissue in the palm.

Bent Little Finger

Posted on by Dr. Herazy

Why do I have a bent little finger, and I can’t straighten it? 

Bent little finger can be caused by Dupuytren's contracture. A little finger that stays bent can be cuased also by arthritis and trigger finger and a few other problems. The most common cause of bent little fingers is Dupuytren Contracture. Little finger bent makes life complicated. Based on the single finding of a bent little finger, no confident answer to this question is possible. However, the most likely reason for a bent little finger is Dupuytren contracture.  Other, less likely possibilities are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trigger finger (tenosynovitis) and diabetes.  It might be important to see your doctor to investigate these other possibilities if your personal history and situation indicates it is necessary.  

Straighten that bent little finger with safe natural treatment

Great news!  Surgery is not always necessary to straighten a bent little finger that is so common with  Dupuytren’s contracture.  Since 2002 the Dupuytren Contracture Institute has helped people when the little finger won’t straighten.  People who closely follow the DCI treatment strategy early can do rather well with it. We hear from 8-10 people who use our large treatment plan reporting they see moderate to marked reduction of their signs and symptoms of Dupuytren, like bent little fingers, for every one report of failure.

Little finger is bent – no more!

We find that the larger the treatment plan, and the closer a person follows DCI treatment suggestions, the better the Dupuytren self-heals. Learn at DCI how so many people whose little finger is bent into the palm got help.

For information about DCI treatment plans. 

Regardless, it is important for people with Dupuytren to understand that self-repair and self-healing happen every day. People heal an unknown percent of early Dupuytren disease, and even reduce later, larger palm nodules and cords of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Our position has always been that while hand surgery is always an option, it makes sense to first attempt non-surgical treatment and therefore possibly avoid the inherent risks of surgery.

How do use natural therapy for Dupuytren’s disease?
► It’s easy.  Click on Start Dupuytren’s Treatment

Let’s explore this problem through a few questions commonly asked by people who want to know why the little fingers stay bent.

How do I know it is Dupuytren that is causing my bent little finger? 

First of all, there is one big reason to believe a bent pinky finger in particular is due to Dupuytren’s contracture.  The two fingers most commonly affected by DC, by far, are the little finger and the ring finger.  Of these two, the little finger is most common.    

As discussed in the first paragraph, there are many possible reasons that a little finger stays bent. Even so, the reader can be fairly confident the bent pinky is due to Dupuytren contracture when several of these risk factors are present:

  • Age 50+
  • Family descended from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or a Scandinavian country
  • One or more family members have Dupuytren contracture
  • Musician
  • Diabetic
  • History of recent injury or surgery to upper extremities
  • History of alcohol abuse or liver disease
  • History of diabetes
  • History of heavy manual labor

Dupuytren’s disease and trigger finger

Let’s also consider in more detail another reason why a little finger won’t straighten: trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis).

Trigger finger happens when the tendon that controls a finger can’t glide smoothly in the sheath that surrounds it.   Two situations can cause this.  One, a swollen tendon gets stuck on a narrowed part of the tendon sheath.  Two, when the sheath becomes narrowed for some reason, like pressure caused by an abnormal DC palm lump. Any finger can be a trigger finger that suddenly locks up in a bent position, and just as suddenly releases the hold.  Just like pulling a trigger and it suddenly snaps free. Trigger finger can be occasional or frequent, mild or severe, locked in a bent position for a short or prolonged time, and mildly or severely painful.

It is rather common for trigger finger to develop in one or more fingers that also have Dupuytren’s contracture going on.  To say it another way, trigger finger is a common complication and can occur at the same time as Dupuytren’s contracture. This happens because of tissue irritation caused by the expanding palm lump and finger cord. Of course, this leads to inflammation and swelling (narrowing) of the tendon sheath. Trigger finger and a bent little finger are a direct result of these tissue changes.

There are a few important differences between trigger finger and Dupuytren contracture. Trigger finger has a very sudden onset.  Plus, it has a popping sound with the sudden release of the swollen tendon within the sheath covering it. In these cases, a trigger finger is normal between episodes. However, the stuck little finger of Dupuytren contracture has a very slow onset. Likewise, there is no popping sound because there is no tendon release.  Lastly, the locked finger of Dupuytren contracture is constant.

>> Natural Dupuytren Contracture Treatment – FAQs

Are Dupuytren nodules or cords a type of tumor of the hand?

No, Dupuytren’s contracture is not a cancerous tumor.   However, certain serious hand cancers can also cause hand pain, reduced finger movement and swelling.  For example, giant cell tumor and epithelioid sarcoma. For this reason, if there is a history of cancer in your family, or something about your current problem makes you suspect cancer, it is wise to have your doctor evaluate your hand complaints. The true cause of a bent little finger can be determined, cancer or not.

What keeps my little fingers bent all the time and why is it my little fingers won’t straighten?

There is a reason you have bent little fingers when you have Dupuytren contracture. It all beings with a thickening of the deep tissue of the palm (palmar fascia). This tissue is located below the skin and above the bones and tendons of the palm.  This thickened palm tissue slowly grows, and this is the main problem the little fingers stay bent.  As the lump continues to grow it develops a cord of dense tissue that attaches to a finger.  Over time, this cord shortens or contracts, causing that finger to curl down toward the palm. This keeps these fingers bent.  At this stage, the pinky fingers won’t straighten. Eventually, the hand takes on the appearance of a modified fist or claw.  This is why the little fingers stay bent.

How do use natural therapy for Dupuytren’s disease?
► It’s easy.  Click on Start Dupuytren’s Treatment

Is this why my pinky finger is bent?

Exactly.  People comment that when their Dupuytren contracture started up, they had a bent little finger  without any pain. This resulted in great clumsiness.  Slowly and gradually, this changes.  Soon the involved little finger stays bent and can’t straighten out completely.

Is this the reason my bent little finger does not hurt me?

Pain is a fairly common complaint when Dupuytren contracture begins. In the early stage, it causes a cnstant stinging or burning pain wherever there are lumps on the palm.  Over time, as the little finger stays stuck in a constant bent position, pain becomes less frequent and less intense.

Generally, Dupuytren contracture is not a very painful condition.  Dupuytren’s contracture is known mostly for the bent fingers, inability to fully open the hand, as well as the palm lumps. When pain is a major issue with Dupuytren’s contracture it is because the growing and contracting collagen tissue is pressing on, or wrapping around, nerve tissue in the palm.

Bent pinky finger

Posted on by Dr. Herazy

Why do I have a bent pinky finger, and it won’t straighten out?

Bent pinky finger is a little finger stays bent and won't straighten. This picture shows a pinky finger stays bent with or without pain. Based on the single finding of a bent pinky finger, no confident answer to this question is possible. However, the most likely reason for a bent pinky finger is Dupuytren contracture.  Other, less likely possibilities are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, trigger finger (tenosynovitis) and diabetes.  It might be important to see your doctor to investigate these other possibilities if your personal history and situation indicates it is necessary.

Straighten that bent pinky finger with safe natural treatment

Great news!  Surgery is not always necessary to straighten a bent pink finger that is so common with  Dupuytren’s contracture.  Since 2002 the Dupuytren Contracture Institute has helped people when the little finger won’t straighten.  People who closely follow the DCI treatment strategy early can do rather well with it. We hear from 8-10 people who use our large treatment plan reporting they see moderate to marked reduction of their signs and symptoms of Dupuytren, for every one report of failure.

We find that the larger the treatment plan, and the closer a person follows DCI treatment suggestions, the better the Dupuytren self-heals. For information about DCI treatment plans.

Regardless, it is important for people with Dupuytren to understand that self-repair and self-healing happen every day. People heal an unknown percent of early Dupuytren disease, and even reduce later, larger palm nodules and cords of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Our position has always been that while hand surgery is always an option, it makes sense to first attempt non-surgical treatment and therefore possibly avoid the inherent risks of surgery.

How do use natural therapy for Dupuytren’s disease?
► It’s easy.  Click on Start Dupuytren’s Treatment

Let’s explore this problem through a few questions commonly asked by people who want to know more about their bent pinky.  Anyone who can say “my pinky finger is bent and it won’t straighten” knows the frustration of dealing with this kind of problem.

How do I know it is Dupuytren that is causing my bent pinky finger? 

First of all, there is one big reason to believe a bent little finger in particular is due to Dupuytren’s contracture.  The two fingers most commonly affected by DC, by far, are the pinky finger and the ring finger.  Of these two, the little finger is most common.

As discussed in the first paragraph, there are many possible reasons a pinky finger stays bent. Even so, the reader can be fairly confident the bent pinky due to Dupuytren contracture when several of these risk factors are present:

  • Age 50+
  • Family descended from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or a Scandinavian country
  • One or more family members have Dupuytren contracture
  • Musician
  • Diabetic
  • History of recent injury or surgery to upper extremities
  • History of alcohol abuse or liver disease
  • History of diabetes
  • History of heavy manual labor

Dupuytren’s disease and trigger finger

Let’s also consider in more detail another reason why a bent pinky finger develops:  trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis).

Trigger finger happens when the tendon that controls a finger can’t glide smoothly in the sheath that surrounds it.   Two situations can cause this.  One, a swollen tendon gets stuck on a narrowed part of the tendon sheath.  Two, when the sheath becomes narrowed for some reason, like pressure caused by an abnormal DC palm lump. Any finger can be a trigger finger that suddenly locks up in a bent position, and just as suddenly releases the hold.  Just like pulling a trigger and it suddenly snaps free. Trigger finger can be occasional or frequent, mild or severe, locked in a bent position for a short or prolonged time, and mildly or severely painful.

It is rather common for trigger finger to develop in one or more fingers that also have Dupuytren’s contracture going on.  To say it another way, trigger finger is a common complication and can occur at the same time as Dupuytren’s contracture. This happens because of tissue irritation caused by the expanding palm lump and finger cord. Of course, this leads to inflammation and swelling (narrowing) of the tendon sheath. Trigger finger and a bent pinky finger are a direct result of these tissue changes.

There are a few important differences between trigger finger and Dupuytren contracture. Trigger finger has a very sudden onset.  Plus, it has a popping sound with the sudden release of the swollen tendon within the sheath covering it. In these cases, a trigger finger is normal between episodes. However, the stuck finger of Dupuytren contracture has a very slow onset. Likewise, there is no popping sound because there is no tendon release.  Lastly, the locked finger of Dupuytren contracture is constant.

>> Natural Dupuytren Contracture Treatment – FAQs

Are Dupuytren nodules or cords a type of tumor of the hand?

No, Dupuytren’s contracture is not a cancerous tumor.   However, certain serious hand cancers can also cause hand pain, reduced finger movement and swelling.  For example, giant cell tumor and epithelioid sarcoma. For this reason, if there is a history of cancer in your family, or something about your current problem makes you suspect cancer, it is wise to have your doctor evaluate your hand complaints. The true cause of a bent little finger can be determined, cancer or not.

What keeps my pinky fingers bent all the time?

Dupuytren contracture begins as a thickening of the deep tissue of the palm (palmar fascia).  This tissue is located below the skin and above the bones and tendons of the palm.  This thickened palm tissue slowly grows, and as it does it develops a cord of dense tissue that attaches to a finger.  Over time, this cord shortens or contracts, causing that finger to curl down toward the palm. This reduces movement of the little fingers. At this stage, the finger pinky fingers won’t straighten. Eventually, the hand takes on the appearance of a modified fist or claw.

How do use natural therapy for Dupuytren’s disease?
► It’s easy.  Click on Start Dupuytren’s Treatment

Is this why my pinky finger is bent?

Exactly.  People comment that when their Dupuytren contracture started up, they had a bent pinky finger  without any pain. This resulted in great clumsiness.  Slowly and gradually, this changes.  Soon the involved little finger stays bent and can’t straighten out completely.

Is this why my bent little finger does not hurt me?

Pain is a fairly common complaint when Dupuytren contracture begins. Early on, it is often described as constant stinging or burning pain wherever there are lumps on the palm.  Over time, as each finger stays stuck in a constant bent position, pain becomes less frequent and less intense.

Generally, Dupuytren contracture is not a very painful condition.  Dupuytren’s contracture is known mostly for the bent fingers,, inability to fully open the hand, as well as the palm lumps. When pain is a major issue with Dupuytren’s contracture it is because the growing and contracting collagen tissue is pressing on, or wrapping around, nerve tissue in the palm.

Dupuytren contracture recurrence after hand surgery

Posted on by Dr. Herazy

Recurrence of Dupuytren contracture is commonDupuytren contracture recurrence is the return of excessive collagen and fibrin into the palm after hand surgery.

Dupuytren contracture recurrence means that the abnormal palm and finger tissue comes back after surgical removal. For example, after surgically removing the palm lump, it grows back again.  And, after surgically straightening the bent finger to some degree, the finger cord grows back, pulling the finger down toward the palm again. This happens because this is the nature of Dupuytren disease. Excessive and spontaneous collagen production in the palm of the hand continues because surgery cannot stop it.

Recurrence of Dupuytren contracture after surgery is common and frequent.  This return of the Dupuytren contracture tissue is exactly why some people have 2-4, or more, hand surgeries. They always think the next surgery will solve their problem.

Surgeons admit that “sometimes the Dupuytren contracture returns within a few months after surgery.  Other times, it can return many years – even decades – later.”  It has been written, if a person lives long enough after hand surgery, the Dupuytren tissue will eventually return.

No Dupuytren contracture recurrence with natural treatment

Good news!  Based on reports from customers using the DCI large treatment plan, 8-10 people have moderate to marked reduction of palm lumps and finger cords, for every one who reports no change.  Since 2002, no one has ever reported a recurrence or worsening or side effect after improving their DC with the DCI treatment method.

The purpose of using natural Alternative Medicine treatment is to get that DC tissue healing, thus avoiding the need for any hand surgery. If you can get better on your own, there is no need to worry about Dupuytren contracture recurrence.

The DCI treatment system has saved countless people from needing hand surgery. Their fingers and palms improved enough with the DCI method that they, and their doctors, did not think surgery was still necessary.

Get started with    Dupuytren’s contracture natural treatment 

An old and common surgical problem  

The greatest French surgeon of the 19th century was Guillaume Dupuytren.  Even so, he also had patients whose palm lumps and finger contractures returned after hand surgery. He experimented with a variety of tactics and methods to minimize the return, but none were totally successful. Some things never change.

So, if Dupuytren contracture continues to be a problem during 300 years of surgery, what does that mean?  That they were all bad surgeons?  No, of course not.  Actually, even fantastic surgeons must deal with recurrence of Dupuytren contracture.  Fundamentally, the real problem is that Dupuytren disease is a nasty problem.  After surgery the patient still has Dupuytren disease.  And, of course, this means the patient still has the tendency to produce too much collagen and fibrin – even after surgical removal of the palm lump and finger cord.

Here is the nasty truth about Dupuytren contracture:  There is no way to get rid of it by cutting it out or dissolving it with Xiaflex (collagenase enzyme). It just keeps coming back.

Hand surgery to remove the palm lump and finger cord is like hitting a skunk with a stick to get it out of your garage. Forcing the skunk out just creates more trouble, and you get more of what you are trying to get rid of.

DCI thinks it is smarter and safer to get the skunk to leave quietly, naturally, so it does not cause any more stink.

People tell us about their Dupuytren contracture recurrence  

At DCI, we talk to many people about their Dupuytren problems. As you might suspect, the subject of Dupuytren contracture recurrence is a popular topic. Based on these conversations, we learn the average persons’ Dupuytren recurrence returns 2-3 years after surgery. It is not uncommon for recurrence to start in less than a year; some just a few months after hand surgery.  At the other extreme, other people say their DC took 5-10 years or more to return.

In addition, we discuss the actual condition of the hand when the DC returns. Do not assume that after returning, the Dupuytren problem will be the same as before surgery. Perhaps it might feel good for a few months, or even or year or so.  Eventually, the hand contracture will return. How good or bad the hand becomes depends ultimately on many different factors that are beyond the control of the doctor:

  1. Amount of normal and abnormal superficial and deep tissue that must be removed.
  2. Size of the palm lump and finger removed.
  3. How deeply the palm lump and finger cord has grown into the surrounding normal tissue.
  4. Where the palm lump and finger cord are located in relation to important blood vessels, muscles and nerves.
  5. If skin grafts are necessary to close the incisions, and if they heal well or get infected.

What happens after hand surgery?

After hand surgery, the patient still has Dupuytren disease.  Surgery only removes the thick contracted tissue; the disease remains.  Therefore, the patient’s hand can still produce an excessive amount of collagen and fibrin in that same area of the hand.  When it does, it is called Dupuytren contracture recurrence.

Removal of a large percent of tissue from the palm of the hand has consequences. It often results in a worse situation than before the hand surgery, for several reasons:

  1. Continued scar formation causes the palm to become even thicker and less flexible.
  2. Pain due to scar development after the removal of normal and abnormal tissue during surgery. It can be mild to severe, and occasional to constant.
  3. Numbness and tingling of the fingers and hand due to that same scar development.
  4. Permanence of some degree of finger joint stiffness. Seldom are fingers completely straightened after surgery.  And over time they stay flexed even more than before.
  5. Loss of muscle and valuable connective tissue with each surgery, causes weakness and awkwardness of finger and hand movement.

What is the possibility of recurrence

First of all, there is no way to accurately predict anything about Dupuytren recurrence after surgery. No one can say when recurrence will happen; how severe it might be; or what symptoms might develop.

However, a few statistical indicators suggest recurrence of Dupuytren contracture could happen sooner if one or more of the following is true:

  1. Finger joint flexion fixed at 30 degrees or more.
  2. One or more immediate family members also have DC.
  3. One or more ancestors are from northern Europe or Scandinavia.
  4. Younger than 60 years of age at onset of DC.
  5. Palm lump and finger cord are developing rapidly.
  6. History of diabetes or liver disease.

Final comment

In 1964 Weckesser stated, “In general, the longer the follow-up period [after Dupuytren’s disease surgery], the lower the percentage of good results.” This means that shortly after surgery the hand can feel and look pretty good.  However, as weeks and months pass, it is very common for the hand to tighten up again.  The results and benefits that looked so promising at first, fade and worsen. This return of the contracture ultimately causes more pain, numbness, weakness and other related problems.

Surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture only provides a temporary break from the contractures and other related complaints. The recurrence of Dupuytren contracture might not be too bad if the time of relief was long enough.  But this is not the case.

People usually say that the short period of relief they got from hand surgery is not worth what they went through.  They felt the risk of surgery, the pain, hours of rehab, cost, complications and side effects related to the surgery and subsequent complications related to Dupuytren contracture recurrence did not justify what they got out of it.

It is reasonable to first be conservative. Try a simple natural approach to help your body heal the DC tissue, and so naturally remove the Dupuytren tissue.  Better to work hard to avoid needing hand surgery if possible.  You can always have surgery later if it is still necessary.

Learn about   Dupuytren’s natural treatment 

How to Reverse Dupuytren’s Contracture

Posted on by STL314

How to reverse Dupuytren’s contracture

Can Dupuytren’s contracture be reversed, really?  

Reverse Dupuytren's contracture to stop growth and development, by supporting ability to heal better.First, before answering this question, it is important to explain what it means to reverse Dupuytren’s contracture (DC).

Medical literature explains the usual progression of DC in detail.  It describes how growth of the palm lump, or finger cord, can stop and slow down as it develops.  Further, these changes can go so far that the Dupuytren’s contracture even self-heals in its early stages.  This can take place over a span of many months, or even years.  This variable development of DC occurs only because the body can affect the fibrous DC tissue.  That being the case, these minor and brief changes can go as far as being able to self-heal or reverse Dupuytren’s contracture.

It is reasonable to look upon this stopping, slowing and reversing of Dupuytren’s contracture as an incomplete or failed healing.  The body always tries to be well.  Accordingly, the body is programmed to heal itself to the best of its ability. It is how we survive. Sometimes the healing works, and sometimes it does not.  For this reason, the best and easiest way to reverse Dupuytren’s contracture is to help the body heal itself.  Using the DCI treatment strategy increases the odds for the body to do a better job of healing and repair. Think of it as a way of taking advantage of a natural process that needs a little help.

Body is smarter than science

There is a lot that science does not know.  Science still does not completely understand how the body does the thousands of common daily activities, like:

  • Making a red blood cell
  • Digesting food
  • Regulating blood pressure
  • Thinking a thought
  • Mending a broken bone

Specifically, medical science freely admits it knows little about DC.  It is not necessary for science to understand how the body self-heals DC.  The DCI encourages how the body reverses Dupuytren’s contracture, even if the process is a mystery.

Help the body reverse Dupuytren’s contracture, naturally

The DCI therapy method is simple and direct.  Supplying certain vitamins, minerals and enzymes floods the problem tissue with what it needs to heal most effectively.   A few dietary changes and external therapies support healing further. The idea is to assist the body to repair a little better than it is currently, and in this way reverse Dupuytren’s contracture.

DC is a tough and stubborn problem. A general going into war will use as many different weapons from different directions, as possible. DCI does something similar.  It is not a small effort to reverse Dupuytren’s contracture.  It requires intense and aggressive treatment effort, from different directions, to support successful healing.

Once you see how to stop Dupuytren’s contracture, it is not complicated, and makes sense.  Brief outline of DCI treatment method:

  1. Dietary avoidance – Strictly avoid those foods that give you digestive trouble. Keep your digestive tract happy. In this way, there is improved absorption of necessary nutrients for better healing.
    A.  Any specific food sensitivity.  Examples:
    1) Onions                                             2) Spicy, hot foods
    3) Pizza                                                4) Sea food
    5) Pickles                                             6) Nuts, etc.
    B.  General or broad food sensitivity.  Examples:
    1)  Gluten                                            2)  Carbohydrates
    3)  MSG                                              4)  Dairy
    5)  Caffeine                                         6)  Sulfites
    7)  Amines, etc.
  2. DCI treatment plans – more information about DCI treatment plans
    A. Vitamins, minerals and enzymes important to reversing Dupuytren’s contracture – used internally
    1) The key to using these DCI plans is to take them correctly in combination on a
    gradually increasing dosage schedule
    B. DMSO trio – used externally
    C. Ultrasound therapy – used externally
  3. DCI hand stretching exercises

Apply all these therapies at the same time.  Follow the specific instructions provided with each plan.

Effectiveness of DCI therapy plans to reverse Dupuytren’s contracture

DCI has been around since 2004.  It works with men and women to help them at least slow, and sometimes reverse, their Dupuytren’s contracture.  Reports we receive indicate 8-10 people see moderate to marked success over their DC, for every one report of failure.   Those who closely follow the DCI instructions they are given, and allow enough time for the tissue to respond, get better results. Please refer to Start Dupuytren treatment.

Not all DC gets worse

Not all cases of DC look, act, develop, or end up the same.  There are always minor differences between cases. All the experts agree on that.  One of these differences is whether there is improvement, or reversal, of the palm lump, especially during the early stages. This improvement or reversal can be minor or great.  The reversal can also be brief, followed by a return of the Dupuytren’s contracture palm lump.  On the other hand, permanent when the palm lump reversal never returns.

Some experts say DC is permanent and constant, and never reverses itself.  Other experts report that DC will sometimes improve.  But then again, there are always differences of opinion, even among the experts.

Primarily, someone’s view about reversing Dupuytren’s contracture depends on his or her experience.  Those who talk only occasionally to a few DC cases might not hear much about self-correction.  DCI talks to people from around the world, and hears hundreds of stories about reversal.  For example, DCI records show 5-10% of people with DC report one or two brief periods of reversal or improvement of the palm lump in the early stages. This is a small percent, but significant when the reversals become permanent.  This is where DCI would like to see all people.

Reversal of Dupuytren’s contracture is great news for anyone with a palm lump or finger cord.  When a palm nodule or finger cord reverses, even a little, it is a small and imperfect variation of DC healing.  Reversal means a person has hope, a chance, to push it even further to complete healing.

Can you reverse Dupuytren’s contracture with hand surgery?

You might think, “Why do all this work?  I can have some kind of hand surgery, like needle aponeurotomy or a fasciectomy, to reverse my Dupuytren’s contracture.  Snip, snip, and it is gone, right?”

No. Hand surgery of any type, even the hand surgery of a Xiaflex injection, does not reverse Dupuytren’s contracture.  After DC hand surgery, the hand still has the tendency to over-produce fibrous tissue.  And it often does just that. The purpose of DC hand surgery is to do only one specific thing:  To improve finger movement as much as possible.  Not to get rid of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Dupuytren’s contracture surgery removes just enough fibrous palm tissue to allow the fingers to move better – for a while. However, some abnormal fibrous tissue remains behind after surgery.  Removal of it all is impossible. For this reason, too much fibrous tissue can still be created after  injury, or other reasons. Meaning, the palm lump and finger cord can grow back in time.  The term for this is Dupuytren’s contracture recurrence.

Dupuytren’s contracture recurrence

Reverse Dupuytren's contracture without hand surgery so their is no Dupuytren's contracture recurrenceCommonly, 2-4 years (sometimes as soon as 6 months, or as long as 10 years or more) after DC surgery, the palm lump or finger cord will return.  Because of this, half the people who contact DCI for advice have had one or more hand surgeries. These people often say the same sad thing. They thought their first Dupuytren’s contracture hand surgery would eliminate their hand problem. They thought their hand would be normal after their first surgery. The opposite happens.

When DC returns after hand surgery, the hand can become worse for three reasons:

  1. A little normal skin and muscle tissue is lost with each hand surgery.  After a few hand surgeries, those losses add up.  The hand becomes clumsy, weak, or achy.   In addition, each hand surgery damages normal and healthy nerves and blood vessels. This results in inevitable pain, numbness and circulatory issues.  Even excellent surgeries leave the hand less than perfect.
  2. Each surgery leaves behind some old DC fibrous tissue that can continue to cause problems, as it continues to grow larger. Think of pruning a bush to stimulate new growth.
  3. Each surgery can stimulate new Dupuytren’s contracture fibrous tissue that can further contract the palm and fingers.  The new DC naturally grows larger.  Think of stirring up a beehive.

This explains why so many patients with Dupuytren’s contracture have so many hand surgeries.  It is common for someone who develops DC in their 50s to have 2-5 hand surgeries by the time they are in their 70s.  The record number DCI has heard about is one person having 11 Dupuytren’s contracture hand surgeries. So, no, the idea you can reverse Dupuytren’s contracture with surgery is not true.

Conclusion

Everyone who has palm lumps, finger cords and contracted fingers wants to know how to stop Dupuytren’s contracture.  Medical science only thinks about drugs and surgery.