Tag Archives: lump on the palm

Dupuytren’s nodule

Posted on by Dr. Herazy

Dupuytren’s nodule self-treatment

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Dupuytren’s nodule is the first sign of Dupuytren’s disease.  One or more small lumps on the palm appear near the base of one or more fingers. A Dupuytren’s nodule forms when excess collagen and fibrin collects under the skin of the palm. The surface becomes distorted and puckered by the underlying excess collagen.The Dupuytren’s nodule is the first sign of Dupuytren’s disease.  Usually, at the start of the problem, one or more small lumps on the palm appear near the base of one or more fingers. The Dupuytren’s nodule forms on the surface when excess collagen and fibrin collects under the skin of the palm. The surface becomes distorted and puckered by the underlying excess collagen.

While the tiny palm lump on the surface gets people’s attention, what happens below the surface of the skin is far more important. The excess collagen and fibrin cause the normally flexible supporting tissue of the palm to thicken, expand and tighten. This process can also create little dimples and creases, as well. The palm lump creates a thick cord as it matures. This cord attaches itself to the finger. Eventually, the cord contracts or shrinks, pulling the finger down and keeps it in a bent position. At this point, Dupuytren’s disease becomes Dupuytren’s contracture.

Most everything about the Dupuytren’s nodule is variable.  Even the size and shape of Dupuytren’s palm nodules are variable. They range in size from a dime to a quarter, although they can be smaller and larger than this.

Eliminate the Dupuytren’s nodule with safe natural treatment

Great news!  It is important for anyone with Dupuytren to understand that Dupuytren can self-heal.  The body self-heals an unknown percent of early Dupuytren disease, and even reduces later, larger palm nodules and cords of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Surgery is not always necessary to eliminate the Dupuytren’s nodule.  Since 2002 the Dupuytren Contracture Institute has helped people who struggle with an expanding and tightening lump on the palm. Those 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.

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.

Hand surgery is always an option. However, 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

Take the Dupuytren’s nodule seriously

There is no way to know how large or small a Dupuytren’s problem will eventually become in the early stage of Dupuytren palm nodule development.  Yes, some palm lumps develop slowly, staying small for a decade or more.  And some palm lumps grow into several fingers to make life miserable and a struggle to perform basic activities. Yet, the medical literature says that 30%-40% eventually need palm surgery. Therefore, the best strategy is to take all Dupuytren’s nodules seriously.

DCI talks to many people about their Dupuytren’s disease.  A common attitude is, “My little palm lump has been with me for a long time. It really doesn’t bother me. If it becomes a big problem later, my doctor said I can just have it cut out. So, what’s the big deal?”  The big deal is that DC hand surgery sometimes has small and large complications due to the tendency to make too much collagen when stimulated.  This causes the surgery to heal in unexpected ways with unexpected consequences, regardless of the skill or intention of the surgeon.

That is like saying, “My doctor said if the little grease fire in my kitchen gets any bigger later, I can always call the fire department to put it out.” Why would anyone take that risk? Why wouldn’t you take care of a small problem while it is small, and easier to handle?

It is silly to wait for a Dupuytren’s nodule to get worse.  Allowing the palm nodule to worsen is a lost opportunity to try to heal it naturally. That lost time only benefits the hand surgeon. For the patient, it is best to be conservative.  Take care of a small problem while it is still small and easier to self-treat.

Dupuytren’s hand surgery has unique risks

The big deal about hand surgery for Dupuytren’s contracture is important to understand. The trauma of hand surgery can act as a trigger or stimulus for even more collagen production in the hand. This is called Dupuytren recurrence when the Dupuytren nodule or cord comes back after being surgically removed.  As a result, hand surgery for DC is riskier, and has more complex reactions than having other kinds of hand surgery.  Recurrence happens because it is the nature of Dupuytren’s contracture to make too much collagen. This explains why so many people have 2-3-4 hand surgeries before they eventually refuse to have more.

What are the odds of little Dupuytren’s disease palm lumps becoming a surgical problem?   Fairly high.  Most authors say 30%-40% Dupuytren’s nodules undergo surgery. This does not necessarily have to happen, however. There is a lot a person can do to reverse or slow down Dupuytren’s disease. Do all that you can to improve your ability to self-heal or reverse the collection of excess collagen of your palm nodules.  DCI can show you how.

Major or minor hand problem

For some, Dupuytren’s disease can remain a minor inconvenience for a long time.  While for others it quickly becomes a major problem when the hand does not fully open.  Simple daily activities become difficult, or impossible, to do. Tasks that are an important part of daily life become burdensome, and eventually impossible:

  • Wash the hands and face
  • Operate a cell phone or computer
  • Use a knife and fork while eating
  • Get something out of your pocket
  • Turn a doorknob to open a door
  • Use the bathroom
  • Brush your teeth
  • Button clothing
  • Wear gloves
  • Drive a car

How much the Dupuytren’s palm nodule complicates life depends on many factors in a person’s history.  The more that are present, the stronger the likelihood of rapid and aggressive Dupuytren’s contracture occurring:

  • Members of immediate family have DC
  • DC begins early (under 50 years of age)
  • Presence of liver disease
  • History of diabetes
  • Presence of Garrod’s knuckle pads
  • Long history of manual labor

Final thoughts about the Dupuytren’s nodule

Don’t be fooled by a slow start of the Dupuytren’s nodule.  While it might seem like a minor inconvenience and curiosity, 30-40% eventually make a person’s life so complicated and frustrating that they have surgery to straighten the finger.  Only then do they learn that the Dupuytren nodule can return or recur after hand surgery.

Take advantage of the fact that that Dupuytren’s nodules self-heal.  DCI has worked since 2002 to help people do a better job of healing their Dupuytren’s nodule.  We believe it is smart to use the time your doctor says to wait for the palm lump to get worse, to help your body self-heal.

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

 

Since I am allergic to sulfur can I treat my Dupuytrens contracture with sulfur containing supplements?

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Hello Dr. Herazy,

I have been looking at your various treatment plans for Dupuytren contracture.  Each plan contains Fundamental Sulfur, or more technically methyl sulfonyl methane.  I am allergic to sulfur drugs.  Since I cannot take sulfur, will the treatment plans still be effective in treating the lump on the palm from my Dupuytrens?

 

Greetings,

As you know, sulfur sensitivity and allergies are not uncommon.  Over the years I have worked with many people who have allergy to sulfur drugs, a few very severe, and they have used all the DCI sulfur mineral supplement (Fundamental Sulfur) without any reported problem.  While I cannot predict how you might respond I can only tell you that others have no problem while using it like anyone else .   

I assume the difference that a person with a sulfur allergy can use this particular sulfur product comes down to fundamental chemistry.  The sulfur in these supplements is recognized by the body as a nutritional substance or food, and not as a foreign sulfur configuration of a drug that the body has never seen or metabolized previously; since this kind of sulfur is natural and organic, with the micronutrients and enzymes that are present with foods that contain sulfur, the supplement is more likely to be handled differently and appropriately by the body.  It is different with a sulfur containing drug, whether oral or topical.  In these situations the sulfur is not combined with chemicals in a way that is typical in nature. 

If I can help you in any way with your Dupuytren’s treatment, please let me know.   TRH

 

How does a Dupuytren nodule form on the palm?

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Dupuytren nodules and cords are different

Dupuytren nodule formation, the first sign of Dupuytren contracture, usually affects males 50 years and over, especially those of northern European descent.  Although the size and shape are variable they are usually range in size from a dime to a quarter, although they can be smaller and larger than this.   Typically a person will first notice a small bump or lump on the palm that increases over time.

Dupuytren nodules are different from other connective tissues of the palm at the cellular level in two ways:  there is an increased activity and growth of two types of connective tissue cells called the fibroblast and myofibroblast; there is greater production of a connective tissue protein called collagen.  As these fibroblasts and collagen are laid down in the palm of the hand, it causes first nodule formation, and later Dupuytren cord formation.  The presence of these two structures is associated with progressive thickening, puckering and adherence to the skin, resulting in palmar fascial contractures and later flexion of the involved finger(s) under the skin of the palm (specifically, the pre-tendinous bands of the palmar fascia).

Dupuytren nodules are different from Dupuytren cords at the cellular level in that there are fewer myofibroblasts and fibroblasts in the cord, and they are irregularly scattered in all directions in the nodules they are in a distinctly parallel pattern in the cord.

The most common site for these palm lumps is at the base of the 4th (ring) and 5th little) fingers.  The Dupuytren nodule at first can resemble a common callus and is often painless, unless touched; occasionally the pain is more significant and lasts for some long while.

Dupuytren lump on the palm

What triggers the Dupuytren lump on the palm nodules to form is still a medical mystery, but seems to be related to liver disease, smoking, trauma and diabetes amongst a few lesser factors.

As the palmar tissue slowly thickens and tightens over months to years, it can develop into Dupuytren cords that flex the involved finger(s) down toward the palm of the hand.  In severe cases the Dupuytren nodules and cords can cause such marked finger(s) flexion that hand function is compromised for common activities of daily living (personal hygiene, dressing, opening a door, putting the hand into a pocket, etc.), so that the individual is functionally disabled.

The progress of Dupuytren nodule development is typically slow, unpredictable and sporadic, without detectible exciting factors.  As the disease progresses over time, the thickened and dense tissue infiltrates between and around normal tissue structures (tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels).

While the medical profession (surgeons) commonly state that the primary treatment option for Dupuytren contracture is surgery to remove the nodule and cord formation, as well as contracted tissue around involved joints, a small but growing segment of the medical profession agrees that non-drug and non-surgical treatment is an effective option that should be attempted before resorting to the surgical route.

For more information how to reverse and eliminate, or at least reduce, Dupuytren nodules and cords see natural Dupuytren treatment.

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