Dupuytren’s nodule self-treatment

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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