Tag Archives: trauma

Could my work have caused Dupuytren’s contracture?

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Hello,

Recently I have been diagnosed with Dupuytren Contracture by my orthopedic doctor.  My question is why did it all of a sudden show up in both hands close to a year ago.?

I am of Scandinavian decedent.   I am almost 58 years old and a female.  The work I have been doing the past 28 years is a repetitious type.  The last 2 years I been doing banding with a 14# bander, and running around like a chicken with my head cut off.   My lumps looked much worse when I was working.  They laid me off permanently due to the fact I could not get around as fast as I used to.   I have other health problems going on too.  

Could the job I had been doing contribute to the fact I have this disease?   Thank you.

 

Greetings,

Sorry to hear of your problem.

Your questions are very specific about your personal situation, and there is no way I can directly answer you.  At best I can only respond in broad generalities.

Based on the way you present your brief history, it certainly sounds like you have a classic situation for Dupuytrens.  Your Scandinavian descent, age, rapid onset, and heavy repetitious work with your hands are all very familiar to me as I communicate with men and women with Dupuytrens.   So in this sense you nicely fit the Dupuytren’s profile.

Since the exact cause of Dupuytren’s contracture is not known or established, at this time it is often referred to as a condition of multifactoral causation.  It is explained often that DC is a hereditary condition that may or may not appear during the course of a person’s life dependent upon the occurrence of a sufficient trigger(s) to start the disease process.  Hand trauma is often listed as a primary triggering factor.  Liver and lung disease, as well as diabetes, are also common trigger factors.  Since you mentioned that you have other health problems going on currently, my guess is that one or more of  your other heatlh problems fall into these categories. 

If you put all of this together it appears that the answer to your question why your Dupuytrens suddenly showed up last year, is that you finally added enough stresses to your overall health and to your hands in particular to tip the scales against you.   

For this reason it is difficult, if not impossible, to say that your Dupuytren’s contracture is a work-related problem since there are hereditary factors at play in your history and this cannot be dismissed.   As with many health problems, it appears that a few factors finally caught up with you and caused your genetic predisposition to finally express itself in your hands.   

Since you say that your hand lumps looked much worse when you were working,  I suggest that it might be possible for to assist your recovery by using the ideas on the DCI website to heal your hand problem.   You will never know until you try.  If you need any help, please let me know.   TRH

What is the cause of Dupuytren?

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What is the cause of Dupuytren?   Thank you,  Pat

Greetings Pat,

There is still no clear and broadly accepted answer to your question for a Dupuytren contracture cause, although I think I can make a good case for what is the most commonly accepted answer at this time.

Did you ever notice how diabetes seems to run in some families?  Grandma has diabetes, uncle Louie has diabetes and so do two of his children, Mom and Dad have it and two of their three children have it.   Well, it is not correct or accurate to say that someone inherited their diabetes; it does not work that way.  It is accurate to say that a person inherited the tendency toward diabetes; they have a genetic predisposition that makes them weaker or more susceptible to develop diabetes if they abuse their intake of sugar.  It is easier for these people who are in a diabetes-prone family to have it. Some people are so genetically susceptible that what can be considered a normal or low intake of sugar sets off their inability to control their blood sugar levels, and they can be diagnosed with diabetes.

The genetic aspect of diabetes is strongly suggested by those people who heavily abuse refined sugar intake and never develop diabetes.   They are not genetically predisposed and can tolerate a lot of sugar abuse.

If a person who is born into a family of diabetics, it would be wise to be very careful about refined sugar intake and to do all things possible to promote the normal function of the pancreas and related sugar metabolism.  In this way it is possible to avoid, delay, limit or minimize the degree of diabetes that is experienced by that individual,even though the tendency or weakness might be present.  Primarily this is done by limiting the intake of refined carbohydrates in the diet, such as refined carbohydrate products like white sugar, candy, cake, pasta and the like.  These foods high in refined carbohydrates act as a trigger to produce diabetes in people who are genetically prone to that problem; if the trigger is never pulled there is reduced likelihood for the problem to develop.

The same can be said for someone, especially a man, of northern European or Scandinavian descent who is born into a family of people who display a tendency toward Dupuytren contracture.  This person should avoid those things that are thought to predispose or act as triggers for Dupuytren contracture:
1.  Hand trauma, especially prolonged heavy vibration
2.  Phenobarbital
3.  Diabetes
4.  Liver disease and cirrhosis
5.  Heavy alcohol consumption
6.  Cigarette smoking

The genetic aspect of Dupuytren contracture is strongly suggested by those people who heavily abuse their hands, are alcoholics and heavy drinkers with liver disease, but never develop Dupuytren.   They are not genetically predisposed and can tolerate a lot of abuse that would easily trigger it in other people.

Early treatment of Dupuytren contracture is important.  Learn about using natural Alternative Medicine to increase the ability of your body to eliminate Dupuytren contracture:

>> Dupuytren Contracture Treatment – FAQs

>> How to start Dupuytren treatment with Alternative Medicine

>> Testimonials from Dupuytren Contracture Institute





Dupuytren Cause Could Be Related to Drugs

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Prescription drugs indirectly related to Dupuytren contracture

A Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs.  As usual, there is controversy about drugs causing or contributing to Dupuytren’s contracture. However, because there is controversy and unknows in most areas of Dupuytren’s contracture, we speculate.

Even the cause of Dupuytren’s contracture remains unknown.  Age, genetic predisposition, and liver cirrhosis related to alcoholism, have the strongest statistical and clinical support as a cause of DC.  Interestingly, people think of trauma or injury most often as the cause of Dupuytren’s contracture. Perhaps this is because trauma, cuts and surgery lead to excess scar formation. And DC looks like heavy scar formation.  Regardless, a person with Dupuytren’s contracture should focus about avoiding or reducing exposure to those causes of DC that are avoidable or at least controllable.  Among them, there is statistical evidence that a Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs.

Drugs open the gate to DC when we are weak

For those who already have age (over 50), gender (male), genetic predisposition and liver disease in their history working against them, it is wise to pay close attention to other causes that are controllable.  For example, prescription drug use.  One side effect of these prescription drugs is to suppress or reduce the immune defense response of the body.  Thus, with a weakened immune system, and liver disease due to drug toxicity, there is less ability to prevent development of Dupuytren contracture.

While no single drug or drug family has been implicated in causing Dupuytren contracture, many drugs have the potential.  Prolonged use of a potent drug could initiate DC via the indirect mechanism by causing liver disease and cirrhosis usually associated with alcoholism.  Bottom line, many drugs stress and injure the liver, and this is statistically important in causing Dupuytren’s contracture.

Drugs to keep in mind

As a general guideline, this list is provided to demonstrate a Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs because they all affect the liver, some more and some less.  It is all about the connection between liver damage and Dupuytren’s contracture.

Drugs that may cause acute dose-dependent liver damage

  • acetaminophen
  • salicylates (doses over 2 grams daily)

Drugs that may cause acute dose-independent liver damage

  • acebutolol
  • labetalol
  • quinine
  • indomethacin
  • phenylbutazone
  • allopurinol
  • isoniazid
  • phenytoin
  • lisinopril
  • atenolol
  • ketoconazole
    • piroxicam
      ·  carbamazepine
      ·  cimetidine
    • maprotiline
    • pyrazinamide
    • dantrolene
    • metoprolol
    • quinidine
      • diclofenac
        ·  probenecid
      • cimetidine
      • maprotiline
      • pyrazinamide
      • dantrolene
      • metoprolol
      • quinidine
        • diclofenac
          ·  penecillins
        • mianserin
          ·  phenelzine
        • tricyclic antidepressants
        • halothane
        • phenindione
        • valproic acid
        • ibuprofen
        • phenobarbital
          • verapamil
  • ethionamide

Bottom line on Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs

In conclusion, these listed drugs have side effects.  They can complicate the problem of someone who is already sick.  Use all drugs with caution and discretion. But if you have Dupuytren’s contracture, use these drugs with great caution. Talk to your doctor about using the safest drug possible for whatever problem you might have.

If you are male, over 50, with a family history of Dupuytren’s contracture, or a history of liver cirrhosis or heavy alcohol consumption, recognize these drugs pose a danger to you. Your particular Dupuytren cause could be related to drugs on this list.  Possibly, you could be stressing your liver and putting yourself at further risk of worsening and accelerating your Dupuytren problem. For this reason, speak to your doctor if you are taking any of the above drugs. Ask about changing or reducing medication.

Also, consider using the safe and direct DCI  Dupuytren contracture treatment option.  When people use the DCI large plan, we get 8-10 reports of moderate to marked improvement of DC, for every one report of failure.