How Can You Catch Dupuytren's Contracture?

You woke up and found that a hard lump had developed on your hand. You completely ignored it as there was no pain at all. A week later, you see that your finger has started to bend into the palm, no matter what, it will not straighten out. Now you are trying to figure out how you could have ended up catching this mysterious disease.

Let us clear a few things up for you, the condition you have is Dupuytren's Contracture. The infection starts as a hardened lump or nodule in the hand. As the disease progresses, it causes the fingers to bend unnaturally into the palm. The problem is that they can't be straightened, which makes day to day tasks very difficult to carry out. Dupuytren's Contracture was first described in the early 19th century by Baron Guillaume Dupuytren, who was famous for treating Napoleon Bonaparte for hemorrhoids.

Dupuytren's Contracture is not contagious and can't be caught. The disease is hereditary and is passed down from generation to generation. The majority of cases are in people who are of Northern European descent. Also known as Vikings disease or Vikings hand because of its connection to Vikings. History states the Vikings spread the disease throughout Northern Europe and even into the United Kingdom. The condition is often referred to as Celtic Hand in Great Britain.

There is a connection to a chemical imbalance in the body and Dupuytren's disease. People who consume alcohol regularly tend to suffer from the disease. The condition is even more common in people who smoke cigarettes regularly, more so than those who are heavy drinkers. There are also more cases in people who have epilepsy. It is believed that the medicine used to treat seizures could be the reason. People living with diabetes are also more likely to get Dupuytren's Contracture, this may be caused by the insulin they take, but this is not confirmed again.

There is also a connection between Dupuytren's disease and Ledderhose disease. Ledderhose disease is a development of hardened lumps that appear on the feet' soles rather than the hands. This condition is also hereditary. Those who suffer from liver disease are more susceptible to Vikings disease and will often develop the condition on both their hands. The disease is more common in men than in women and usually starts from the age of 50 and above. The condition is progressive and worsens with time.

How is Dupuytren's Contracture diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Dupuytren's Contracture is very simple. The condition can be diagnosed by examining the hands and fingers, the presence of a hard lump or nodule will indicate the disease. Placing the hand flat on a table and telling the patient to straighten the hand and fingers. If the patient can't straighten out their fingers, then they have Dupuytren's Contracture. The good news is that the condition is treatable.

How do you treat Dupuytren's Disease?

There are several treatment options for Dupuytren's disease. Surgery is the most common treatment used for the condition. The surgery involves a zigzag incision and then the removal of the hardened tissue. The wound is then sewed up, and the patient is instructed to rest the hand. After surgery, the patient will often require physiotherapy to aid in the recovery.

Another Dupuytren's Contracture treatment is the use of a splint to help stretch out the finger and stop the bending from worsening. Splints, although effective, are somewhat cumbersome and make use of the hand extremely difficult. Steroid injections are another of Dupuytren's Contracture treatment. The steroid injections will help reduce inflammation and also reduce any pain. The injection sites can become itchy, swollen, and are susceptible to bleeding.

It has been said that taking magnesium can help to reduce the symptoms associated with Dupuytren's disease. There are some severe side effects to consider when taking magnesium, heartbeat irregularities, high blood pressure, breathing issues, and even death. Doctors will often opt for needle aponeurotomy as a Dupuytren's Contracture treatment. This involves a needle being used to break up the hardened tissue in the hand, this will release the fingers and allow movement to return to normal. Needle aponeurotomy can often cause some pain and discomfort, as well as numbness and a tingly feeling in the fingers.

The Dupuytren's wand found at dupuytrencure is the best option for Dupuytren's Contracture home treatment. When coupled with the Dupuytren's tape, the wand is extremely effective at reducing the disease's symptoms and avoiding unnecessary surgery. The tape has been labeled the best treatment available on the market. The treatment provides relief from the symptoms after only one use and comes highly recommended, as there are no side effects. These items can be used on more than one occasion and will never become obsolete like other treatments tend to.

Our vision is to provide our patients with exceptional non surgical treatment tools for Dupuytren’s contracture & De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis that can be used at home.