Outlook and Treatment
Outlook
There is no way to stop Dupuytren’s once it starts progressing. Stretching your hand and fingers not only does not help but may actually speed up the contracture. Treatment isn’t always needed for those with a moderate form of the disease. For more severe cases, that limit your ability to use your hand, surgery may be recommended.
Treatment
Treatment can improve symptoms. For those who have a severe form of Dupuytren's, a fasciotomy—a type of surgery—can be done to remove or divide tissue that has thickened. Although most see improvement following the procedure, contraction comes back 20% of the time. Two other procedures include an enzyme injection and needle aponeurotomy. With Enzyme injection a chemical is injected into the palm of your hand to break down the thickened tissue. An aponeurotomy involves breaking up thickened tissue by placing a needle through the skin.
Did you know...
- Does your job make you stressed? We all know that stress is psychologically bad for you, but it also has an effect on…your allergies? A Harvard Medical School study has shown that stress causes your allergies to become worse because your body's defense response loses efficacy when repeatedly triggered by stress. Then, when you really need to physically fight something off, you're less able to!
- Are you currently or often tired? As contradictory as it may sound, one of the best things you can do is exercise! It gives you more energy by improving your blood flow and increasing your oxygen throughout your body. You don't need to do much; a brisk walk is all it takes!
- Have you ever told your husband something and he promptly forgets it? It's not his fault, actually. It really is because he's a man. The hippocampus (the part of the brain that deals with memory) begins to shrink with age faster in men than it does in women. That's why you can remember everything, and he can't!
- A hearty laugh is good for the heart. Laughing can increase blood flow by 20%. Additionally, looking on the bright side can help you live longer. Studies have shown that a more optimistic outlook is linked to a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and a lower risk for coronary artery disease.
- Starting to feel claustrophobic? The smells of apples may help keep your claustrophobic feelings at bay according to a 1995 study by Dr. Alan Hirsch. Green apples, specifically, helped people change their perception of their space. Maybe they thought of expansive apple orchards? Cucumbers and barbecue made the feelings worse.