What is Dupuytren’s Disease?
Dupuytren’s disease, also known as Vikings disease, is a condition that causes the fingers to bend into the hand. Nodules accompany this in the palm. The condition is known as Vikings disease because it was often suffered by the Vikings and is most common in Northern European descent people.
What Causes Dupuytren’s disease?
The actual cause of Dupuytren’s disease is unknown, and it is a hereditary condition passed down from generation to generation. The situation is triggered by specific actions like drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes and is more common in men over 50. The condition is usually not painful but can inhibit the hand and fingers’ motion, making daily activities more difficult.
What are the Treatments for Dupuytren’s disease?
The most common treatment for Dupuytren’s disease is a surgery where the affected tissue in the hands is removed. The operation is often painful, and recovery can take several months. After an operation, the condition will likely return. The surgery can leave a lot of scar tissue that is painful and unsightly. Other treatments include steroid injections, which also provide a short-term solution.
There are a few home remedies that again only provide short term relief from the symptoms. These remedies include massages, braces, and splints, which just don’t seem to work. Massages promote blood flow but don’t release the finger from its bent-up position. The use of a brace or splint will keep the finger straight, but because of their size, make movements clumsy and cumbersome.
However, there is an alternative to these home remedies, and that is using the Dupuytren’s wand and Dupuytren’s tape, which are proven to work. They not only provide relief from the symptoms but also help the hand to regain its regular use. These two treatments not only work well but are also a less expensive alternative to surgery or steroid injections.