No matter who you are or what you do for a living, we all use our hands all day, every day. So, if you do end up with Dupuytren’s Contracture, it can be a real pain. The condition starts as a thickened piece of skin on the palm of your hand. The disease is progressive, so as it worsens, the hardened tissue creates cords that can eventually bend the fingers into the hands center. The condition usually affects the ring and little finger and can be found on both hands. There are over 200,000 cases in the United States every year.
Dupuytren’s Contracture is most common in men over 40 and is usually found in those of Northern European descent. You are also more likely to contract the condition if you suffer from diabetes or liver disease. There is no confirmed cause of Dupuytren’s Contracture; it is, however, connected to a chemical imbalance in the body. Alcohol consumption is known to cause the disease to develop more aggressively, as is smoking cigarettes. There is also a connection to the medication taken to treat epilepsy and other seizure-related ailments.
Home treatments for Dupuytren’s
Some activities that will reduce the symptoms of Dupuytren’s Contracture are:
Loosen your grip
By loosening your grip on items, you can reduce the development of Dupuytren’s Contracture. Gripping too tight will cause the condition to flare up. This may not be possible if gripping tight is apart of your job.
Finger exercises
Practicing finger exercises is encouraged to reduce the lump in the hand and prevent the cord from developing. Finger exercises may be painful to the patient. Finger lifting and finger spreading are the most highly recommended exercises.
Sticking to a healthy diet
Believe it or not, a healthy diet will have an impact on how the disease can develop. Overeating will also cause a more aggressive development of Dupuytren’s Contracture. People living with diabetes are more prone to the condition than others; diet can cause diabetes.
Avoid drinking alcohol
Dupuytren’s Contracture is connected to a chemical imbalance in the patient’s body. Those who drink alcohol heavily tend to suffer from the condition. There is very prevalent in men over 40.
Quit smoking
Much like consuming alcohol, smoking cigarettes is known to cause the disease to develop aggressively. The nicotine causes an imbalance that is said to trigger the symptoms associated with Dupuytren’s disease.
Massaging
Massaging the affected hand can be a great way to treat Dupuytren’s Contracture. Massaging will help to breakdown the hardened tissue and allow movement to return to the affected finger. Using the right type of tool to rub the hand is significant. The best tool available on the market is the Dupuytren’s wand found on the shop page of the website. The wand works best when coupled with the Dupuytren’s jelly.
Splint or brace
A doctor will often recommend the use of a splint or brace. This helps to straighten out the affected finger, but they are incredibly cumbersome and make life difficult. A great alternative to a splint is to use Dupuytren’s tape. The tape is ideal because it allows a full range of motion in the finger without any interference. The tape can also be found on the shop page of the website.