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Dupuytrens Radiotherapy Treatment And Its Level Of Effectiveness

Do you suffer from Dupuytren's or Ledderhose disease? As you likely know, this disease can be extremely painful and life inhibiting. Dupuytren's disease (also known as Dupuytren's contracture) is the hardening of fibrous tissue in the hand which is caused by a hereditary condition. More specifically, the condition causes the fascia in the hand to become highly elastic and expansive. This prevents the connective tissue in the fingers from moving freely and will in fact shorten the length of the hand by pulling the hand into a permanently more closed position. As stated, the condition is painful and surgery is a difficult option that does not have great results. Ledderhose disease is similar in that it is caused by connective tissue build up, however it occurs in the foot. Luckily, doctors have been devising new ways to treat this physical and limiting disease over the years. A common and effective treatment for these diseases is radiation therapy. Let's take a look at how Dupuytrens radiotherapy treatment can help improve the quality of life for those effected by this condition.

Radiation therapy is commonly used in cancer treatment in conjunction with kemotherapy. If you are not familiar, radiation therapy is quite simple in its function and effectiveness. Essentially, if any cell is exposed to radiation, whether it be X-rays, Gamma rays, or another wavelength of radiation, the cells will be mutated if exposed to low levels and completely destroyed if exposed to high levels. Thus, if cancer cells are exposed to radiation they gradually die off and stop producing. Dupuytrens disease is similar to cancer in that the cell growth of the fascia has gone out of control and is out of the ordinary as far as normal cell growth is concerned. When the treatment is conducted, the specified area of the hand that is effected is treated with radiation. The overgrown fascia cells are exposed to radiation which thereby causes them to weaken and die. This stops the condition from worsening in most cases and can sometimes reverse the condition leading to a great reduction in pain. Often times, these fascia cells are permanently destroyed, but sometimes they are rendered inactive. If the cells are temporarily deactivated, the treatment must continue at a future period either several months or years from the initial treatment. The level of effectiveness of this procedure is usually very high. When the cells are completely destroyed and the condition ceases to worsen this removes the need for surgery and stops the inevitable result if no treatment is pursued... the complete loss of function of the hand. For this reason it is important to diagnose and treat the condition early on. While Dupuytrens radiotherapy treatment is highly effective, it cannot reverse the damage that has already been done. In other words, the treatment cannot straighten a hand that has already been bent out of shape by the over growth of fascia.

If this disease is present in your family and you think you might be prone to the condition it is a good idea to consider the following symptoms to conduct an early self check so you can catch the problem before it starts. The first step for a self check is to check the palm of your hand for knots that might have formed there. These small nodules are the beginning of dupuytrens. The palm of your hand should be soft and thick and the only knots you feel should be the joints where the carpal bones connect to your hand. Another test you can run on your own if you do find such lumps in your palm is as follows. Lay your hand on a table or other perfectly flat surface with your palm facing up. If the backs of your fingers curl upward severely and cannot touch the table then you might be facing the beginning stages of the condition. If you do not show early symptoms be sure to frequently check your self each month or so. Of course, do not take this alone as medical advice. Nothing is better than having a medical professional examine you. If you determine that you have the beginning symptoms it is a good idea to ask your doctor about Dupuytrens radiotherapy treatment.

Before you worry too much about the possibility of having Dupuytrens, consider the following facts to determine if you are pre-disposed to the condition. The geographic populations most effected are people of Scandinavian and Northern European descent. However, it is still prevalent in other parts of Europe as well as Japan. The condition is also much more common in men. In fact, 10 times more men than women contract this life limiting disease. Also, older people are effected by the disease. People over the age of 40 are most likely to contract the disease. Although it is most commonly passed down through genetics, it can still be found in people with no family history at all. Some scientists have speculated but not yet proven that alcoholism, liver disease and diabetes can lead to Dupuytrens contraction. If you have a genetic predisposition it is a good idea to take good care of your liver by avoiding alcohol and practicing routine liver cleanses. Often times, prevention is the best medicine, but if it cannot be prevented reliable and effective treatment is available.

Dupuytrens radiotherapy treatment is one of the most effective and inexpensive treatments available. The treatment is indeed a new approach to healing the disease and is a non-invasive option for those who are not interested in surgery or who have been instructed or advised by their primary care physician to find alternatives to surgery. Luckily, the radiotherapy only requires five short treatments over the course of five days. This provides for a quick and effective procedure with no recovery time so it is an excellent option for people who are unable to spend time in recovery. Once the treatment has been completed the patient is asked to return for a second series of treatments after six months if deemed necessary. Radiotherapy treatment is truly the best option to heal this painful and limiting disease.