The UK’s Leading Orthopaedic Shockwave Clinic
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Dupuytren’s Disease Shockwave Treatment
People suffering from Dupuytren’s Disease have overcome their issues with our revolutionary treatment of focused Shockwave and Magneto transduction therapy allowing them a more satisfactory lifestyle.
Dupuytren’s Disease (DD), also known as Dupuytren’s contracture, is when one or more fingers bend in towards your palm. The affliction is sometimes jokingly referred to as Viking disease due to its high incidence among people of Scandinavian and North European descent.
DD is named after Guillaume Dupuytren, who first described the underlying mechanism of action followed by the first successful operation in 1831 with published results in The Lancet as long ago as 1834.
The cause is unknown, and sufferers usually start showing symptoms at age 40 with men acquiring the disease five to fifteen more often in men than women; it often runs in families. There is a slow progression with the affliction that almost always affect the ring finger as well as the little and middle fingers.
Notable people who have suffered with DD include, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman and the British actor Bill Nighy.
Firm nodules appear in the ligaments just beneath the skin of the palm of the hand, and in some cases, they extend to form cords that can prevent the finger straightening completely. The nodules and cords may be associated with small pits in the skin. Without treatment, one or more fingers may become fixed in a bent position. The web between thumb and index finger is sometimes narrowed. Contracture of fingers is usually slow, occurring over months and years rather than weeks.
Dupuytren’s disease may be associated with diabetes, smoking and high alcohol consumption, but many affected people have none of these. It does not appear to be associated with manual work. It occasionally appears after injury to the hand or wrist, or after surgery to these areas.
Despite the success of surgical interventions on DD, alternative medical treatment methods have been investigated, as the condition has a high recurrence rate after surgery. Research published in the Medical Bulleting of Sisli Etfal Hospital, concluded that, “in the early term (Shockwave Therapy) can be preferred over costly injections and surgical intervention options as it increases the quality of life and delays the recurrence of contractures.”
What Happens During Dupuytren’s Disease Shockwave Treatment?
Shockwave Therapy is incredibly effective for hand pain. We will isolate the area that needs to be treated, then using our focussed shockwave equipment we will start sending gentle impulses to the area. The shockwave treatment will bring new blood vessels into the damaged nodules and cords and healing begins to occur. Discomfort will be kept to a minimum and gradually the impulses will become more intense, although little pain will be felt and if it is it will gradually dissipate over a few days.
How Long Will the Shockwave Therapy Take to Work?
Generally, shockwave for Dupuytren’s disease will resolve after three to four sessions, depending on your condition and how long you may have suffered with it, while early diagnosis can reduce the number of sessions needed. Sometimes it may take several weeks for the full effects to be felt. Further improvements may still be experienced 12-months after treatment. The alternative is invasive surgery or painful injections.
It is important that you work with your physical therapist to ensure that you have an exercise regime and massage to ensure full recovery.
To book treatment for Dupuytren’s Disease please request a specialist clinician to call you back to arrange an initial assessment Tel: 020 8549 6666 or complete the Contact Form below
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