May 1, 2012 Newsletter
Greetings PD and DC Warriors,
Welcome to this May 2012 PD Institute Newsletter. I trust everyone is doing well and working hard. Let’s get started with two important topics.
The first part of this newsletter will be a discussion about early tissue changes that are observed in people who are using nutritional therapy for either Peyronie’s disease or Dupuytren contracture. The second part is a final call for volunteers for a special research project by the Peyronie’s Disease Institute.
Early tissue changes to look for while using a PDI or DCI treatment plan
An interesting and important question came up recently during a recent telephone consultation with a man who needed help starting his therapy plan. He had just ordered a medium Peyronies plan and wanted to be sure he was prepared to do a good job for himself. He asked, “I know we are all different and respond differently, but what usually happens first when the treatment starts to work?”
When the fibrous tissue of PD or DC finally begins to respond, most often there will be a small and temporary change in the density and surface features of the tissue that slowly becomes greater and permanent over time. Occasionally I hear a report of the first observable change being an alteration of the size or shape of the plaque (or hand nodule or cord) formation; but, usually the first change is the dense fibrous tissue will feel softer and it will feel different along its surface when a finger is rubbed across the surface of the tissue mass. Also, it is a rather consistent finding that at the beginning of improvement the tissue change will be so small that it makes the person wonder if it is actually happening – if it is real or not. This is why it is so very important that everyone has a really good definition of the size, shape, density and surface features of the targeted foreign tissue. If you are not confident about the details of these structural aspects of this tissue you will never know for sure if the small changes you notice are actually occurring or not.
As the density and surface features continue to make positive changes, reduction of the size and smoothing or evening of the shape of the scar will then usually follow (square edges and angled corners of the tissue mass will become rounded and slope). Over a few months all these changes come together as the plaque, or hand nodule, begins to gradually disappear and becomes increasingly difficult to locate. Eventually you should be unable to find the foreign tissue mass.
By being absolutely certain the fibrous tissue is changing or not, only then will you be able to correctly decide if you should continue with your current plan or change what you are doing. No treatment plan should be continued for weeks and months on end, hoping that something good will eventually happen. The PDI and DCI concept of treatment is not based on hope or wishing; it is based on demanding of yourself small and consistent tissue changes when you enable the natural healing process by following the suggestions provided to you. These PDI and DCI plans are intended to be actively worked and modified every 10-14 days while the target tissue is monitored for structural change. If no change is noted after 10-14 days of using a plan, then you should change the plan until you notice a change in the size, shape, density or surface features of the fibrous tissue.
It is a terrible waste of time, effort, money and the opportunity to recover when someone follows a plan that is not working, or changes a plan that is working. Either of these situations can occur when the condition of the fibrous tissue mass is unknown. This unfortunate problem can be avoided by knowing exactly all of the important features of your target fibrous tissue. If you have no doubt about the size, shape, density and surface features of your plaque (palm lump or cord) you will always be in control of your treatment, you will not waste time following a plan that is not working and you will be in the best position to recover from your problem.
Usually the dense fibrous tissue will change long before there is a noticeable improvement in the penile curvature or the ability to develop an erection, (or move the fingers). While the tissue change usually takes place during the 2nd to 4th month for most people, it can be even sooner for those who follow a very aggressive plan. Fast tissue change is the exception, and not the rule, so do not plan on that kind of response although it does happen.
Tissue change being temporary is a common part of the early recovery pattern. The initial improvement in the fibrous tissue will not last very long, maybe just a few days or so, and then it will tend to go back to how it was before it showed any improvement. I wish I could say why this happens – it just does. I know this happened to me and many others who have reported to me over the years. A variable pattern soon develops in which there is tissue improvement, regression, improvement, regression, back and forth, etc. However, over time you will likely notice this pattern will slowly change. The amount of improvement will be greater than the amount of regression, and the time the improvement will last will become longer than the time the regression lasts. As you successfully guide your plan you will see the variation pattern shifting slowly in favor of improvement; the degree of improvement and the time the improvement lasts will be greater and longer than the regression. Just like the stock market – it goes up and it goes down, but the general trend and pattern is that it slowly goes up over time. This is how I have seen most every case of PD and DC improve.
As soon as someone sends me an email about his scar reduction, I will warn him that it will not initially last very long and that he should be prepared to see the scar fluctuate between improvement and regression for a few cycles over a few weeks or months. I can almost guarantee this pattern. Come to expect it; count on it. Temporary regression is just the way it goes, so do not be discouraged or disappointed when it happens. Ii shows that you are on the right pathway.
As the positive changes in the foreign tissue become more stable, it is common to next see an improvement or reversal of the structural changes they caused in the shaft or hand. For Dupuytren contracture the improved finger and hand movement is rather straightforward and direct; finger and hand movement slowly and consistently returns to normal. However, for Peyronie’s disease the initial change in the curve is not always improvement . My curve worsened just after my plaque showed some real progress for the first time.
Ever play "pick-up sticks" as a kid? The object of the game is to remove one stick at a time from a pile of sticks in such a way the other sticks do not move. The challenge of the game is based on the complex interplay of many sticks lying across each other. Removing one stick from the pile usually makes three or four other sticks shift a bit.
I think the same happens in PD. How many scars do you have? If you have only one scar (very unusual) that single scar could be influencing 2-3-4 different layers of interconnected tissue within the corpora cavernosa of the shaft to which the scar is attached. If you have more than one scar or plaque the dynamics of what happens to all those scars and interconnected tissue layers internally becomes complicated and impossible to predict as the scars get thinner, weaker and smaller. It is easy to understand that if a part of a scar, or one scar out of group of scars, becomes weaker, softer or smaller, that this will cause change of the internal tensions and angles of pull within the shaft, and change in the distortion of the shaft that you can see. Internal plaque or scar tissue continues to control the curve even as they become smaller and weaker.
As one or more scars DECREASES or INCREASES in size it could easily cause a change in the curve – to make it INITIALLY better or worse. This is why some men who have multiple Peyronie’s plaque formation can be perfectly straight; they happen to be fortunate to have their internal pull and tension balanced and equal, causing no curvature or distortion. And this is why I continue to remind my PD Warriors that the curvature might get your attention and drive you crazy, but the real problem is the Peyronie’s plaque and not the curve.
Once you understand this, then you know that an increase in your curve should only be seen as a bad thing if you know for a fact that your scar(s) are increasing in size, shape or density. But over time, as the scars continue to soften and reduce in size as you treat yourself, and as the internal pull and tension created by these weaker scars begins to balance internally, the curve will eventually straighten. Continue monitoring your scar size, shape, density and surface features as you work aggressively, and you should see this positive pattern of recovery play out for you.
A smaller scar can create a larger curve if it is in the wrong place or is pulling or pushing in some strange way. It might make you feel sick to see your curve get worse, but ignore the curve and keep checking the condition of the scars.
If you have trouble locating your plaque let me know and I will do my best to help you, or just read Chapter 4 of "Peyronie's Disease Handbook” I would be happy to explain what I can to you. Just send an email to me; I would like to help you.
Research Project
PDI Peyronie’s Plaque (Scar) Research to Test a New Location Method – 2012
PDI is now conducting its 5th group research since 2002. I first announced this new research project in the April 2012 Newsletter and got a very strong response that overwhelmed me. As a result I am still catching up contacting men from last month. If I have not yet contacted you, please be patient with me. I am peddling as fast as I can. This is the second call for volunteers to test and evaluate a new method to locate the often elusive Peyronie’s plaque. If this particular Peyronie’s project goes as expected then the Dupuytren Contracture Institute will do something similar about defining the physical structure of the fibrous hand tissue.
PDI Newsletter and website readers all understand the importance to clearly and accurately define the size, shape, density and surface features of the Peyronie’s plaque material. To determine if a Peyronie’s (or Dupuytren’s) treatment plan is effective or is not effective is easily determined by evaluating for small but significant reduction of the plaque (or palm lumps and cords) as early as a few weeks after the start of treatment. This research project will explore a new way to evaluate for these small but important early tissue changes that always occur long before there are changes noticed in the shaft curvature.
I spend a great amount of time writing and talking to men to teach them how to locate their PD scar or plaque. Part of my interest in this subject prompted me to recently develop a new and unique technique for locating the Peyronie’s plaque, but it still needs testing and confirmation.
Again I am asking for a few more men to volunteer who absolutely have tried everything to find their PD scar and still cannot do it. No cost will be involved and no equipment will be needed; this is a strictly “hands on” method that is simple, safe and fast to perform.
Not everyone who volunteers will be accepted for this research project since we must have follow limitations and guidelines created for participants.
I am interested in having anyone participate if all of these requirements apply to you:
1. You have been given a diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease after a medical examination by an MD; no self-diagnosis
2. You have read and followed the information found in my article When Peyronie’s Scar Not Easily Located
3. You absolutely cannot find your PD scar
4. You have one or more of the following distortions:
a. Curve greater than 20 degrees
b. Bend greater than 10 degrees
c. Bottle-neck deformity that affects at least 30% of the width or circumference of the shaft
d. Hour-glass deformity that affects at least 30% of the width or circumference of the shaft
e. Hinge or depression or dent deformity of at least 1/16 inch (1 mm) depth
5. You are 30 years of age or older
6. Your English communication skills are excellent so there is no problem understanding the instructions provided and you can write a simple report of your findings after following the technique instructions you are given
7. You have had Peyronie’s disease for one year or longer
8. You have not had any penile surgery
9. You will allow your name and place of residence to be identified as a study participant, not for general and wide use but only for use to prove your participation for research validation
Please contact me if you are interested in participating in this research program. Reach me by email at info@peyronies-disease-help.com. It is necessary that you provide a clear statement in your email that “I fulfill all nine PDI research requirements to test the new plaque location method,” along with your phone number and a good contact time to call you.
I will personally work with each man individually to make sure he has all the help he needs to understand and use this new method of scar location. All I ask in return is detailed information from each volunteer how the method worked to find scars that are otherwise not found, and what you found when you used the PDI scar location method.
This concludes our discussion for this issue of the newsletter. I hope everyone found this issue of the PDI Newsletter interesting and informative so you can do a better job of helping your own PD or DC condition.
If you want to contact me with a question, please do so through the “Ask Dr. Herazy” Q & A section of either website at Peyronies Disease Institute or Dupuytren Contracture Institute.
Enjoy the warmer weather coming our way as spring becomes summer. Stay focused on your treatment plan.
Regards,
Theodore R. Herazy, DC, LAc
