Know what to look for in early Peyronie’s treatment

This post is about an interesting question I am asked from time to time about Peyronie’s disease treatment.  I thought it might be of interest to you.  The question is asked something like this, “When people finally get some positive changes in their Peyronie’s disease, how does it usually show up?  What usually happens first?  I want to know what I can expect, although I know we are all different.”

Well, usually – not always – as a man continues in a sufficiently large and aggressively applied Peyronie’s disease treatment plan from PDI, he will notice at first some small and TEMPORARY changes in the size and density of his scar.  The temporary nature of the change does not last long.  As treatment continues the changes and improvement become permanent.  Usually the scar itself will change before there is a noticeable change in the Peyronie’s curved penis or his ability to develop an erection.  This scar change will take place maybe during months 2-6 of the treatment cycle, although I have worked with men who see changes in the scar after just a few weeks of a PDI plan.  This fast response is the exception and not the rule, so do not plan on that kind of response although it does happen.

The initial and temporary improvement in the Peyronies plaque or scar will not last very long, maybe just a few days or so, and then it will often go back to how it was before – maybe even worse.  I wish I could say why this happens – it just does. Soon a pattern will develop in which there is improvement, regression, improvement, regression, back and forth, etc.  What happens over time is that you will notice that the amount of improvement will be greater than the regression, and the improvement will last longer than the regression.  You will likely see the pattern shifting slowly in favor of improvement – it will last longer and it will be greater 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 comes gets better.  This is how I have seen most every case of Peyronie’s disease improve.

Just as the Peyronie’s plaque changes, a little while later it is common to see a change in the curvature. The initial change in the penis curvature is not always improvement, however.  My curve worsened just after my scar showed some real strong progress for the first time.  I kept in mind that the Peyronies plaque was getting better, so I did not let the change in the curve upset me.  I kept working to reduce the scars I had and in time the curve I had also eventually improved.    See Peyronie’s picture of curved penis.

Peyronie’s plaque and pick-up-sticks

Ever play “pick-up-sticks” as a kid?   With the complex interplay of sticks lying across each other, removing one stick makes three or four other sticks shift a bit.  I think the same happens in Peyronie’s disease.

How many plaques or scars do you have?  If more than one, then the dynamics are made even more complicated.  If you have only one scar (kind of unusual) then you have one scar that could be influencing 2-3-4 different planes of connective tissue within the corpora cavernosa of the penis that it is attached to.  It is not difficult to understand that if a part of a scar is changing it could cause alteration of the tensions and angles of pull – as the scar is INCREASING or DECREASING in size – that could cause a change in the curve – to make it INITIALLY better or worse.  So in this sense, an increase in your curve is only seen as a bad thing if you know FOR A FACT that your scar(s) are increasing in size, shape or density. Over time, as the plaque continues to soften and reduce in size, and as the internal pull and tension created by these plaque begins to normalize, the curve should begin to straighten.  Continue monitoring yourself as you work aggressively, and you should see this positive pattern of recovery play out for you.

A worsening of the curve is acceptable if the plaque is improving.  As far as treating your condition and monitoring progress, the condition of the Peyronie’s plaque is far more important to monitor than the curve; plaque changes size, shape and density characteristics, and even seem to move, and so the plaque or scar tissue exerts control over the curve; the curved penis is just a reflection of plaque activity – good or bad.  A smaller plaque 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 say “My penis is curved!”, but ignore the curve and keep checking the condition of the Peyronie’s disease  plaque.  How do you check your plaque?  Go to my book, “Peyronie’s Disease Handbook” on the PDI website,  to review information about the Peyronie’s Disease Handbook.

Whenever someone sends me an email reporting that he is seeing improvement in his plaque or bent penis, I warn him that it will not initially last very long and that his problem will surely return for a short while.  I can almost guarantee this pattern.  Come to expect it; count on it.  It is just the way it goes, so do not be discouraged or disappointed when it happens.  In a short time, you will see the pattern develop that will tell you that good things are finally happening.  Just stay with it.

How long it takes for the improvement to become permanent is also variable (just like everything about Peyronie’s disease).  Once you get your plan fine-tuned and working well for you, most of the time it takes 6-12 months or more for the progress to level off and become as good as it is going to be.  That does not mean that in 6-12 months or so you will be cured or completely well.  It just means you will be as good as you are going to be, in spite of your best effort.   For some men it is complete recovery and full return to normal, and for other men it is a variable percent of improvement.

No one can accurately anticipate or tell what level of improvement will happen even after an intense effort of Peyronie’s disease treatment.  Some of the worse cases make the most recovery, and some of the mildest problems improve the least.  You just have to do your best and do all that you can to regain your life in the best way you can.

If you want to know more about what you might be experiencing right now with your condition, let me know.  Ask a question on the blog, and I will be happy to explain what I can to you.   TRH