Diagnosis of Peyronie’s Disease
A poor welcome to the world of Peyronie’s disease
It seems that most men cannot clearly or fully understand the scope of the problem when they are first given a diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease.
Obviously, when a man goes to the doctor for the first time it is because he is having a problem of some type with “his plumbing.” It might be the sudden or gradual appearance of pain, a lump or nodule, penile curvature or distortion of some type, or reduced sexual ability, that brings him to see his doctor or surf the Internet. While he knows he is having a particular symptom that was not there until recently, he is surprised to learn there is actually a medical condition that causes his problem.
After being given the diagnosis, a common first mental question often is, “If there is this problem that can so cruelly affect a man, why on earth have I never heard of Peyronie’s disease before today?
It has been recently estimated that after the age of 40, there are about four to six cases of Peyronie’s disease for every 100 men around the world. That is a lot of men and a lot of cases of Peyronie’s disease. For such a common condition, why is it that no one seems to know about PD until it is too late?
There are a few answers to this question, and they are all important to any man dealing with Peyronie’s disease:
- No one likes to admit he has a problem, or is less than perfect, when it comes to his sexual apparatus and his sexual ability.
- No one wants to the subject of teasing or to be pitied.
- There is often such social restriction limiting discussion of sexual matters that prevents open and free information that limits the discussion of Peyronie’s disease or similar topics.
This is indeed unfortunate because if there was more knowledge of Peyronie’s disease there probably would be less of it. Additionally, if there was more knowledge and comfort discussing this problem we would probably be a lot closer to a genuine Peyronie’s treatment than we are now.
If more young men were given more information, such as how trauma is associated with the start of Peyronie’s disease in over half of the cases, it is more likely that reasonable caution and defensive measures would be taken. It is very difficult to avoid a problem if you do not know it exists. This is why in “Peyronie’s Disease Handbook” I spend a fair amount of time describing how men should talk to their sons about this problem.
To learn more about Peyronie’s disease, please go to the Peyronie’s Disease Institute website for information about cause, progression and natural treatment of Peyronie’s disease.
Peyronie’s Disease Treatment: Changes to Look For
Early signs of response to 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 with 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 penis curvature 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.
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 see your curve get worse, but ignore the curve and keep checking the condition of the Peyronie’s disease plaque. How do you check your plaque? Go to review information about my book, “Peyronie’s Disease Handbook” on the PDI website, at 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.
Peyronie’s disease treatment: changes to look for
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 penis curvature 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.
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 see your curve get worse, 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