I Am A Viking!

I love the History Channel, especially the show 'The Vikings'. Lagertha is a very strong and powerful woman who experiences hardships and many battles!

I recently visited our local hand surgeon due to a hard lump on the palm of my hand. The diagnosis was Dupuytren's Contracture or Viking's Disease. I had no idea what this was or even how to pronounce it. (DU-PA-TREN) Dupuytren's is a benign thickening of the palm's or finger's deep connective tissue or fascia. It usually starts on the palm of the hand with a small nodule or several nodules that can be felt and are initially not very hard. Nodules are typically the first indication of Dupuytren disease. (which is what I have now)

Dupuytren's contracture usually develops over years. The condition affects a layer of tissue that lies under the skin of your palm. Knots of tissue form under the skin — eventually creating a thick cord that can pull one or more fingers into a bent position. The affected fingers can't be straightened completely, which can complicate everyday activities such as placing your hands in your pockets, putting on gloves, shaking hands, or many other activities that we all take for granted.There are a number of treatments available to slow the progression of Dupuytren's contracture and relieve symptoms.

Many famous people have had this disease including, Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Murray, and even Chelsea Handler. It is not an uncommon disease, just an unknown one. One in 200 people will get this disease, usually between the ages of 50-60, but there are known cases of the disease in even 10-year-olds.

This disease is known to have come from a great army of Vikings in the year 865, when they landed on England's east coast. Dupuytren's is an inherited disease, and I knew that I had German and English heritage, but Viking?!! I have always been interested in my ancestry and have researched it on ancestry.com, and now I am going to check out my DNA at https://www.23andme.com I am very excited to learn more about my heritage!

Baron Guillaume Dupuytren (1777-1835) presented his findings in Paris more than 180 years ago, and the very first person to be diagnosed with the disease was Napoleon Bonaparte. The root causes of Dupuytren's disease still remain unknown and the disease is incurable.

Here is more history ~ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC130590...

I do have a very positive outlook with Dupuytren's. Everyone's experience with the disease is different and not everyone's disease progresses to the crippling stage. Therefore, I know that right now, my disease needs no surgery (only injection), and could take many years to progress. That is great news!! Plus.......I am now a strong and true VIKING!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!