Viking disease

[chrisupyonder]

This has been mentioned on another thread but I thought it might be interesting to know how many of the rabble have this, or know of someone in their family.

From Wikipedia

Dupuytren's disease is a rather non-specific affliction, but primarily affects:
People of Scandinavian or Northern European ancestry;[3] it has been called the "Viking disease"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305903/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dupuytren%27s_contracture

Both myself and my brother have it and appears to be genetic. It is not painful in any way.



It is common in Iceland as well, who are of Viking origin.

Chris.

[Dale Seago]

As with many people of Scottish or Irish descent -- or both -- I have it. Only noticeable on the left hand, does not at this point affect function or mobility in any way. My father and my brother have it as well; my dad finally found it necessary to have it surgically treated a couple of years ago, around age 85.

[Pleater]

My father and brother developed the contracture in late middle age.

It probably came into the family through my father's mother who was slightly Junoesque in stature, made all the more striking as my father's father was so small he was rejected for service in the Great War even when they were recruiting the 'Bantam Batallions'.

As a guitar and woodwind player I worry that I might one day notice the symptoms, but so far so good.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[sevenoaks]

My father had this and it was very noticeable. I remember asking if it was from a war wound. He told me no it is an heredity thing. His father had it and also did his father. I also have it but not as developed as to where it bothers me.
Strange you bring that up. I wonder how many Scots men have it.

[Dale Seago]

I wonder how many Scots men have it.

A fair number, it would seem.

<<The condition really did come to Britain with the Vikings more than a thousand years ago and is prevalent in the areas they settled. In Scotland.

For example, it was known as "the curse of the MacCrimmons" when it affected the fingers of the bagpipe players of the Clan MacCrimmon.>>



(http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_n28548704/)

[Cygnus]

I'm showing signs of it; mostly in my right hand. Until you posted this I had assumed it was a result of the years I spent working as a mechanic and in a factory. I'll have to ask my father if he has any symptoms the next time I talk with him.

Though it's not really kilt-related, I appreciate your posting this!

[The Thirsty Viking]

Phew! For a minute there I thought it was a disease that struck a poor soul with a surly disposition, covered them in a rash of tattoos, and gave them an endless thirst for malted barley and hops....

But I guess thats just me. You guys are safe.

But seriously, this is really interesting.. my dad has a hard time with this, and so does my grandpa, but i just always attributed it decades of Guitar playing and Wrench turning (respectively).

[Pleater]

Hopefully non surgical treatment will be the normal way to treat this.

I knew one woman who had her smallest finger removed in order to 'cure' the contracture, and the surgeon wanted to do the same to her other hand. She had to move (Wales to England) in order to have a simple release done.

The result was not a complete return to normal - her hand had been affected for many years, but it was fully functional.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[Dale Seago]

Hopefully non surgical treatment will be the normal way to treat this.

My dad, now in his late 80s, finally had his treated a couple of years ago. Something about debriding with a wire brush, kinda like a bore brush used for gun cleaning.

Although. . .maybe he went for care to a gunsmith instead of a surgeon by mistake. . .

[TheBrus]

Well, I'll be darned! My grandfather had that. He got surgery for his, because even up to his mid-eighties he was an active machinist/tinker. I spent a week that summer being his "left-hand." I had to help hold his work while he was welding and assist him with the table saw. It was great bonding time. His family, I thought, were all from Schlesweig-Holstein. But that's so close to Denmark that perhaps there were some Vikings in our family. Thanks for sharing this.

Jared the Brus