Vikings Disease – Dealing with Dupuytrens Contracture at midlife

I’ve been absent from the blog due to a plethora of hereditary/genetic issues. I’ve developed Dupuytren’s Contracture, also known as “Viking’s Disease,” with a severe case affecting my left hand and an emerging case on my right hand. This aggressive disease has significantly impacted my hands and is now beginning to affect my feet.

Dealing with this condition has been incredibly challenging both mentally and physically, especially as someone who loves the outdoors. Consequently, I’ve stepped back from the blog to undergo operations and procedures in hopes of regaining the use of my hands. In jest, I’ve quipped that a woodworking mishap leading to a bionic hand might be preferable, but I remain determined to overcome this.

I’ll need to extend my hiatus to focus on family, rest from work, reduce stress, and improve my sleep. It may take another 4-6 weeks before I’m fully operational again, and during this time, I’ll ensure our contributors are updated and everything is on track.

I’m grateful for your readership and the contributions to this blog. The year 2018 has been particularly difficult, and while it’s disappointing to miss out on summer travels, I’m hopeful for some quality personal time, a swift recovery, and a stronger return.

Thank you, everyone! Rest assured, the blog will continue to feature stories from our contributors during my absence. Consider this a brief update rather than a farewell.

“The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love” – Hubert H. Humphrey

I often include many images in my posts, but I’ll refrain from showing the “gore” of Dupuytren’s. From a high-level perspective, Dupuytren’s is often referred to as “Viking’s disease” because it originates from that historical period and population, and it is usually inherited through generations. It involves a hardening of the hand’s ligaments, pulling the fingers downward. While it’s not painful, it prevents me from holding a paddle, using a rope, and I often catch my hand on unexpected objects since my brain still anticipates the use of a now unusable finger.

Initially, when only my pinky was affected, it was manageable. Last year, I underwent a non-surgical treatment with Xiaflex, which allowed me to lay my hand flat for the first time in years. Unfortunately, the condition has returned aggressively, affecting not just my palm but also my fingers, necessitating multiple surgeries and extended recoveries to hopefully stay ahead of the disease.

I plan to continue sharing my journey, experiences, and the hopeful management of this challenging hereditary condition. My aim is to overcome it and retain my hand functionality to pursue my love for exploration, travel, hiking, running, and simply enjoying the outdoors.

In the meantime, I look forward to posting pictures of myself with a smile, using my functional hand while adventuring in the mountains or unwinding on the beach. For now, I’ll be less visible, occasionally unavailable for messaging as I recover, but a friend will assist me, ensuring that my absence doesn’t hinder our work with contributors or community engagement.

Thank you all!