First of all, the Viking Fist is medically inaccurate. However, the condition is more prevalent in Northern European populations and was historically linked to the Vikings. More recently, genetic analysis has suggested a link to Neanderthal ancestory! Writing a blog called the Northern European hand condition didn’t really appeal, nor did the Neanderthal link. The Vikings however were great warriors, seafarers and traders. They went to North America long before Columbus and established trade routes stretching as far as Constatinople (now Istanbul in Turkey) Persia (Iran and Iraq) and Azerbaijan. Much more cool, hence the Viking Fist, me chanelling my inner Viking and fighting back against Dupuytrens.
First signs
My experience with Dupuytren’s started a few years ago when I first noticed some painful lumps in my hands. These were particularly noticeable in my left hand around the base of my thumb. Performing simple tasks, like opening a bottle of milk, became quite painful as the serrated edge of the bottle top rubbed against the lumps! At the time I had no idea of the cause and just hoped it would go away. I also noticed a slight bending of my left index finger and painful lumps in other part of both hands. As an amateur guitarist, the bend in my left finger was annoying as it made playing some chord shapes difficult, particularly barrés where the index finger covers all six strings. As time went by the bending of my fingers got more and more pronounced until the ring and little finger on my right hand and little finger on my left hand would not straighten beyond about 90 degrees at the first joint. Other fingers were also affected but to a greater or lesser extent.
Self diagnosis
By this time I’d started to do some research and was pretty sure I had Dupuytren’s. At the time I was working as a University lecturer so research was something I was very familiar with, more on that later. Like many Universities, where I worked was having financial difficulties and I was fortunate to be included in a Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (a bit like redundancy). I was 65 at the time and had originally planned on retiring at 67, but this seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up. So, on Friday 13 September 2024, I became unemployed and retired (one of the best decisions I ever took).
Diagnosis confirmed
With a bit of time on my hands, I decided to as my GP for a referral to a hand specialist to look at getting treatment for my Dupuytren’s. I was fairly well clued up on the options and knew only a hand specialist could help. I hear and see lots of horror storied about GPs but I have to say my practice is really good. Having not seen a doctor for about 30 years I’d had quite a few visits to the practice in the previous year or two following a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D – the subject of another Blog). Focusing on this diagnosis and getting my blood sugar under control had been a priority rather than worrying about Dupuytren’s. Having retired and with good control of my T2D however, it was an opportunity to focus on my hands.
Whilst picking up my prescription at the pharmacy next to the GP’s, I took the opportunity to ask the GP receptionist to book me an appointment to see a GP. No problem with that and just over a week later my self diagnosis was confirmed and a referral to a specialist made. My Dupuytren’s treatment journey had begun.
