Dear Regular Newsletter Readers,
I trust this week’s edition of our newsletter finds you in good health and fine spirits. Tomo, the person in charge of putting the newsletter together, has done another great job of researching and assembling some very interesting news articles for you all to read, so I hope you have an opportunity to click some of them open.
My contribution this week is another poem (of sorts), the inspiration of which came from yet another a bit of a health related problem I currently have associated with my left hand; it seems that I have a touch of Dupuytren’s contracture. Dupuytren’s contracture (also called Dupuytren’s disease and various other names such as Vikings disease and Celtic hand) is a disease commonly associated with the hand although it can affect other parts of the body. It is termed Vikings disease simply because it was a disease that the Vikings suffered with. Of course, with Vikings being from the north part of Europe it is no surprise that Dupuytren’s or Vikings disease is particularly prevalent amongst northern European people, men mostly and only very occasionally women. Dupuytren’s contracture is basically and abnormal thickening of fascia which is a layer of subcutaneous tissue under the skin, in the palm of your hand and also at the base of your fingers. This thickened area of tissues may develop into a hard lump called a nodule or a thick band and as time goes by it can lead to one or more fingers curling inwards, pulling sideways or pulling in towards your palm. At this present time, I’m only at the nodule stage, but judging by the rate at which the nodules are growing it won’t be too long before the nodules start to tighten and contract and when that happens my fingers may start to bend inwards. I say may because they may not; in some cases Dupuytren’s disease starts and stops at the nodule forming stage, in any case, I have decided to surgically get rid of the nodules I have so I can get back to being able to make fresh pasta and do all the other things that I am currently struggling to do. I will keep you posted on how things turn out in the coming weeks. Until next week, have an enjoyable weekend.
Vikings Disease
Hard painful lumps that look like camels’ humps protruding from the palm of my hand.
A palpable band of tissues that I worry could lead to finger issues further down the line.
The problem I have may stem from drinking too much red wine.
The nodules I have are now itchy and painful to the touch.
I’ve had them for years but they’ve never bothered me very much.
Over the last 10 months they’ve become hard and grown in size.
I doubt they’ll disappear on their own accord.
The realization is I need an operation which I hope I can afford.
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They linger just below my ring and middle finger.
I’m unable to roll out pasta because of the pain.
I have difficulty holding an umbrella in the rain.
I cannot hold a grab rail on the train.
I feel discomfort when wringing out a wet rag.
I grimace when I’m carrying my business bag.
I’ve given up rolling out out pastry with a rolling pin.
These lumps need to be removed from beneath my skin.
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I can no longer remove a tight lid from a jar.
I feel some dome discomfort holding the steering wheel of a car.
The pain is unbearable if I try to pull myself up on a bar.
My golfing skills are no longer up to par.
Lifting weights is a bridge too far.
I have to open doors with my right hand.
Performing everyday working tasks is a real chore.
I need some help and that’s what doctors are for.
A poem by Stephen Austwick